Multiple sclerosis

We’re all in this for good.

By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as member Jackie explains in this video.

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. MS symptoms may include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction.



Common symptoms reported by people with multiple sclerosis

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
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Treatments taken by people for multiple sclerosis

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Ocrevus)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1825
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (129)
Treatment name(s)

(Aubagio)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2024
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (44)
Treatment name(s)

(Tecfidera)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
7294
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (38)
Treatment name(s)

(Copaxone)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
17042
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (37)
Treatment name(s)

(Mavenclad)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
21
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (21)
Treatment name(s)

(Tysabri)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
6647
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (21)
Treatment name(s)

(Gilenya)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
4689
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (17)
Treatment name(s)

(Rituxan)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
199
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (11)
Treatment name(s)

(Lemtrada)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
541
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (5)
Treatment name(s)

(Rebif)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
9425
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (5)

Data from patients with multiple sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
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Compare treatments taken by people with multiple sclerosis

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Ocrevus)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (60 evaluations)
Side effects
headaches fatigue 23 more
Total evaluations
60
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (129)
Treatment name(s)

(Aubagio)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (26 evaluations)
Side effects
hair loss diarrhea 10 more
Total evaluations
26
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (44)
Treatment name(s)

(Tecfidera)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (17 evaluations)
Side effects
facial flushing diarrhea 6 more
Total evaluations
17
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (38)
Treatment name(s)

(Copaxone)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (31 evaluations)
Side effects
injection site pain injection site swelling 19 more
Total evaluations
31
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (37)
Treatment name(s)

(Mavenclad)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (9 evaluations)
Side effects
chronic fatigue indigestion
Total evaluations
9
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (21)
Treatment name(s)

(Tysabri)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (14 evaluations)
Side effects
fatigue depression in afternoon 6 more
Total evaluations
14
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (21)
Treatment name(s)

(Gilenya)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (7 evaluations)
Side effects
chronic fatigue constipation 2 more
Total evaluations
7
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (17)
Treatment name(s)

(Rituxan)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (5 evaluations)
Side effects
fatigue headaches 2 more
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (11)
Treatment name(s)

(Lemtrada)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (11 evaluations)
Side effects
anxious mood breathing difficulty 5 more
Total evaluations
11
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (5)
Treatment name(s)

(Rebif)
Perceived effectiveness
for multiple sclerosis (3 evaluations)
Side effects
constant tiredness low grade fever
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
multiple sclerosis (5)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with multiple sclerosis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
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Who has multiple sclerosis on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 29 new patients joined this month
  • 70971 say MS is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 26
20s 669
30s 5069
40s 13991
50s 20542
60s 15499
70+ 5592
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 2895
20-29 years 9455
30-39 years 9941
40-49 years 6069
50-59 years 1557
60-69 years 155
70+ years 18

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 11344
Female 50691

Types
Condition Types Proportion # of patients
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis 4775
Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis 39677
Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis 6046
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 33711
Not Diagnosed 1349

These charts show data from MS patients who have completed their condition history
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