Injectable therapies

Interferon beta drugs. These medications are among the first DMTs approved for relapsing MS and are still used as first line therapy. They include:

• Avonex (interferon beta-1a)
• Betaseron (interferon beta-1b)
• Extavia (interferon beta-1b)
• Rebif (interferon beta-1a)
• Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)

The interferon beta medications are given by self-injection, either under the skin or in a muscle. The frequency of injections varies from once every two days to once every two weeks.

These drugs have moderate to strong evidence of effectiveness, reducing the relapse rate and slowing the development of new MS-related brain lesions for relapsing MS.

These drugs are considered generally safe and require minimal monitoring. Flu-like symptoms and injection site reactions, such as redness and discomfort, are commonly reported side effects of interferon beta drugs.

Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, Glatopa). This also is considered an initial therapy option for relapsing MS. This drug is thought to act through immune system cells known as T cells. It might also have nerve-protecting effects.

Glatiramer acetate is given by self-injection under the skin, either three times weekly or every day. It's generally well tolerated, but injection site reactions, such as redness and discomfort, are common.