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“In a disease like MS that is life-long, it becomes important to know how well the drug works over the long term because that’s the time frame patients have to live with it.”
—Dr. Corey Ford, Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Thinking long term can really help as you manage your multiple sclerosis. Keep in mind that even though you are taking MS therapy regularly, you may feel exactly the same. That doesn’t mean the therapy isn’t working. MS treatment is a long-term commitment. You need to have confidence that your multiple sclerosis therapy is doing its job.
Remember that the available multiple sclerosis therapies do not treat symptoms of MS, such as bladder or fatigue problems. You and your doctor can work together on a strategy to deal with those multiple sclerosis symptoms. You can also find out more about managing your MS symptoms by visiting About MS.
Below are some key ways to see if your therapy is working for you:
Long-term effectiveness
- Reduces relapses and future damage
Long-term safety
- Is safe—now and over time
Long-term tolerability
- Is well tolerated and fits your lifestyle, so you can stay committed to your multiple sclerosis therapy over the long term
Be realistic about your expectations for multiple sclerosis therapy
MS management is a long-term commitment, so it’s important to be realistic and to understand just what your multiple sclerosis therapy can (and cannot) do for you. The goal of MS therapy is to decrease the frequency of relapses to help reduce new damage to your nervous system. Unfortunately, old damage may not be repaired by MS therapy. And while therapy isn’t a cure, it may help you stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. It may also allow you to add more predictability to your life by helping control the relapses that can deprive you of your independence.