Originally purposed as anti-rejection drug, fingolimod was approved by Food and Drug Administration as multiple sclerosis relapse pill. Named as Gilenya, this drug comes to be the first medication for slowing disability progression on multiple sclerosis sufferers, which can be taken as a daily pill.
At first, Novartis, the manufacturer of the drug, sought for MS cure FDA approval, just as what doctors and patients want. However, efforts to prove decreased brain lesions fell short. In the clinical trials, though, it became notable that relapse rates of those taking fingolimod decreased to almost half as compared to MS patients under widely used injectable beta-interferon therapy. Seeing the benefits of notable slow in relapses, the drug ended up as what it worked best.
Fingolimod or Gilenya works b reducing the circulation and the penetration into the brains of immune cells, which cause inflammatory damage to the brain cells as well as to the fatty sheaths protecting the connections between them. This means reduced risk of progressively disabling mobility and cognition problems caused by brain lesions due to episodes of inflammation.
Before taking the medication, multiple sclerosis patients need to know three of Gilenya’s serious side effects. If any of the following symptoms are experienced, call your trusted man in lab coats.
Gilenya can cause slow heart rate.
Symptoms include dizziness, tiredness, and slow or irregular heart beat. These can be experienced within the six hours after taking the first dose. In around one month, heart rate should go back to normal.
Gilenya can increase risk of infections.
Symptoms include fever, tiredness, body aches, chills, nausea and vomiting. The drug increases risk of infections because it lowers the number of lymphocytes or white blood cells in the blood, but will go back to normal within 2 months after stopping treatment.
Gilenya can cause blurred vision called macular edema.
Symptoms include blurriness or shadows in the center of the vision, blind spot in the center of the vision, sensitivity to lights, and unusually colored or tinted vision. These symptoms are similar to MS attack’s optic neuritis, and can surface after 3 to 4 months of starting with the medication. Diabetic people have higher risk.
At first, Novartis, the manufacturer of the drug, sought for MS cure FDA approval, just as what doctors and patients want. However, efforts to prove decreased brain lesions fell short. In the clinical trials, though, it became notable that relapse rates of those taking fingolimod decreased to almost half as compared to MS patients under widely used injectable beta-interferon therapy. Seeing the benefits of notable slow in relapses, the drug ended up as what it worked best.Fingolimod or Gilenya works b reducing the circulation and the penetration into the brains of immune cells, which cause inflammatory damage to the brain cells as well as to the fatty sheaths protecting the connections between them. This means reduced risk of progressively disabling mobility and cognition problems caused by brain lesions due to episodes of inflammation.
Before taking the medication, multiple sclerosis patients need to know three of Gilenya’s serious side effects. If any of the following symptoms are experienced, call your trusted man in lab coats.
Gilenya can cause slow heart rate.
Symptoms include dizziness, tiredness, and slow or irregular heart beat. These can be experienced within the six hours after taking the first dose. In around one month, heart rate should go back to normal.
Gilenya can increase risk of infections.
Symptoms include fever, tiredness, body aches, chills, nausea and vomiting. The drug increases risk of infections because it lowers the number of lymphocytes or white blood cells in the blood, but will go back to normal within 2 months after stopping treatment.
Gilenya can cause blurred vision called macular edema.
Symptoms include blurriness or shadows in the center of the vision, blind spot in the center of the vision, sensitivity to lights, and unusually colored or tinted vision. These symptoms are similar to MS attack’s optic neuritis, and can surface after 3 to 4 months of starting with the medication. Diabetic people have higher risk.
