CIS treatment choices, help!
Hello,
After visiting the MS specialist today I have a few questions about the options presented to me.
After being diagnosed with CIS, the MS neurologist said that I had two options, I could wait another 6 months for another MRI/ change in symptoms OR start Copaxone shots 3 x a week as a preventative method as he suspects I will develop MS.
Is there anyone who recommends taking the early route to prevent potential demyelination?
How much change in symptoms or additional progression is typically seen in a 6 month period without treatment in the early stages?
Has anyone else been presented with this choice and what did you decide?
Thank you for your help,
Alex
Hi Alex and welcome! I have been diagnosed with CIS for 2 years now. I chose to start DMT right away to help prevent further progression. My choices were Copaxone and Aubagio which are both first line drugs (lower efficacy and less side effects) I chose Aubagio since it is a pill and I am still on it. I am thankful that I started medication right away as I have shown no further symptoms and my MRIs 2 years later was the same and showed no progression. It is a personal choice, be sure to do your reasearch. Many people on here that are CIS and RRMS are on DMTs. Good luck!
@alexthebrave what did your MRI show and was that the reason the dr felt you would convert to ms? I think that would be important to decide if you should take a dmt now or wait. Is copaxane your only option? If you have good reason to believe you already have ms based on your mri I would push for a more effective treatment option and try to keep this at bay as long as possible.