@swany 

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swany

Ocrevus or Lemtrada?

My neurologist gives me the choice as much as I wish she’d tell me, but is ocrevus or lemtrada (sp?) better? I been on Avonex, then Rebif, then Gilenya (which I was taken off because of worsening symptoms before I could start ocrevus but that 2 month break resulted in 23 new lesions!!!!!). Now I’m wondering if I should have chosen lemtrada... Thoughts? Experiences?
@DominicS

@swany Better is a very hard thing to describe. The main difference between the two is that Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) is an immune reconstitution therapy. Given my time again I'd take that before Ocreluzimab (Ocrevus). Ocrelizumab is a very effective fall-back if you take Alemtuzumab and break through with new disease activity regardless. Many don't but a small cohort do. COVID-19 though. Right now you are far less likely to get either started. The exception is Ocrelizumab if you have very active disease and it is considered by you and your neurologist feel that the benefits outweigh the risks. I am not sure many/most neuros are queuing up to start people on alemtuzumab at this moment. Broadly, the reason is Alemtuzumab affects T-sells that are considered to be crucial in fighting Covid-19 whilst Ocrelizumab is a B-cell depletor and getting infected with Covid-19 is less likely to affect an ocrelizumab treated patient in the same way it is feared it may affect an Alemtuzumab treated patient. The caveat is that the Neurologists are having to do this all on the fly regarding making judgements. It seems to be consensus, what I have described. Either way, they are highly effective (I take ocrelizumab) and it behoves you to learn as much as you can before going into them. Just my opinion - not finger-wagging at you! If you don't want to know as much - and many don't - id ask your neuro to step-up and recommend one or the other. Strong and effective but quite different. They ought to know and be able to guide you.