how does ocrevous work?

[benjaminbalki]

I've been taking OCREVOUS Medication For a year And have one New brain lesion Is the medicine working?

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome,

Disease modifying drugs slow down the disease course and reduce relapses, which in turn helps minimise disability. RRMS can even be split into  different sub categorises during the phase of disease which can be helpful in determining the effectiveness of the DMD being prescribed.

*Active – with relapses and/or evidence of new MRI activity
*Not active – no relapses and/or evidence of new MRI activity
*Worsening – confirmed increase in disability over a specified period typically 6-12 mths following a relapse
*Not worsening – no change in disability

"Ocrevus is a highly effective (category 2.0) DMD; in clinical trials people taking Ocrevus had about 50% fewer relapses than people taking Rebif. During the clinical trials, Ocrevus appeared to reduce disability progression and significantly reduce the number of lesions seen on MRI scans compared to beta interferon. Brain volume loss was reduced and more people with no evidence of disease progression (NEDA) were seen in those taking Ocrevus compared to those taking Rebif."
https://www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/ocrevus-ocrelizumab

"Why are modifiers used to characterize RRMS?
Disease activity and progression should be evaluated at regular intervals by neurologic examination and MRI. Being able to characterize the course of your disease at different points in time helps you and your MS care provider discuss your treatment options and expected outcomes. For example:

If you have RRMS that is active and worsening, you and your MS care provider may want to discuss a different treatment approach than if there were no evidence of activity or worsening. Together, you can weigh the potential risks and benefits of other treatment options.

If your symptoms have not worsened on the treatment you are currently taking, but you have evidence of new disease activity on your MRI, you and your healthcare provider may discuss switching to another treatment with a different mechanism of action in order to control the disease activity more effectively and help prevent worsening.

If your RRMS is stable without evidence of MRI activity or worsening, you and your healthcare provider can feel confident that the current treatment regimen is working effectively."
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Types-of-MS/Relapsing-remitting-MS

By your information you'd be classed as 'Active' because you have "evidence of new MRI activity" but IF it's working for you has to be relative to your unique course of MS......lets say patient xyz prior to starting OCREVOUS had significantly more than '1' new brain and or spinal cord lesion develop over a period of 12 months and over that same time period after starting OCREVOUS, the number of new brain and or spinal cord lesions that developed had notably reduced down to only '1'.

Technically whilst still classed as 'Active' OCREVOUS for patient xyz would usually be considered to be working because the amount of activity had been significantly reduced and would be meeting the DMD target potential with those types of reduced activity.

Keep in mind 12 months might not be enough time to confidently determine if a change in DMD is warranted yet and if the amount of activity has actually reduced then giving it more time would definitely be in your best interest. Remember to discuss whether your DMD is working for 'you' with your neuro at your next appointment!

I hope that helps.........JJ