Ocrevus vs. Gilenya

• Are Ocrevus and Gilenya the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Ocrevus?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Gilenya?
• What Is Ocrevus?
• What Is Gilenya?
• What Drugs Interact with Ocrevus?
• What Drugs Interact with Gilenya?
• How Should Ocrevus Be Taken?
• How Should Gilenya Be Taken?

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) injection and Gilenya (fingolimod) are used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Ocrevus is also used to treat primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Ocrevus and Gilenya belong to different drug classes. Ocrevus is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody and Gilenya is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator.

Side effects of Ocrevus and Gilenya that are similar include back pain.

Side effects of Ocrevus that are different from Gilenya include upper and lower respiratory tract infections, infusion reactions (itching, rash, hives, redness, bronchospasm, swollen and sore throat, mouth pain, shortness of breath, flushing, hypotension, fever, fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, and fast heart rate), skin infections, depression, and pain in the extremities.

Side effects of Gilenya that are different from Ocrevus include headache, tired feeling, influenza, stuffy nose, sinus pain, diarrhea, liver transaminase elevations, and cough.

Both Ocrevus and Gilenya may interact with other immune-modulating or immunosuppressive therapies, including immunosuppressant doses of corticosteroids.

Gilenya may also interact with beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, citalopram, chlorpromazine, digoxin, erythromycin, haloperidol, ketoconazole, medications for cancer, heart problems, or high blood pressure, and methadone.

Common side effects of Ocrevus include:

• upper respiratory tract infections,
• infusion reactions (itching, rash, hives, redness, bronchospasm, swollen and sore throat, mouth pain, shortness of breath, flushing, hypotension, fever, fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, and fast heart rate),
• skin infections,
• lower respiratory tract infections,
• depression,
• back pain, and
• pain in the extremities.

Common side effects of Gilenya include:

• headache,
• tired feeling,
• influenza,
• stuffy nose,
• sinus pain,
• diarrhea,
• back pain,
• liver transaminase elevations, and
• cough.

Gilenya can affect your immune system's ability to fight an infection while you are taking the medication and for 2 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if you develop signs of an infection such as:

• persistent cough or sore throat,
• difficulty breathing,
• fever,
• chills, or
• cold/flu symptoms.

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) injection is aCD20-directed cytolytic antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsing or primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

Gilenya (fingolimod) is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator used to treat patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce the frequency of exacerbations and to delay physical disability.

Ocrevus may interact with other immune-modulating or immunosuppressive therapies, including immunosuppressant doses of corticosteroids. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Gilenya may interact with beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, citalopram, chlorpromazine, digoxin, erythromycin, haloperidol, ketoconazole, medications to control the immune system, medications for cancer, heart problems, or high blood pressure, and methadone. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Gilenya may cause fetal harm. It takes approximately 2 months for Gilenya to be eliminated from the body. Women should avoid pregnancy during treatment with Gilenya and for 2 months after treatment. It is not known if Gilenya passes into breast milk. Women and their doctors should decide whether to take Gilenya or breastfeed. Women should not do both.

Hepatitis B virus screening is required before the first dose of Ocrevus. Pre-medicate with methylprednisolone (or an equivalent corticosteroid) and an antihistamine prior to each infusion. The starting dose of Ocrevus is 300 mg intravenous infusion, followed two weeks later by a second 300 mg intravenous infusion. Subsequent doses of Ocrevus are 600 mg intravenous infusion every 6 months.

The recommended dose for Gilenya is 0.5 mg orally once daily, with or without food.