Ocrevus vs. Lemtrada

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

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

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

Because of its safety profile, the use of Lemtrada should generally be reserved for patients who have had an inadequate response to two or more drugs indicated for the treatment of MS.

Ocrevus and Lemtrada belong to different drug classes. Ocrevus is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody and Lemtrada is a recombinant humanized IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody.

Side effects of Ocrevus and Lemtrada that are similar include upper respiratory tract infection, back pain, and pain in the extremities.

Side effects of Ocrevus that are different from Lemtrada include 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, and depression.

Side effects of Lemtrada that are different from Ocrevus include rash, headache, fever, runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion, nausea, urinary tract infection (UTI), fatigue, insomnia, herpes viral infection, hives, itching, thyroid gland disorders, fungal infection, joint pain, diarrhea, sinus infection, mouth and throat pain, numbness or tingling, dizziness, abdominal pain, flushing of the face/neck/chest, vomiting, cough, chills, changes in sense of taste, flu symptoms, skin swelling, indigestion, blood in the urine, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, anxiety, weakness, and muscle pain.

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

Lemtrada may interact with other drugs.

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 Lemtrada include:

• rash,
• headache,
• fever,
• runny nose,
• sore throat,
• nasal congestion,
• nausea,
• urinary tract infection,
• fatigue,
• insomnia,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• herpes viral infection,
• hives,
• itching,
• thyroid gland disorders,
• fungal infection,
• joint pain,
• pain in extremity,
• back pain,
• diarrhea,
• sinus infection,
• mouth and throat pain,
• numbness or tingling, dizziness,
• abdominal pain,
• flushing of the face/neck/chest,
• vomiting,
• cough,
• chills,
• changes in sense of taste,
• flu symptoms,
• skin swelling,
• indigestion,
• blood in the urine,
• shortness of breath,
• fast heart beat,
• anxiety,
• weakness, or
• muscle pain

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

Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) is a recombinant humanized IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody used to treat patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Because of its safety profile, the use of Lemtrada should generally be reserved for patients who have had an inadequate response to two or more drugs indicated for the treatment of MS.

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

Lemtrada may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Lemtrada should be used only if prescribed. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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 dosage of Lemtrada is 12 mg/day administered by intravenous infusion for 2 treatment courses: First Treatment Course: 12 mg/day on 5 consecutive days (60 mg total dose; Second Treatment Course: 12 mg/day on 3 consecutive days (36 mg total dose) administered 12 months after the first treatment course.