Ocrevus vs. Tecfidera

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

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) injection and Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) are used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

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

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is a fumaric acid ester used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Ocrevus and Tecfidera belong to different drug classes. Ocrevus is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody and Tecfidera is a fumaric acid ester.

Side effects of Ocrevus that are different from Tecfidera 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, back pain, and pain in the extremities.

Side effects of Tecfidera that are different from Ocrevus include flushing, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rash, itching, redness, and indigestion.

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

Tecfidera 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 Tecfidera include:

• flushing,
• abdominal pain,
• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• rash,
• itching,
• redness, and
• indigestion.

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

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) is a fumaric acid ester used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (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.

Tecfidera may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to be become pregnant before using Tecfidera; it is unknown how it would affect a fetus. There is a pregnancy registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to Tecfidera during pregnancy and you may be encouraged to enroll. It is unknown if Tecfidera 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 starting dose of Tecfidera is 120 mg twice daily for seven days by mouth. After seven days, maintenance doses of Tecfidera are 240 mg taken twice daily by mouth.