Ocrevus vs. Tysabri

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

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) injection and Tysabri (natalizumab) are monoclonal antibodies used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

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

Tysabri is also used to treat moderate to severe Crohn's disease in adults. Tysabri is usually given after other Crohn's disease medications have been tried without successful treatment of this condition.

Ocrevus and Tysabri are different types of monoclonal antibodies. Ocrevus is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody and Tysabri is a recombinant humanized IgG4? monoclonal antibody.

Side effects of Ocrevus and Tysabri that are similar include depression.

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

Side effects of Tysabri that are different from Ocrevus include headache, tired feeling joint or muscle pain, redness or irritation at the injection site, swelling hands/feet/ankles, changes in menstrual cycle, painful menstrual cramps, stomach pain, diarrhea, skin rash, and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat.

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

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 Tysabri include:

• headache,
• tired feeling,
• joint or muscle pain,
• redness or irritation at the injection site,
• swelling hands/feet/ankles,
• changes in menstrual cycle,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• skin rash,
• depression,
• painful menstrual cramps, or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you have side effects while Tysabri is being given or shortly after your treatment is finished (infusion reaction) including:

• chills,
• fever,
• flushing,
• nausea,
• dizziness, and
• chest pain.

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

Tysabri (natalizumab) is a monoclonal antibody used in to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Tysabri is also used to treat moderate to severe Crohn's disease in adults. Tysabri is usually given after other Crohn's disease medications have been tried without successful treatment of this condition.

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

Tysabri may interact with other medicines, especially those that may affect the immune system such as: interferon, cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus, basiliximab, efalizumab, muromonab-CD3, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, leflunomide, etanercept, or chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

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 of Tysabri for multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease is 300 mg intravenous infusion over one hour every four weeks.