Plegridy vs. Gilenya

Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) Autoinjector and Gilenya (fingolimod) are used to treat patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

Plegridy and Gilenya belong to different drug classes. Plegridy is an interferon beta-1a and Gilenya is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator.

Side effects of Plegridy and Gilenya that are similar include headache.

Side effects of Plegridy that are different from Gilenya include injection site reactions (redness, itching, pain, swelling, warmth, rash, bruising), flu-like illness, fever, muscle or joint pain, chills, weakness, nausea, and vomiting.

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

Plegridy may interact with other drugs.

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.

Common side effects of Plegridy include:

• injection site reactions (redness, itching, pain, swelling, warmth, rash, bruising),
• flu-like illness,
• fever,
• headache,
• muscle or joint pain,
• chills,
• weakness,
• nausea, and
• vomiting

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.

Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) Autoinjector is an interferon beta-1a used to treat patients with relapsing 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.

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

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.

The recommended dosage of Plegridy is 125 micrograms injected subcutaneously every 14 days.

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