Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) can present challenges, but treatment advancements are making it easier to manage the condition. Your MS treatment plan may include intravenous (IV) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Unlike prescription drugs that you’d inject or take by mouth at home, you’ll typically need to go to an infusion center to get infused DMTs. Finding the right place to get an infusion is a common topic of discussion on MyMSTeam.

“They closed the infusion center I’ve been going to,” one member wrote. Another said, “My first two infusions were at a hospital in San Francisco. I don’t want to go there again, so I’m waiting on authorization for a different one.”

Read on for three tips on how to find an infusion center where you can get your DMT medications.

1. Ask Your Neurologist for a Referral

Your neurology specialist or MS center should be your first point of contact when you’re looking for a place to receive your first infusion — or if you need to switch infusion centers. Explain your preferences to the prescribing doctor. These may include your ideal location, hours of operation, and other features.

Your neurology provider or MS center should be your first point of contact for questions, concerns, and general information about infusion centers.

Your doctor can share the pros and cons of different locations and share what others have said about their experiences at those centers. They might also suggest ways to feel more comfortable about getting an infusion.

2. Reach Out to Your Medication Manufacturer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several DMTs for treating MS via intravenous infusion, each of which is administered on a different timeline. This means the frequency of your infusion center visits will depend on the specific drug your neurologist prescribes.

You can reach out to the manufacturers of the drug you’re planning to take to find out where it’s administered near you.

Search the website or call the company that manufactures your DMT for additional information about infusion centers.

Alemtuzumab

Alemtuzumab, sold under the brand name Lemtrada, is administered over a five-day period, followed by another three-day round a year later. To find a list of health care facilities that administer this medication, the drug’s manufacturer (Sanofi) offers an online Lemtrada facility locator.

Mitoxantrone

Mitoxantrone is given once every three months. The drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, provides details and contact phone numbers online.

Natalizumab

Sold under the brand name Tysabri, natalizumab is given every four weeks. Biogen, which manufactures this medication, provides an online locator where you can look for an infusion center near you. You can also find information about taking Tyruko, a biosimilar of natalizumab, through its manufacturer Sandoz.

Ocrelizumab

Ocrelizumab is sold as Ocrevus and is taken as an infusion once every six months. You can check information from the drug manufacturer (Genentech) about how to find an infusion center near you.

Ublituximab

Sold as Briumvi, ublituximab is administered once every 24 weeks. TG Therapeutics, which manufactures ublituximab, provides a resource website with patient care information and contact numbers so you can find an infusion site near you.

3. Check Online Resources

Several organizations provide resources for people with MS who are interested in finding DMT infusion centers. You can refer to the organizations listed below, among others, to locate a medication administration site near you.

• National Infusion Center Association — This organization allows you to search for an infusion location based on criteria such as the drug you plan to take, insurance plans accepted, and location.
• National Home Infusion Association — In some cases, when no hospital-based or outpatient infusion centers are available near you, you may be eligible for a home infusion. This site allows you to find home infusion providers that may be able to assist.
• Infusion Access Foundation — This organization provides you with a searchable tool to find infusion centers in your area based on search criteria like hours of operation and insurance plans accepted.

Some organizations provide info on infusion centers like tools to find an infusion center near you and other resources.

Travel Tips for Visiting an Infusion Center

If you need to travel to an infusion center that isn’t near your home, keep these tips in mind before you go.

• Call the infusion center before you travel to get the essentials about the location, such as whether you can bring a companion along, if the center has Wi-Fi, or how long you should expect to be there.
• Bring comfort items such as music and earphones, a snack or beverage, and a warm blanket or sweater if you tend to get cold.
• If you need to take a flight to the infusion site or stay in a hotel there, you can find resources that may help you offset the cost, such as the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation’s Transportation Assistance Grant.

Read more about copay assistance and MS infusion costs.

Once you have found potential MS infusion centers, you’ll want to figure out which one is the best fit. You can check online reviews, speak with the center’s staff or other patients, and make sure they offer the specific type of infusion you need.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyMSTeam is the social network for people living with MS and their loved ones. On MyMSTeam, more than 215,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with MS.

Have you received an infusion treatment for MS? Do you have any tips for finding an infusion center? Share your experience in the comments below or on MyMSTeam. Your story may help others learn more about infusions for MS.