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DISEASE-MODIFYING THERAPY
Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adults.
These insights are based on 838 comments about Vumerity from MyMSTeam members. These are the experiences of a small number of people and are not meant to be medical advice.
Vumerity works in a way that is not fully understood. After you take it, your body changes it into an active form. This form can turn on a pathway called Nrf2, which helps cells respond to oxidative stress, a type of cell damage. It’s possible that this may help protect nerve cells and, in turn, help manage relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adults.
Doctors prescribe Vumerity for adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. The medication comes as a capsule taken by mouth two times a day. For the first seven days, a lower dose is used. After that, the regular dose is taken two times a day. Learn more about multiple sclerosis treatment options.
These insights are based on 838 comments about Vumerity from MyMSTeam members.Members who use Vumerity often say the most helpful strategies involve managing common side effects, staying in close touch with a neurologist, and planning ahead for cost and access issues. Many also mention that experiences vary widely, so tracking how you feel over time can help you have more useful conversations with your doctor.
Take it with food to help with stomach side effects.
“I felt very nauseous, but found eating a light snack before taking it helped a little.”
Ask your doctor about flushing that keeps happening.
“I am on Vumerity. I take the 81 milligrams of baby aspirin, and it worked to calm the flushing/prickling sensation.”
Be patient, because side effects may ease with time.
“It took about a month to six weeks to settle in, but I seem to be tolerating it much better now.”
Let your doctor know if cost or coverage is a problem.
“Very, very happy, thankful, and humbled. My insurance denied my neurologist’s appeal for Vumerity coverage. However, the manufacturer is sponsoring me, and I get my first delivery tomorrow morning.”
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In clinical studies in adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common side effects reported with Vumerity’s active form (studied as dimethyl fumarate) occurred in about 12 percent to 40 percent of people.
Vumerity can cause serious side effects that require immediate medical attention. These include:
Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.
Biogen, the manufacturer of Vumerity, offers the Biogen Copay Program. Eligible people with commercial insurance may pay as little as $0. If you have government insurance or no insurance, the website offers information on other ways to save on prescription costs.
The Biogen Copay Program also offers one-on-one phone support from Biogen Support Coordinators. To learn more, visit the Biogen support services financial support page or call 800-456-2255.
Before starting Vumerity, your doctor will perform:
Tell your doctor if you have any allergies to diroximel fumarate or any ingredients in Vumerity.
Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Also let your doctor know if you have had recent infections or nervous system problems in the past.
Do not take Vumerity if you have had a serious allergic reaction to diroximel fumarate or dimethyl fumarate (or any ingredient in Vumerity), or if you are taking dimethyl fumarate.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding while taking Vumerity, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. If you become pregnant while taking Vumerity, you can enroll in the BlossoMS Pregnancy Registry or call 833-569-2635.
These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.
How effective is Vumerity?
In two-year studies of dimethyl fumarate, a related medicine with the same active form as Vumerity, people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis had fewer relapses and fewer new MRI lesions than people taking a placebo (an inactive treatment). In one study, 27 percent of treated patients relapsed over two years, compared with 46 percent on placebo. The annual relapse rate was reduced by 53 percent. In another study, 29 percent of treated patients relapsed compared with 41 percent on placebo, reducing the annual relapse rate by 44 percent. MRI results also showed fewer new or enlarging lesions over two years.
How long does Vumerity take to work for multiple sclerosis?
Clinical studies followed people for up to two years, but they do not specify an exact time when symptom improvement may be noticed. After taking Vumerity, the body converts it to its active form, which reaches peak levels in about 2.5 to three hours. This does not mean that benefits for MS are felt right away.
What tests are needed before and during Vumerity treatment for multiple sclerosis?
Before starting Vumerity, your doctor will check your blood to make sure your immune system and liver are healthy. This includes looking at a complete blood count and liver enzymes. After starting treatment, a complete blood count should be checked after six months and then every six to 12 months, as needed. Liver blood tests should also be checked during treatment as indicated.
On MyMSTeam, people share their experiences with multiple sclerosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
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