Important considerations before getting started
If you and your healthcare provider are considering MAVENCLAD, there are a few important topics you may want to discuss before making decisions about your treatment journey.
If you and your healthcare provider are considering MAVENCLAD, there are a few important topics you may want to discuss before making decisions about your treatment journey.
For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), getting vaccinated is an important part of your health care to help prevent infections.
There are several types of vaccines. Each type helps your body’s immune system fight off certain germs in a different way. Some of these vaccinations are:
The way your immune system responds to a vaccine depends on the type of vaccine you receive. If you are considering treatment with MAVENCLAD, be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you had a recent vaccination or if you are scheduled to receive any.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. For females who are able to become pregnant, your healthcare provider should order a pregnancy test before you begin your first and second yearly treatment course of MAVENCLAD to make sure that you are not pregnant.
For people taking MAVENCLAD, you should not:
Both men and women should use effective birth control while taking MAVENCLAD and for at least 6 months after the last dose in year 1 and year 2. Talk to your healthcare provider if you use birth control pills. You should use a second method of birth control on the days which you take MAVENCLAD and for at least 4 weeks after your last dose of each yearly treatment course.
Do not breastfeed on the days on which you take MAVENCLAD and for 10 days after each monthly dosing cycle. Stop treatment with MAVENCLAD and contact your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant during treatment with MAVENCLAD.
Use effective contraception during treatment and 6 months after the last dose in year 1 and year 2.
See the chart below:
*1 or 2 pills a day depending on weight.
†Treatment days.
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
As you and your healthcare provider consider MAVENCLAD as a treatment option, your healthcare provider should perform some tests to rule out certain medical conditions and see if MAVENCLAD is right for you.
Download and bring the Pre-treatment Checklist to see what tests should be performed. Keep in mind, a blood test is recommended and should happen:
Once you’re prescribed treatment, your healthcare provider will continue to monitor you to see how you’re doing. Your healthcare provider may delay or completely stop treatment with MAVENCLAD if you have severe side effects.
MAVENCLAD is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Because of its safety profile, MAVENCLAD is generally used in people who have tried another MS medicine that they could not tolerate or that has not worked well enough.
MAVENCLAD is not recommended for use in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
MAVENCLAD may cause serious side effects. Treatment with MAVENCLAD may increase your risk of developing cancer. You should follow healthcare provider instructions about screening for cancer. Because of the risk of birth defects, do not take MAVENCLAD if you are pregnant or of childbearing potential and not using effective birth control.
My name is Ron. I’ve been married to my beautiful wife Marilyn for over 30 years. We have two grown sons, Ronald and Jaison.
Now, I’m retired. I used to do refrigeration, air conditioning, and heating, and I rose to the level of operations manager.
My job was really stressful, but to be honest with you, I really miss being in the heat of the action.
I was diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2009. I remember one day my right arm went limp, and at the same time, I couldn’t swallow, and so, I thought I was having a heart attack or a mini-stroke.
The doctors ran a series of tests over a 10-day period – a CT scan, a MRI, and at the end of that, I was called in and given the news that I had relapsing multiple sclerosis.
My initial response to the diagnosis was not good. My mom’s late cousin had been bedridden with MS for over 20 years, and so I felt like my life was over. I felt like I was headed for a wheelchair or an early death. So, it was just a real emotional rollercoaster for the first couple of years.
And then, my sister got diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis, and so, when my sister got diagnosed, I was like you “You know what, I gotta pick myself up.” I wanted to be an encouragement to her.
I actually started to look outward instead of looking inward, and I realized that as devastating as the diagnosis was, it was also a relief because it answered why I had been having right side weakness and fatigue for over 20 years.
My journey to finding the right treatment was a bumpy road. I was on one treatment for a while, but I did not tolerate it well.
From there, my doctor and I discussed several treatment options, and we landed on one that required multiple injections a week. I spent years on that therapy, but I experienced unwelcome side effects that made it harder and harder to stay compliant.
I was to the point that I wanted to explore other options. I wanted to know what else was out there.
One day I did some research and read about MAVENCLAD. I asked my neurologist about it. He said it’s an oral treatment that I only have to take eight to ten days a year for two years.
For me, that meant I would take two pills a day for five days then do it again about a month later. Then, my MS treatment would be done for that year.
I was very intrigued with the dosing schedule. Number one, I couldn’t believe it, and then secondly, I felt like “Wow! This could work for me.” We went over the potential benefits and risks of MAVENCLAD.
He explained the possible serious side effects, the risk of cancer, low white blood cell counts, serious infections and liver problems. We also talked about how I would need to be monitored.
My doctor and I decided that MAVENCLAD was the right option for me.
Since starting MAVENCLAD, I’ve been very consistent. So far, I haven’t had any relapses. I still experience right side weakness and fatigue from time to time, and so I’velearned to not overdo it. I’m aware of how much I can do and when, and when it’s time to rest, I rest.
I have quarterly doctor visits, and he monitors my blood work, and we discuss any symptoms I may or may not be having or if I have any new symptoms.
I’m so grateful for MAVENCLAD, and I’m so glad that this therapy does not have to be taken every day. I would say on my MS journey, I’m at a very good place. I’m moving towards my goal. I want my life to be the mirror that reflects the image of hope.
I’m involved in a support group that meets monthly. It’s important to me that I can make an impact on someone else’s life.
Today, I try not to make my MS bigger than it is. It’s one part of my life. It doesn’t have to define me.
MAVENCLAD (cladribine) tablets Important Safety Information
WHAT IS MAVENCLAD?
MAVENCLAD is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Because of its safety profile, MAVENCLAD is generally used in people who have tried another MS medicine that they could not tolerate or that has not worked well enough.
MAVENCLAD is not recommended for use in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). It is not known if MAVENCLAD is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age and is therefore not recommended.
MAVENCLAD may cause serious side effects, including:
Do not take MAVENCLAD if you:
Before you take MAVENCLAD, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
How should I take MAVENCLAD?
Your healthcare provider will continue to monitor your health during the 2 yearly treatment courses, and for at least another 2 years during which you do not need to take MAVENCLAD. It is not known if MAVENCLAD is safe and effective in people who restart MAVENCLAD treatment more than 2 years after completing 2 yearly treatment courses.
MAVENCLAD can cause serious side effects. If you have any of these symptoms listed below, call your healthcare provider right away:
The most common side effects of MAVENCLAD include: upper respiratory infection, headache, and low white blood cell counts.
These are not all the possible side effects of MAVENCLAD. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see full Prescribing Information/Medication Guide, including serious side effects, for additional Important Safety Information.
MAVENCLAD is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include relapsing-remitting disease and active secondary progressive disease, in adults. Because of its safety profile, MAVENCLAD is generally used in people who have tried another MS medicine that they could not tolerate or that has not worked well enough.
MAVENCLAD is not recommended for use in people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
It is not known if MAVENCLAD is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age, and is therefore not recommended.
MAVENCLAD may cause serious side effects, including:
Do not take MAVENCLAD if you:
Before you take MAVENCLAD, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
How should I take MAVENCLAD?
Your healthcare provider will continue to monitor your health during the 2 yearly treatment courses, and for at least another 2 years during which you do not need to take MAVENCLAD. It is not known if MAVENCLAD is safe and effective in people who restart MAVENCLAD treatment more than 2 years after completing 2 yearly treatment courses.
MAVENCLAD can cause serious side effects. If you have any of these symptoms listed below, call your healthcare provider right away:
The most common side effects of MAVENCLAD include: upper respiratory infection, headache, and low white blood cell counts.
These are not all the possible side effects of MAVENCLAD. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see full Prescribing Information/Medication Guide, including serious side effects, for additional Important Safety Information.