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The first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved oral medication for multiple sclerosis poses a potential risk of macular edema, particularly in patients with a history of uveitis, according to a neuro-ophthalmologist.

MS patients who receive Gilenya (fingolimod, Novartis) should undergo baseline and follow-up examinations 3 to 4 months after initiation of treatment, Robert C. Sergott, MD, said at the Wills Eye Institute Alumni Conference in Philadelphia.

“The macular edema issue is one that we as ophthalmologists are very familiar with and most neurologists are not familiar with,” he said. “It’s our obligation then to help them take care of these patients because we have an intersection of MS with a medication that can cause visual loss.”... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1309

squiffy2 wrote:


The first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved oral medication for multiple sclerosis poses a potential risk of macular edema, particularly in patients with a history of uveitis, according to a neuro-ophthalmologist.

MS patients who receive Gilenya (fingolimod, Novartis) should undergo baseline and follow-up examinations 3 to 4 months after initiation of treatment, Robert C. Sergott, MD, said at the Wills Eye Institute Alumni Conference in Philadelphia.

“The macular edema issue is one that we as ophthalmologists are very familiar with and most neurologists are not familiar with,” he said. “It’s our obligation then to help them take care of these patients because we have an intersection of MS with a medication that can cause visual loss.”... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1309

Yeah, my history of macular edema is one of the (many) reasons I'm going to have to decline my neuro's latest suggestion that I take Gilenya. My background also hits a few of the other main Warnings and Precautions listed in the prescribing information for Gilenya, which my neuro didn't notice.

From the drug info -

The Warnings and Precautions list 7 items including –
1. Cardiac Disorders (I have a family history of heart attacks.)
2. Macular Edema (I have a personal history of ME.)
3. Increase in blood pressure ( I have poorly controlled HBP.)

Drug Interactions: I take 1 of them – a beta blocker (I was taking 2 of the meds in the precautions at the time she suggested Gilenya, but just dropped the 2nd one. )