Tysabri: Side Effects, Cost, Uses, and More - Healthline

It's important to talk with your doctor about your overall health before you begin treatment with Tysabri. There are important considerations that affect whether the drug is safe for you. These include your medical history and any medications you may take.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before starting treatment with Tysabri, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also, describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Tysabri.

For information about drug-condition interactions, see the "Other warnings" section below.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Tysabri can interact with several types of drugs. These drugs include:

• Other immunosuppressants. Due to the risk of an interaction, doctors typically won't prescribe Tysabri with these medications. Examples of immunosuppressants include:
  • azathioprine (Azasan)
  • cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral)
  • methotrexate (Trexall, others)
• Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. Due to the risk of an interaction, doctors typically won't prescribe Tysabri with TNF blockers. Examples of these drugs include:
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone (Rayos)

This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Tysabri. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with use of Tysabri.

Boxed warning: Risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)

Tysabri has a boxed warning for the risk of PML. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

PML is a rare but serious brain infection that's been reported with Tysabri use. It often leads to disability, and it can even be fatal. There's no known cure for PML.

To learn more, see the "Boxed warning" section at the beginning of this article.

Other warnings

Tysabri may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether Tysabri is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you use Tysabri. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

• HIV, AIDS, or another condition that weakens your immune system. Tysabri weakens your immune system, which raises your risk of infection. Tysabri may not be safe for you if you already have a weakened immune system. This can be due to certain conditions such as HIV, AIDS, lymphoma, or a past organ transplant. Your doctor can determine whether Tysabri is safe for you or if another treatment for your condition would be a better choice.
• Infection. Tysabri weakens your immune system, which raises your risk of infection. If you already have an infection before starting Tysabri treatment, it may be harder to treat once you begin using Tysabri. Before starting treatment with Tysabri, tell your doctor if you have an infection. They'll likely want to treat it before you begin treatment with Tysabri.
• Allergic reaction. If you've had an allergic reaction to Tysabri or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Tysabri. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

Tysabri and alcohol

It should be safe to drink alcohol during your Tysabri treatment.

But alcohol and Tysabri can cause similar side effects, including headache, fatigue (low energy), and indigestion (upset stomach). Drinking alcohol during your Tysabri treatment may raise your risk of these side effects. It could also make these side effects more severe if you do experience them.

Further, drinking alcohol may worsen the symptoms of your condition. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe to drink during your Tysabri treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It's not known whether it's safe to use Tysabri while pregnant. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Tysabri.

It's also not known if it's safe to receive Tysabri infusions while breastfeeding. Studies have shown that the drug passes into breast milk. But it's not known what effects this could have on a breastfed child or how it could affect breastmilk production.

If you're breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Tysabri.

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