MS: Infusion Facts

An infusion, also called an IV infusion, is a way of giving medication. "IV" stands for intravenous, which means "into a vein."

An IV infusion is the process of giving a medication directly into the bloodstream through a slow "drip" into a vein. It is different from an injection in that the medication is given slowly over a period of time, from 15 minutes to many hours, rather than in one quick shot. If you've ever been in a hospital and seen patients with IV poles that have bags hanging on them, these people may be receiving a medication through an IV infusion.

In some cases, an IV infusion may be given when a person cannot swallow the medication by mouth. But for certain medications, infusions are used because these medications cannot reliably get into the bloodstream if they are given by other methods, such as by mouth.

MS medications given by infusion include:

• natalizumab (Tysabri®): This new MS treatment is used to reduce the risk of relapses, slow the progression of disability, and reduce the number and size of damaged areas in the brain for people with the relapsing-remitting form of MS. It's used for people who cannot take other MS treatments or in cases where other treatments have not worked. Tysabri is given as an IV infusion over one hour, once every 4 weeks.
• methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol®): Methylprednisolone is used to treat MS relapses. It works by reducing inflammation in the brain. Methylprednisolone is given slowly into a vein. The length of time for the infusion depends on the dose.

For more information on what it's like to have an infusion, or how infusion centres work, read "MS infusion centres" and "What can I expect during an infusion?"