Aubagio, whose active ingredient is teriflunomide, is a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It works by inhibiting the function of certain immune cells that contribute to the inflammation and damage in MS. When it comes to using Aubagio alongside other MS medications, several important considerations arise regarding safety, effectiveness, and potential interactions.
**Can Aubagio be combined with other MS drugs?** Generally, Aubagio is prescribed as a standalone treatment rather than in combination with other disease-modifying therapies. This is because combining multiple immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive agents can increase the risk of serious side effects such as infections or liver damage. Teriflunomide has a long half-life and significant effects on the immune system; therefore, adding another MS medication could amplify risks without clear evidence of added benefit.
Some specific points about combining Aubagio with other treatments include:
– **Drug Interactions:** Teriflunomide interacts with certain medications like warfarin and drugs affecting liver enzymes but there are no well-established protocols for safely combining it with many other DMTs used in MS. Careful monitoring would be required if any combination were attempted.
– **Overlap With Other Immunosuppressants:** Using Aubagio together with stronger immunosuppressants or biologics may heighten risks for infections or bone marrow suppression due to additive immune system effects.
– **Switching Between Therapies:** In clinical practice, patients sometimes switch from one DMT to another rather than taking them simultaneously. Because teriflunomide stays in the body for weeks or months after stopping treatment (due to its long half-life), an accelerated elimination procedure may be needed before starting a new drug.
– **Symptom Management Drugs:** Some symptomatic treatments for MS symptoms (like muscle relaxants or pain medications) can often be taken alongside Aubagio without direct interaction concerns but always under medical supervision.
In contrast, some injectable interferons like Avonex have fewer known drug interactions but are also typically not combined directly with oral agents like teriflunomide due to overlapping mechanisms and side effect profiles.
Ultimately, whether Aubagio can be used together with another specific MS medication depends heavily on individual patient factors including disease type and severity, existing health conditions such as liver function or blood pressure issues (which teriflunomide can affect), infection risk status, and prior treatment history. Any decision about combining therapies must involve close consultation between patient and neurologist who will weigh potential benefits against increased risks carefully.
Because multiple sclerosis treatments continue evolving rapidly—with newer options targeting different aspects of immune regulation—ongoing research may clarify safe combinations in future. For now though, simultaneous use of Aubagio plus another DMT remains uncommon outside carefully controlled clinical trials due to safety concerns related primarily to additive immunosuppression and toxicity risks.
Patients should never attempt mixing these powerful medications on their own but always seek expert guidance tailored specifically for their unique medical situation when considering changes involving Aubagio or any other MS therapy.
