Introduction to the decision aid

This section of the website is an interactive decision aid for people considering treatment with the self-administered DMDs interferon beta or glatiramer acetate.

Natalizumab (Tysabri®) is not included in this section: if you are considering this treatment, please skip to the natalizumab part of the website.

Before you decide whether or not to start on a DMD, it is important to have realistic expectations about the possible benefits of treatment and think through the risks and drawbacks which you might have to face when you are taking them.

There are two reasons for this:

• It will help you to prepare yourself and that in turn will make it more likely that you will be able to stick with the decision you have made
• The different drugs available have different features and drawbacks. By thinking about how important these are to you, you will be able to select the drug which suits your own lifestyle and preferences better than the others

Once you have read through information on the benefits and risks of these drugs and seen and heard about the experiences of other people, you will have a chance to answer some questions on your thoughts about the factors involved in the decision, and the website will create a personalised table for you showing the five available drugs ranked by your own priorities and preferences. You can print this out and use it to help prepare for a decision with your neurologist.