Tysabri
Tysabri (natalizumab) treats relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD) in adults. This medication is a monoclonal antibody that works as an integrin antagonist. It lowers the immune system's activity and lessens inflammation. Tysabri (natalizumab) is given by a healthcare professional as a once-monthly infusion through the vein (IV). Common side effects include headache and fatigue. Because of the risk for serious infection, your care team will help you enroll in the TOUCH Prescribing Program and review the medication's warnings before treatment starts.
What is Tysabri (natalizumab)?
What is Tysabri (natalizumab) used for?
- Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD) when other treatments haven't worked well
How Tysabri (natalizumab) works
Tysabri (natalizumab) is an integrin antagonist. It's a type of monoclonal antibody.
It's not completely known how Tysabri (natalizumab) works to treat MS and CD. But it's thought to work by attaching to a protein on immune cells called integrin. As a consequence, it blocks signals in your body that cause inflammation. This helps block inflammation from affecting your nerves (for MS) or your gut (for CD).
Drug facts
More on Tysabri (natalizumab) essentials
Side effects of Tysabri (natalizumab)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache (38%)
- Fatigue or feeling extremely tired (27%)
- Urinary tract infection (21%)
- Joint pain (19%)
- Depression (19%)
- Lower respiratory tract infection (17%)
- Pain in arm or leg (16%)
- Rash or other skin irritation (up to 12%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Stomach discomfort
- Diarrhea
- Chest discomfort
- Muscle cramps
- Trouble keeping your balance
- Inflamed tonsil (tonsillitis)
- Tooth infections
- Herpes infection
- Itching and pain in the vagina (vaginitis)
Note: Side effects listed were from people with multiple sclerosis. Side effects might differ slightly for people with Crohn's disease.
Tysabri (natalizumab) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious brain infection: weakness on one side of the body, clumsiness, confusion, changes in personality, changes in vision, difficulty remembering, difficulty thinking, headache, stiff neck, light sensitivity, seizures
- Other infection: fever, difficulty breathing, cough, stomach pain, diarrhea, sweating, weakness, chills
- Liver damage: nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper right side of the stomach, poor appetite, dark urine, yellowing of the skin or whites of your eyes
- Allergic reaction or infusion reaction: hives, rash, itching, dizziness, fever, shaking, nausea, flushing, difficulty breathing, tightness in the throat, chest pain
More on Tysabri (natalizumab) side effects
The following Tysabri (natalizumab) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Bladder pain
blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
bloody or cloudy urine
body produces substance that can bind to drug making it less effective or cause side effects
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
frequent, strong, or increased urge to urinate
itching of the vagina or genital area
lower back or side pain
pain during sexual intercourse
passing urine more often
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare
Blurred vision
changes in behavior
confusion
difficult or labored breathing
fainting or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
feeling of warmth
feeling unusually cold
gaseous abdominal or stomach pain
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
shivering
stomach fullness
sweating
thoughts of killing oneself
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Cracked, dry, scaly skin
difficulty with moving
discouragement
feeling sad or empty
irritability
loss of interest or pleasure
muscle pain or stiffness
pain, cramps, or heavy bleeding
pain in the joints
stomach soreness or discomfort
swollen glands
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Tysabri (natalizumab)
Pros
- Infusions are once every month
- Can be used for CD or MS
- Has a risk monitoring program that anyone who prescribes, dispenses, infuses, or receives the medication must enroll in to make sure it's safe for you
Cons
- Must be given by a healthcare professional in a healthcare setting
- Infusions take about an hour
- Raises your risk for serious infection
- Only FDA approved for adults
Pharmacist tips for Tysabri (natalizumab)
- When you first start Tysabri (natalizumab), you'll have an appointment with your prescriber every 3 months. After you've been taking this medication for some time, you'll only need to check in every 6 months. Tysabri (natalizumab) raises the risk for serious infections because it weakens your immune system. These follow-up visits help check for any infections that might've developed during treatment.
- Get medical help right away if you don't feel well or if you have weakness on one side of the body, changes in personality, changes in vision, fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or diarrhea. These can be signs of a serious or life-threatening infection.
- Share a list with your care team of all the medications you're taking or have recently taken. It's recommended to avoid other medications that weaken your immune system (like corticosteroids and TNF blockers). These medications can raise your risk for serious infections even more. Ask your care team if you have any questions about taking Tysabri (natalizumab) with other medications.
- Tell your prescriber if you're currently taking any corticosteroids (also known as steroids). Both steroids and Tysabri (natalizumab) can weaken the immune system and put you at risk for serious infections. Your prescriber will discuss with you whether to slowly lower your steroid dose over time and stop the steroid medication or stop Tysabri (natalizumab) to lower your risk for infection.
- You can get a serious infection even after you stop taking Tysabri (natalizumab). This is because it'll take some time for your immune system to bounce back and get stronger after you stop treatment. Continue to look out for signs of infection for at least 6 months after your treatment ends.
- If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your prescriber to see whether Tysabri (natalizumab) is right for you. The evidence isn't completely clear. But current research suggests that there might not be a link between a higher risk of harm to an unborn baby and taking the medication during pregnancy. Discuss with your prescriber about the risks and benefits of taking the medication while pregnant.
- Don't breastfeed while you're taking Tysabri (natalizumab) unless you've talked to your prescriber. It's not known whether breastfeeding during treatment is safe for you and your baby. Research suggests that it's expected to be safe, but you might need to wait for a certain amount of time after giving birth to breastfeed.
Common questions about Tysabri (natalizumab)
It's not exactly clear how long it takes for Tysabri (natalizumab) to start working for you because everyone can have a different experience with treatment. It'll probably depend on what health condition you're taking Tysabri (natalizumab) for and how severe your condition is. Studies show that the medication can start to work within 3 months for some people with multiple sclerosis and within 2 months for some people with Crohn's disease. Talk to your prescriber if you have concerns about how long it takes for Tysabri (natalizumab) to work.
It takes about an hour to infuse the entire dose of Tysabri (natalizumab) through the veins. The infusion is given by trained healthcare professionals in a clinic or infusion center. During your infusion, your care team will watch for infusion reactions in case they need to stop treatment and help manage them. These infusion reactions can include dizziness, hives, fever, nausea, and flushing. After the infusion, your care team will observe you for about another an hour to continue checking for infusion reactions.
There isn't a set length of time for your treatment with Tysabri (natalizumab) for MS or CD. You'll probably continue taking the medication as long as it's helping your condition and you're not having any allergic reactions or serious side effects. In a long-term clinical study, some people with MS took Tysabri (natalizumab) for about three and a half years. But other people with MS were taking the medication for as long as almost 12 years. Make sure to regularly follow up with your prescriber so they can examine you to check how well Tysabri (natalizumab) is working for you and to address any concerning side effects. They'll discuss with you about whether your treatment plan needs any changes.
In general, it takes a little more than a month and a half for most of Tysabri (natalizumab) to leave your body after you've been taking this medication for a while. This time frame is estimated based on the half-life of Tysabri (natalizumab), which is a measure of how long it takes for your body to get rid of the medication. Talk with your prescriber if you have more questions about how long Tysabri (natalizumab) stays in your body.
No, Tysabri (natalizumab) isn't a form of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that kills all fast-growing cells in the body and is typically used to treat cancer. Instead, Tysabri (natalizumab) is a biologic called a monoclonal antibody. It treats CD and MS by specifically finding certain immune cells in the body and interfering with inflammatory signals.
Yes, Tysabri (natalizumab) can be considered an immunosuppressant because it's a medication that can weaken your immune system. This can put you at risk for infections.
Tysabri (natalizumab) is made by the manufacturing company called Biogen.
Both Tysabri and Tyruko have the same active ingredient, natalizumab. But they aren't identical. Tyruko is a biosimilar to Tysabri that was FDA approved in August 2023. Tyruko works in the same way as Tysabri and both medications are expected to provide the same benefits. The main difference between them is that Tyruko is expected be lower in cost than Tysabri. But keep in mind that Tysabri and Tyruko aren't interchangeable. This means that you need a new prescription to switch from one to the other. Talk to your prescriber to learn more about the similarities and differences between the two medications.
How to save using GoodRx
Risks and warnings for Tysabri (natalizumab)
Tysabri (natalizumab) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
- Risk factors: Having antibodies against the JC virus in the body | Taking Tysabri (natalizumab) for a long time (longer than 2 years) | Taking or have taken medications that weaken your immune system
Tysabri (natalizumab) can make it harder for your body to fight off infections. In particular, it can raise your risk of developing a serious brain infection caused by the John Cummingham virus (JCV). This infection is called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). It can lead to death or severe disability in people with a weakened immune system, like those who take Tysabri (natalizumab).
Get medical attention as soon as possible if you feel weak on one side of the body; feel clumsy; or notice changes in personality, vision, memory, or thinking skills. Continue to watch for these symptoms of PML for at least 6 more months after you stop taking Tysabri (natalizumab) because the infection can also appear after treatment ends. It's important to get help right away and get tested for PML since symptoms can worsen over days to weeks.
Because of the risk for PML with Tysabri (natalizumab), you, your prescriber, and any place that dispenses or infuses the medication must be enrolled in the TOUCH Prescribing Program. This is a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) program that makes sure that everyone involved in treatment is aware of the risks of the medication.
Other infections
- Risk factors: Taking medications that weaken your immune system | Having a medical condition that weakens your immune system
Tysabri (natalizumab) can raise your risk for other infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. These infections can sometimes be serious. They can happen in different parts of your body, including the brain, eyes, lungs, stomach, and urinary tract. Let your care team know if you don't feel well or if you have any signs of an infection, like fevers, chills, tiredness, confusion, stomach aches, difficulty breathing, cough, or eye pain. If you get a serious infection while you're taking Tysabri (natalizumab), you might have to stop the medication so you can get appropriate treatment.
Liver problems
Some people taking Tysabri (natalizumab) developed liver damage. Sometimes, this led to life-threatening liver failure or the need for a transplant. Get medical attention right away if you feel tired or if you have poor appetite, discomfort in the upper right side of the stomach, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or whites of your eyes. These can be symptoms of liver damage. Your prescriber might order blood tests to check your liver health. If you develop liver problems, you might need to stop Tysabri (natalizumab) to prevent more damage.
Allergic reaction or infusion reaction
- Risk factors: Having antibodies to Tysabri (natalizumab) in the body | Restarting Tysabri (natalizumab) after a long break
Allergic reactions, including infusion reactions, are possible while you're taking Tysabri (natalizumab). In rare cases, the allergic reaction can be very serious and sometimes life-threatening, like with anaphylaxis. The risk for allergic reactions might be higher if your body has made antibodies against the medication. Your prescriber might order blood tests every few months to check for these antibodies.
Allergic reactions can typically happen within 2 hours after the Tysabri (natalizumab) infusion starts. The healthcare professional will watch out for reactions during your infusion and also for a period of time afterwards.
Still, it's important to be aware of symptoms of an allergic reaction or an infusion reaction. These can include hives, rash, itching, dizziness, fever, shivering, flushing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and nausea. Get medical help right away if any of these symptoms appear. The healthcare professional will stop the infusion and help manage your symptoms. It's possible that you might need to stop taking Tysabri (natalizumab) altogether.
Low platelet levels
Some people who took Tysabri (natalizumab) developed low platelet levels during treatment. Platelets are cells in your blood that help stop bleeding when you get injured, like when you get a cut. Having platelet levels that are too low can put you at risk for bleeding.
Contact your care team right away if you notice any bleeding that's difficult to stop, easy bruising, or red or purple pinpoint spots on your skin. Your care team can examine you. You might need to stop Tysabri (natalizumab) if your platelet levels are too low.
Tysabri (natalizumab) dosage
Typical dosage for Tysabri (natalizumab)
The typical dose is 300 mg infused into the vein (IV) once per month. The IV infusion is given by a healthcare professional at a medical office, hospital, or infusion center.
More on Tysabri (natalizumab) dosage
Interactions between Tysabri (natalizumab) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Infliximab
- Tofacitinib
Tysabri (natalizumab) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Tysabri (natalizumab) will not be safe for you to take.
- Currently have or have had progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (a type of viral infection in the brain)
What are alternatives to Tysabri (natalizumab)?
