Definition: Medications or substances that suppress, block or weaken the body’s immune response.
Solu-Medrol and other corticosteroids are immunosuppressants. In multiple sclerosis (MS) they are given during a relapse in order to stop the person’s immune system from attacking their myelin and to reduce inflammation.
Several other immunosuppressants are used in progressive or aggressive forms of MS, including: mitoxantrone (Novantrone), methotrexate and cyclophsphamide (Cytoxin).
Other disease-modifying therapies, such as Rebif, Betaseron, Avonex, Copaxone and Tysabri, are often thought to be immunosuppressants, but are more accurately described as immunomodulators.
