Generic for Gilenya: Your Key to Affordable Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

What is Gilenya (generic: fingolimod)?

Gilenya is an immunomodulator commonly used for the treatment of relapsing/remitting forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults and children 10 years of age and older.

What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a long-term, usually progressive medical condition that affects your brain and spinal cord nerve cell sheaths.

MS is characterized by sporadic symptomatic episodes:

• Numbness
• Weakness
• Speech impairment
• Loss of muscle coordination
• Blurred vision
• Extreme fatigue

You are highly encouraged to get in touch with your doctor right away if your MS symptoms worsen or develop after stopping Gilenya therapy.

How do immunomodulators work?

Immunomodulators, or sphingosine l-phosphate receptor modulators work by reducing immune cell activity that might harm nerves.

They help prevent neurodegeneration (breakdown of neurons in your brain) or repair damaged nerves. They are essential for treating individuals who have multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly those with late-stage progressive multiple sclerosis.

Immunomodulators are also used to control autoimmune damage to your central nervous system (CNS) by minimizing immune cell counts, modifying their activities, or obstructing their exposure to your brain and/or spinal cord. However, these medications do not completely halt disease progression, they only reduce the frequency of relapse symptoms.

How is Gilenya (fingolimod) administered?

The recommended dosage of this medication is 0.5 mg capsule taken orally once per day, with or without food.

For people who weigh less than 40 kg (88 lb) 0.25 mg once a day is the appropriate dosage

Prior to and 6 hours after your first dose, you will have an electrocardiogram (ECG), a test that captures the electrical activity of your heart.

Your first dose of Gilenya (fingolimod) will be administered in a medical setting, such as a doctor's office. After taking it, you must remain at the clinic for at least 6 hours so that you can be observed.

Inform your doctor immediately if you suffer any of the following during your treatment, especially in the first 24 hours following your first dose: lightheadedness, fatigue, chest pain, or a slow or irregular heartbeat.

Side effects

• Back pain
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Pain in your arms and/or legs
• Abnormal liver function tests
• Flu-like symptoms, including cough and/or stuffy nose

Serious side effects

• Eye pain
• Blurred vision
• Sores that don’t heal properly
• Signs of liver issues include nausea, upper abdominal discomfort, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, darkened urine, and/or jaundice (yellowing in your eyes and/or skin).
• Signs of heart problems, including chest discomfort/pain, stagnant and/or irregular heartbeats, or feeling faint
• Signs of an infection, including fever, chills, body aches, extreme fatigue, nausea, and/or vomiting

If you’re experiencing any of the serious side effects listed above, immediately call your doctor and stop taking this medication.

Warning

If you suffer from mild to moderate liver disease, avoid using this medication.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that stopping this medication could cause your multiple sclerosis to worsen significantly compared to both before and during treatment. Although uncommon, this multiple sclerosis deterioration might leave you permanently disabled.

A severe brain infection that is brought on by this medication may result in impairment or even death. If you experience issues with speech, cognition, vision, or muscular movement, contact your physician immediately. These symptoms might develop gradually before rapidly worsening.

Additionally, if you take certain medications for irregular heartbeats or have had a major cardiac disease within the last 6 months, you should not use this medication. Heart failure, chest discomfort, cardiac attacks, and strokes are examples of serious heart ailments.

Interactions

A significant cardiac issue may result from this medication. If you also take medication(s) for HIV, cancer, malaria, asthma, heart disease including amiodarone or disopyramide, high blood pressure (hypertension), depression, or other mental illnesses, your risk may be increased.

Inform your physician about all additional medications you are taking, particularly steroids, anti- cancer medications, and treatments used to avoid organ transplant rejection are examples of medications that compromise your immune system.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Gilenya (generic: fingolimod) should be taken at roughly the same time every day so you don’t forget to take it.

However, if you do forget to take a dose, call your physician for guidance. You might need to take your next dosage while being closely monitored by a doctor in a hospital environment if you skip 1 or more doses.

How did Gilenya go generic?

Gilenya was initially given FDA approval in September 2010. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have received prescriptions for the medicine since that time. A 30-day supply of Gilenya costs over $9,000. Many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) could find relief from a generic form.

A pharmaceutical company named Novartis is the owner of Gilenya, and recently a court decision declared that the original patent for this drug, which was due to expire at the end of 2027, was invalid.

As a result, this has made it possible for generics to reach the market across the nation, helping individuals save thousands of dollars a month. Although Novartis does intend to appeal the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in this case, as of November 4, 2022, a generic version of Gilenya is now available to individuals throughout the United States.

Both generic and brand-name Gilenya are available to Marley Drug patients, and we will continue to oversee the matter. With the launch of generics, the price is rapidly declining, therefore we will keep negotiating with our wholesalers to gain access to the generic Gilenya alternative at the lowest possible cost and pass those savings forward to our patients.

Speak With Your Doctor

Gilenya (generic: fingolimod) is relatively considered a safe and effective medication when taken appropriately (as prescribed by your doctor). Talk to your doctor today about using Gilenya (generic: fingolimod) and send your prescription to Marley Drug. Save up to 95% compared to your local pharmacy by using Marley Drug.

Plus, Marley Drug provides free nationwide shipping, allowing you to receive your medication at no additional cost straight to your door.