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Additional
Considerations

What else should I consider when exploring VUMERITY?

Deciding on the right treatment option for your relapsing MS is a big decision. In addition to a medicine’s effectiveness, there may be some other points worth discussing with your healthcare provider. Below are some things you may want to consider when deciding if VUMERITY® (diroximel fumarate) is the right fit for you.

Certain medications
Alcohol
Several non-live VACCINES

VUMERITY and certain medications

Aspirin

When taken 30 minutes before, aspirin did not affect the effectiveness of dimethyl fumarate. Your healthcare provider may recommend taking a non-coated aspirin (up to 325 mg) to help with flushing.

Oral contraceptive—norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol

In a study using dimethyl fumarate, there were no relevant effects on the combination oral contraceptive norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol. No other studies have been done with oral contraceptives containing other progestogens.

Dimethyl fumarate

Do not take VUMERITY while treating with dimethyl fumarate.

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Taking VUMERITY with alcohol

Do not drink alcohol at the same time you take your VUMERITY dose. Get more information on VUMERITY and alcohol.

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VUMERITY and several
non-live vaccines

Tetanus-diphtheria toxoid, pneumococcal, meningococcal vaccines

A study of adults (aged 27-55) with relapsing MS investigated what happens when people receive several non-live vaccines while treating with dimethyl fumarate.

The study found that dimethyl fumarate did not weaken the body’s response to three non-live vaccines:

  • Tetanus-diphtheria toxoid
  • Pneumococcal
  • Meningococcal

The safety and effectiveness of getting any other vaccine while taking dimethyl fumarate or VUMERITY have not been studied, and we do not know VUMERITY’s impact on vaccine effectiveness. As with any medical decision, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider if you’re considering any type of vaccination.

 

COVID-19 vaccine

A separate small study was done with people with relapsing MS to understand how disease modifying therapies like VUMERITY and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) could affect the body's immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine. VUMERITY and DMF did not affect immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, people’s immune responses were about the same whether they were taking VUMERITY, DMF, or no treatment at all.

This study did not measure COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, only IgG antibody responses to the vaccine. IgG are just one of the antibodies that help fight infections.

Other vaccines have not been studied in people taking VUMERITY or DMF. We do not know VUMERITY’s impact on vaccine effectiveness. As with any medical decision, talk to your healthcare provider if you’re considering any type of vaccination.

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More to check out

The importance of cutting MS relapses ❯
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NEXT: TIPS FOR COMMON SIDE EFFECTS

Indication and Important Safety Information

What is VUMERITY® (diroximel fumarate)?

  • VUMERITY is a prescription medicine used to treat people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), to include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease in adults

  • It is not known if VUMERITY is safe and effective in children

Important Safety Information

Do not take VUMERITY if you:

  • have had an allergic reaction (such as welts, hives, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or tongue, or difficulty breathing) to diroximel fumarate, dimethyl fumarate, or any of the ingredients in VUMERITY

  • are taking dimethyl fumarate

Before taking and while you take VUMERITY, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have liver problems

  • have kidney problems

  • have or have had low white blood cell counts or an infection

  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if VUMERITY will harm your unborn baby

    • If you become pregnant while taking VUMERITY, talk to your healthcare provider about enrolling in the BlossoMS Pregnancy Registry. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-833-569-2635 or visiting www.blossomspregnancyregistry.com. The purpose of this registry is to monitor the health of you and your baby

  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VUMERITY passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using VUMERITY

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What should I avoid while taking VUMERITY?

  • Do not drink alcohol at the time you take a VUMERITY dose

What are the possible side effects of VUMERITY?

VUMERITY may cause serious side effects including:

  • allergic reaction (such as welts, hives, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or tongue, or difficulty breathing). Stop taking VUMERITY and get emergency medical help right away if you get any of these symptoms

  • PML (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) a rare brain infection that usually leads to death or severe disability over a period of weeks or months. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms of PML:

    • weakness on one side of the body that gets worse

    • clumsiness in your arms or legs

    • vision problems

    • changes in thinking and memory

    • confusion

    • personality changes

  • herpes zoster infections (shingles), including central nervous system infections

  • other serious infections

  • decreases in your white blood cell count. Your healthcare provider should do a blood test to check your white blood cell count before you start treatment with VUMERITY and while you are on therapy. You should have blood tests after 6 months of treatment and every 6 to 12 months after that

  • liver problems. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your liver function before you start taking VUMERITY and during treatment if needed. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms of a liver problem during treatment

    • severe tiredness

    • loss of appetite

    • pain on the right side of your stomach

    • have dark or brown (tea color) urine

    • yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes

  • serious gastrointestinal problems, including bleeding, ulcers, blockage, and tears (perforation) of the stomach or intestines. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms during treatment:

    • stomach-area pain that does not go away

    • bright red or black stools (that look like tar)

    • severe vomiting

    • severe diarrhea

    • coughing up blood or blood clots

    • vomiting blood or your vomit looks like “coffee grounds”

The most common side effects of VUMERITY include:

  • flushing, redness, itching, or rash

  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or indigestion

  • Flushing and stomach problems are the most common reactions, especially at the start of therapy, and may decrease over time. Taking VUMERITY with food (avoid high-fat, high-calorie meal or snack) may help reduce flushing. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms and they bother you or do not go away. Ask your healthcare provider if taking aspirin before taking VUMERITY may reduce flushing

These are not all the possible side effects of VUMERITY. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. For more information go to dailymed.nlm.nih.gov

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

 

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