This drug has a boxed warning, the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
Tysabri increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which is a serious brain infection. PML is caused by a virus and can lead to severe disability and even death.
Symptoms of PML can vary but may include problems with memory, thinking, coordination, and vision. These symptoms may worsen over time. Doctors will watch for symptoms of PML during Tysabri treatment. They’ll also watch for PML symptoms for at least 6 months after treatment ends.
If you have symptoms of PML with Tysabri, contact your doctor right away.
Due to the risk of PML, Tysabri is available only through the Tysabri TOUCH Prescribing Program. This is a type of risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) program. The FDA created REMS to make sure certain drugs are prescribed safely.
Your doctor can tell you more about PML and the Tysabri TOUCH Prescribing Program.
Tysabri is a brand-name prescription medication that contains the active drug natalizumab. It belongs to a class of biologic drugs called integrin receptor antagonists. Tysabri is a biologic drug, and it’s not available in a biosimilar form.*
This medication is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions in adults:
- Crohn’s disease
- relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS)
- active secondary progressive MS
- clinically isolated syndrome, which may or may not lead to MS
In this article, you’ll find information about Tysabri’s dosage and details on how to use the drug. For a comprehensive overview of Tysabri, view this article.
* A biosimilar medication is a drug that’s similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug).
Finding a healthcare professional
If you’re interested in using Tysabri, search here to find a doctor who might prescribe it.
This article describes typical recommended dosages for Tysabri. These dosages are provided by the drug’s manufacturer.
Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of Tysabri that’s best for you.
This section describes the commonly recommended dosage for Tysabri. However, your doctor will prescribe the Tysabri dosage that’s right for you.
Tysabri’s form and strength
Tysabri comes as a solution containing 300 milligrams per 15 milliliters (mg/mL) of the drug. Once the solution is properly prepared, a healthcare professional administers it by intravenous infusion.
Typical recommended dosage
Tysabri has the same recommended dosage for each condition it is approved to treat in adults. These include Crohn’s disease, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), active secondary progressive MS, and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).*
* CIS sometimes indicates the start of MS, but not everyone who has had CIS develops MS.
Adult’s dosage
The overview below shows Tysabri’s recommended dosage for adults. Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of Tysabri that’s right for your condition.
- Intravenous infusion dosage: 300 mg, to be infused over 1 hour
- Frequency: every 4 weeks
Length of treatment
Doctors typically prescribe Tysabri as a long-term treatment. You’ll likely receive it long term if you and your doctor feel it’s safe and effective for your condition.
The common questions below relate to Tysabri’s dosage.
Is there a Tysabri 300-mg dose?
Yes, the recommended dose of Tysabri is 300 milligrams (mg). You’ll receive it as an intravenous infusion every 4 weeks.
For more information about Tysabri’s dosage and its administration, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Are there any drug interactions that would cause a dosage adjustment of Tysabri?
No, none would require a dosage adjustment of Tysabri.
Even so, Tysabri can interact with certain other drugs, such as immunosuppressants and corticosteroids. This interaction can increase your risk of infection. However, it doesn’t require a dosage adjustment of Tysabri. Instead, if you take one of these drugs, doctors might recommend stopping it before you receive Tysabri.
Tell your doctor about all medications you take. If you have questions about using Tysabri with other drugs, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Tysabri have a recommended dosing schedule?
Yes, the recommended dosing schedule for Tysabri is an intravenous infusion every 4 weeks. Tysabri is meant for long-term, extended dosing. This is because it can take up to 12 weeks for Tysabri to be fully effective.
For questions about the dosing schedule or extended dosing of Tysabri, talk with your doctor.
Tysabri comes as a solution for intravenous infusion (through a vein). You’ll receive it at a hospital, infusion center, or doctor’s office.
If you miss an appointment to receive your Tysabri dose, get it rescheduled right away. Call the hospital, infusion center, or your doctor’s office. They can schedule a new appointment and adjust your dosing schedule if necessary.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for additional information about Tysabri’s dosage. The dosages presented in this article are typical dosages that the drug’s manufacturer provides.
In addition to discussing Tysabri with your doctor, you may find the following articles helpful in learning more.
- Overview of Tysabri. For comprehensive details on Tysabri, see this article.
- Drug comparisons. To learn how Tysabri compares with Kesimpta, read this article.
- Information on side effects. If you’d like to know about possible side effects of Tysabri, view this article.
- Details about Tysabri’s uses. To learn more about the conditions Tysabri is used to treat, see these articles on:
Disclaimer: Healthgrades has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
