Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) is a prescription drug used to treat certain forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Vumerity comes as a delayed-release oral capsule.

Vumerity is a prescription drug used to treat the following forms of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults:

It’s also used in adults to treat clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), a condition that may develop into MS.

To learn more about the uses of Vumerity, see the “What is Vumerity used for?” section.

Vumerity basics

Vumerity contains the active ingredient diroximel fumarate. It belongs to a drug class called Nrf2 activators, which are a type of disease-modifying therapy. Vumerity isn’t currently available as a generic drug.

Keep reading to learn more about Vumerity’s side effects, dosage, cost, and more.

Like most drugs, Vumerity may cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the more common side effects Vumerity may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Vumerity. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Vumerity and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects Vumerity can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Vumerity that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Vumerity can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Vumerity that have been reported include:

* Though not reported in studies of Vumerity, this side effect was reported after the drug became available for use.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Vumerity, but it’s not known how often these reactions occurred in the drug’s studies.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause breathing difficulties.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Vumerity. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

You may wonder how Vumerity compares with other medications prescribed to treat MS, such as Tecfidera.

Both Vumerity and Tecfidera are prescribed to treat the same conditions in adults:

Vumerity contains the active ingredient diroximel fumarate. Tecfidera’s active ingredient is dimethyl fumarate. These ingredients are very similar. As a result, many of Tecfidera’s side effects can be the same as Vumerity’s. (For more information about Vumerity’s side effects, see the “What are Vumerity’s side effects?” section.)

It’s important to note that you should not take Vumerity and Tecfidera together. This is because the body breaks down both drugs into the same substance, monomethyl fumarate (MMF). So taking both drugs at the same time could cause too much MMF to build up in your body.

The following are commonly used dosages of Vumerity, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes. They’ll recommend the dosage that’s right for you.

Form

Vumerity comes as a delayed-release capsule that you swallow. (Delayed release means the drug is released into your body slowly.)

Recommended dosage

You’ll take Vumerity twice each day. You’ll take a lower dosage of the drug for the first week. Then you’ll take a higher dosage for the rest of treatment.

You can take your dose with food, as long as it isn’t a high calorie or high fat meal or snack. For more information, see the “How is Vumerity taken?” section. You can also check out this Vumerity dosage article.

Questions about Vumerity’s dosage

Here are some common questions about Vumerity’s dosage.

  • What if I miss a dose of Vumerity? If you miss a dose of Vumerity, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its regular time. Do not take more than one dose of Vumerity at a time to make up for a missed dose.
  • Will I need to take Vumerity long term? If you and your doctor agree that Vumerity is safe and working well for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.
  • How long does Vumerity take to work? Vumerity begins working as soon as you take a dose. But it may take several weeks before you notice your MS symptoms easing. If you have questions about when you can expect your condition to improve, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors including your insurance coverage and the pharmacy you use.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Biogen Support Services is available that may be able to help you cover the cost of Vumerity.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Vumerity.

What is Vumerity’s mechanism of action (how it works)?

Vumerity’s mechanism of action for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) isn’t fully understood. It’s not known exactly what causes MS, which makes it hard to know how drugs like Vumerity work to treat this condition.

It’s thought that Vumerity may decrease MS symptoms by activating certain proteins in the body. These proteins may help reduce the inflammation and damage caused by MS.

If you’d like to know more about how Vumerity works, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

What should I know about alternatives to Vumerity, such as Ocrevus and Aubagio?

If you’re considering treatment with Vumerity, you may wonder how it compares with alternate treatments such as ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) and teriflunomide (Aubagio).

Vumerity, Aubagio, and Ocrevus are all prescribed to treat relapsing forms of MS and CIS in adults. (To learn more about these conditions, see the “What is Vumerity used for?” section.) Ocrevus is also used to treat primary progressive MS in adults.

Vumerity comes as a capsule and Aubagio comes as a tablet, both of which you swallow. Ocrevus is given by intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time).

To learn more about how Vumerity compares with Ocrevus and Aubagio, as well as other alternatives, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.

Does Vumerity cause hair loss?

It’s possible. Studies of Vumerity did not report hair loss as a side effect, but there have been reports of hair loss by people taking the drug since it came onto the market.

Because hair loss occurred outside of studies, it’s not known for sure whether it was caused by the drug or other factors.

MS, which Vumerity is prescribed to treat, may cause hair loss. Certain other medications prescribed for MS, such as Aubagio, can also cause hair loss.

If you’re concerned about hair loss during MS treatment, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether it could be caused by a medication such as Vumerity, your condition, or another factor.

Vumerity is a prescription drug used to treat the following forms of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults:

It’s also used in adults to treat clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), a condition that may develop into MS.

About MS and CIS

MS is a kind of long-term autoimmune condition. With autoimmune conditions, your immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s own cells.

MS causes your immune system to attack myelin, a protective layer of tissue that wraps around your nerve fibers. Damaged myelin makes it hard for your nervous system to function as usual.

Symptoms of MS can vary depending on the kind, but some general ones include:

CIS also involves damaged myelin and causes symptoms similar to MS that last at least 24 hours. But CIS may not necessarily develop into MS.

If you’re considering Vumerity treatment, it’s important to discuss certain aspects of your health with your doctor. This includes your complete health history, including any medical conditions you may have or medications you may take. This information helps your doctor determine whether Vumerity may be a good treatment option for you.

Interactions

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before starting Vumerity, be sure to tell your doctor about all drugs you take, including prescription and over-the-counter kinds. Also, describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Vumerity.

For information about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings” section.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Vumerity can interact with the drug dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera). Your body breaks down both drugs into the same substance, monomethyl fumarate (MMF). Taking both drugs at the same time could cause too much MMF to build up in your body.

Due to this risk, doctors usually will not prescribe Vumerity with Tecfidera. If you’re switching from Tecfidera to Vumerity, you’ll need to wait a day after you stop taking Tecfidera to start taking Vumerity.

Studies did not report other drug interactions with Vumerity. But this doesn’t mean other drug interactions won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new medications may become available that interact with Vumerity.

For this reason, you should still tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you take besides Vumerity. They can check for any new interactions during your treatment.

Warnings

Vumerity may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. (This is known as a drug-condition interaction.) Other factors may also affect whether this drug is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before taking Vumerity. Factors to consider include those described here.

  • Moderate to severe kidney problems: It’s usually safe for people with mild kidney problems to take Vumerity. But doctors usually won’t prescribe this drug for someone with moderate to severe kidney problems. If you have kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease, tell your doctor before starting this medication. They’ll probably recommend other treatment options if your kidney problems are moderate or severe.
  • Liver problems: Vumerity can cause liver-related side effects, including liver damage in rare cases. If you have liver problems, such as alcoholic liver disease, Vumerity may worsen your condition. Based on the severity of your liver problems, your doctor will determine whether Vumerity is safe for you.
  • Low white blood cell count: Vumerity can lower your white blood cell count, but this side effect is not common. If your white blood cell count is already low, taking Vumerity could lower it further. Your doctor can tell you whether it’s safe for you to take Vumerity. They may also suggest treating your low white blood cell count before starting Vumerity.
  • Active infection: Because Vumerity can lower your white blood cell count, your body may have a harder time fighting infection during treatment. If you currently have an infection, Vumerity could make it harder to treat. Your doctor will likely treat your infection before prescribing Vumerity for you.
  • Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vumerity or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vumerity for you. They’ll talk with you about other treatments that might be better options for your condition.

Vumerity and alcohol

If you drink alcohol, you should avoid drinking it while taking a dose of Vumerity. Doing so could affect the level of the drug in your body, possibly making it less effective.

In addition, alcohol and Vumerity can cause some of the same side effects, including diarrhea, nausea, and flushing (temporary warmth, discoloration, or deepening of skin color). Consuming alcohol during Vumerity treatment could increase your risk of these side effects.

If you consume alcohol, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on how much, if any, is safe for you to drink during treatment with Vumerity.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It isn’t known whether it’s safe to take Vumerity while pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed, talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatment options that are safer for you during this time.

Your doctor will explain how you should take Vumerity, including how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow their instructions.

Taking Vumerity

Vumerity comes as a delayed-release capsule that you swallow. (Delayed release means the drug is released into your body slowly.) You’ll take the drug twice each day.

Accessible medication containers and labels

If you have difficulty reading the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies may provide medication labels that:

  • have large print
  • use braille
  • contain a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that offers these options if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

Also, if you have difficulty opening your medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to recommend tools to help make it simpler to open the drug’s container or put Vumerity in an easy-open container.

Questions about taking Vumerity

Here are some common questions about taking Vumerity.

  • Can Vumerity be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you should not chew, crush, or split Vumerity capsules. They should only be swallowed whole. If you have difficulty swallowing capsules, ask your doctor or pharmacist for suggestions. You can also check out these tips for swallowing pills.
  • Should I take Vumerity with food? You may take Vumerity capsules with or without food. But if you take your dose with food, a high fat or high calorie meal or snack can affect how well your body absorbs the drug. Vumerity’s manufacturer recommends that the food you take with the drug contains no more than 700 calories and no more than 30 grams (g) of fat.
  • Is there a best time of day to take Vumerity? No, there’s no best time of day to take Vumerity. But you’ll need to take the drug twice each day, so try to take your doses every 12 hours. This can help maintain a steady level of the drug in your body. Taking your Vumerity doses at the same times every day may help you avoid missing a dose.

Do not take more Vumerity than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to serious side effects.

What to do in case you take too much Vumerity

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Vumerity. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.

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