Dimethyl Fumarate

What it is

Dimethyl fumarate is a medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). It requires a prescription in India.

What it is used for

Dimethyl fumarate is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), which include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease. It helps by reducing inflammation and preventing nerve damage that may cause MS symptoms.

• Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS)

How it works

Dimethyl fumarate works by decreasing inflammation in the body and protecting nerves from damage. This helps to reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis by preventing the worsening of nerve damage.

How it is sold in India

In India Dimethyl Fumarate comes as capsules.

Common side effects

Most people taking dimethyl fumarate experience mild side effects. These can include warmth, redness, itching, or burning of the skin, as well as gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and heartburn. If you experience any severe side effects, it is important to contact your doctor immediately.

Who should not take it

Do not take dimethyl fumarate if you are allergic to dimethyl fumarate, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in dimethyl fumarate capsules. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while taking dimethyl fumarate. Tell your doctor if you have any type of infection, including infections that come and go and chronic infections that do not go away, or if you have or have ever had chickenpox or herpes zoster (shingles); a low white blood cell count; or liver problems. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Brand names

10 medicines sold in India contain Dimethyl Fumarate.

Brands sold in India include Sclerifuma DR, Sclerogem, Dyfira, MS DR, Tecfidera, Tecfidera DR. Whichever name is on the strip, the medicine inside is the one described on this page.

Where this comes from

• MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM): Dimethyl Fumarate
• FDA drug label (US National Library of Medicine, DailyMed)

We do not publish doses. How much to take depends on your age, weight and other conditions — ask your doctor or pharmacist.

This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for seeing a doctor. It carries no dosage and no prices.