Zeposia (ozanimod) is a brand-name oral capsule prescribed for certain forms of MS in adults. This article covers topics such as side effects, dosage, and how Zeposia works.

Zeposia belongs to a drug class called sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators. The medication is not available in a generic version.

Read on for more information about Zeposia for MS.

MS is an autoimmune condition that affects your central nervous system (CNS) (brain and spinal cord). Autoimmune conditions occur when your immune system attacks healthy tissues in your body by mistake.

With MS, your immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the protective coating around the nerves in your CNS, called the myelin sheath. Damage to the myelin sheath prevents your nerves from correctly sending messages to other parts of your body, leading to various symptoms.

Symptoms of MS

Symptoms of MS depend on the nerves that are affected. Some common symptoms include:

Who Zeposia is prescribed for

Zeposia is prescribed for adults with relapsing (worsening) forms of MS. This includes:

  • Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): With RRMS, you have periods of relapse when your symptoms get worse for a time, and periods of remission when your symptoms ease or go away.
  • Active secondary progressive MS (SPMS): With active SPMS, your symptoms get gradually worse without any periods of remission.

Zeposia is also prescribed for adults with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). CIS is an episode of MS-like symptoms that lasts 24 hours or longer. It may or may not develop into MS.

Zeposia is used to treat relapsing forms of MS. The way Zeposia works to treat MS is called its mechanism of action.

The way Zeposia works

Zeposia is a type of MS treatment called disease-modifying therapy. It works by helping stop the immune system from attacking the nerves in the CNS.

Specifically, Zeposia stops white blood cells called lymphocytes from moving out of your lymph nodes into your bloodstream. Lymphocytes usually help your immune system fight infection. But with MS, these cells are also involved in helping your immune system attack your nerves.

By reducing the number of lymphocytes in your bloodstream, Zeposia helps stop your immune system from attacking the nerves in your CNS. This can help prevent relapses of MS. It also helps slow the development of new or worsening brain lesions (areas of nerve damage in the brain that can be seen with an MRI scan). This can help slow the worsening of MS.

In clinical trials of people with relapsing forms of MS, Zeposia was effective in:

  • reducing the number of relapses
  • reducing the number of new or worsening brain lesions
  • helping prevent the worsening of disability due to MS

To find out more about how Zeposia performed in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Zeposia is also recommended as a treatment option by the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.

Keep in mind that different people may have different results with Zeposia. You can talk with your doctor about what to expect from this treatment.

The use of Zeposia for MS may cause side effects that are mild or serious. The following lists include some of the main side effects that have been reported with Zeposia. For information about other potential side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also see our side effect article about Zeposia or refer to Zeposia’s prescribing information.

Zeposia is also approved to treat conditions other than MS. It’s important to note that side effects from Zeposia may differ depending on the condition it’s being used to treat.

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 medications 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 Zeposia and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

When used to treat MS, mild side effects that have been reported with Zeposia include:

These side effects of Zeposia may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if they last longer than this, or if they bother you or become severe, it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Like most medications, Zeposia can cause some serious side effects. When used to treat MS, serious side effects that have been reported with Zeposia include:

Call your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects while taking Zeposia. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Zeposia can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Zeposia, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

The cost of Zeposia is based on several factors, including your prescribed treatment regimen, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your location.

A patient support program called Zeposia 360 Support is available. For more information, call 833-ZEPOSIA (833-937-6742) or visit the program website.

Zeposia is a brand-name drug that’s not currently available as a generic. Brand-name drugs usually cost more than generics.

To save money on your Zeposia prescription, explore these Optum Perks coupons.

Zeposia comes as an oral capsule that’s available in three strengths:

  • 0.23 milligrams (mg)
  • 0.46 mg
  • 0.92 mg

Dosage

Zeposia is used to treat relapsing forms of MS in adults.

When you start taking Zeposia, your doctor will gradually increase your dosage over the first week of treatment. This reduces your risk of having a slowed heart rate, which is a possible side effect of Zeposia.

The usual recommended dosing schedule is:

  • Days 1 to 4: 0.23 mg once per day
  • Days 5 to 7: 0.46 mg once per day
  • Days 8 and beyond: 0.92 mg once per day

Note: In addition to treating MS, Zeposia has other uses. Keep in mind that the drug’s dosage may differ with these other uses. To learn more, talk with your doctor.

How to take

You should swallow Zeposia capsules whole, once per day, with or without food. Taking Zeposia around the same time each day helps keep a steady level of the medication in your body. This helps Zeposia work effectively.

Before you take Zeposia, there’s some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Some of these are mentioned here.

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before taking Zeposia:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.