Ocrevus home injections for people with MS

Ocrevus is a disease modifying therapy (DMT) for people with active relapsing MS or early active progressive MS. At the moment, most people in the UK go to hospital for an infusion (a drip) or an injection.

But it’s also approved for injections at home. And in Tayside, in the east of Scotland, almost 100 people are already having Ocrevus at home.

Tayside’s Lead Clinical Pharmacist, Arlene Coulson, talked about the rollout at the annual Multiple Sclerosis Nurses at the Limits conference in November. She expects to present more details at nurse conferences in the coming months.

How home injections work in NHS Tayside

In Tayside, the first time you take Ocrevus still happens at hospital, as an infusion. Ocrevus infusions can take about four hours, as well as several hours before and after, to prepare and check it’s all gone well.

But after that first time, a nurse gives you the injection at home. The whole thing takes about two hours or less. And the nurse books your next home injection for six months later.

Choosing home or hospital for Ocrevus

In Tayside, most people offered Ocrevus have chosen home injections. But people who need or prefer to go to hospital still have that option.

We understand that some other areas in Scotland and England plan to offer it in the coming months. But we don’t have a list of places or how long this might take. And in lots of areas it’s still only available at hospital.

If you already take Ocrevus, or it’s a treatment option for you, your MS team will know if home injections are possible where you are.

Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is just one of the DMTs available for people with MS. Not everyone with MS can take a DMT, but your neurologist can discuss your treatment options with you.

Find out more about MS treatments and therapies