A helpful guide to myositis treatment options

Learn about the different treatment options available for myositis

THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT

Understand the current treatment options for myositis, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants/DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs), IVIg (intravenous immunoglobulin), and emerging therapies. This article explains how these treatments work, why they might have been prescribed for you, and how to have informed conversations with your healthcare team.

This article is intended for educational purposes only and not as medical advice. It’s important to talk to your doctor regularly about any questions you have, including sharing your symptoms, so they can develop the treatment plan that’s right for you.

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Before we start, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Myositis refers to a group of rare autoimmune diseases. In people with myositis, the immune system contributes to inflammation affecting the muscles, leading to muscle weakness, fatigue, and chronic inflammation. Myositis can also affect vital organs, including the skin, heart, lungs, and digestive tract
  • Each person with myositis is different, and so are their treatments
  • Different myositis subtypes are associated with different symptoms. That’s why doctors may use more than one type of treatment to help manage your symptoms
  • Your doctor will base your treatment on your specific subtype of myositis and symptoms
  • Researchers are currently studying many potential myositis treatments in clinical trials, so we’ll continue to update this article as more options become available

Now, let’s get into the current treatment options available for myositis.

3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT
Corticosteroids

  1. They are also known as steroids, and your doctor might refer to them by this name
  2. They are often prescribed for myositis and other autoimmune diseases because they can help reduce inflammation and doctors may use them early on in your treatment
  3. You can take them orally (by mouth) or may receive them through an intravenous (IV) infusion

Your doctor may start you on a daily regimen of steroids at the beginning of treatment. They will then see how you respond to the medication. Over time, they might increase or lower your dose or change how often you receive the medication to find what’s right for you.

3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT
DMARDs

  1. They are a type of immunosuppressant. That means they may help stop your immune system from harming tissues in your body
  2. They are often prescribed for myositis and other autoimmune diseases because they can help ease inflammation. They may also help slow the spread and the damage caused by the disease
  3. You can take them orally or receive them as injectables

Doctors may prescribe both steroids and DMARDs early on in your treatment. They may also prescribe DMARDs if steroids don’t appear to be working, or if you are on a higher dose of steroids, because high doses of steroids may cause side effects.

3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT
IVIg

  1. Immunoglobulins (Ig) are made by the body's immune system and collected from donated blood
  2. IVIg is often prescribed for myositis and other autoimmune diseases because it can help prevent your immune system from attacking itself
  3. As its name suggests, IVIg is given through a vein and into the bloodstream

IVIg may be introduced later in your treatment if you are not responding to steroids or DMARDs. In severe cases of myositis, IVIg and steroids may be used together as the first treatment. While IVIg may be prescribed for any type of myositis, it is currently approved for adults with dermatomyositis (DM), which is a type of myositis that affects the skin. The dosage of IVIg and how often it’s given can depend on a number of things, including disease severity and response. For example, you may receive a low dose once a month, while someone else may get a higher dose split up over the span of a few days.

3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT
Biologic therapies (biologics)

  1. Biologics include many different types of products, such as vaccines, allergy treatments, insulin, and engineered therapeutic proteins. Some may target parts of your immune system that cause symptoms
  2. They are prescribed for myositis and other autoimmune diseases
  3. You can receive them through an IV infusion or subcutaneously, which means the medicine is delivered into the layer beneath the skin through either infusion or injection

Researchers are also studying many potential biologic therapies as treatment.

What’s next? Talking to your doctor
about treatment options

There’s a lot to think about when choosing a myositis treatment. It’s important always to discuss any new treatments or changes in treatment with your entire healthcare team. Talk to your doctor(s) to learn more about all of your available treatment options and any effects they may have in the short and long term.