Vumerity (diroximel fumarate) is a prescription drug that treats certain kinds of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Vumerity comes as a delayed-release oral capsule that’s usually taken twice per day.

Vumerity is used in adults to treat certain kinds of relapsing MS. These include:

It’s also used to treat clinically isolated syndrome, which may develop into MS.

This article describes the dosages of Vumerity, as well as its strength and how to take it. To learn more about Vumerity, see this in-depth Vumerity article.

This section describes the usual dosages of Vumerity.

What’s the form of Vumerity?

Vumerity comes as an oral delayed-release capsule. Delayed-release drugs slowly release the active ingredient (what makes the drug work) into your body over time.

What strength does Vumerity come in?

Vumerity comes in one strength of 231 milligrams (mg).

What are the usual dosages of Vumerity?

Your doctor will start you on the recommended starting dosage of Vumerity for 1 week. They’ll then adjust it to the maintenance dosage for treating your condition.

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for multiple sclerosis and clinically isolated syndrome

Your doctor will order blood tests before you start treatment with Vumerity. Your starting dosage is 231 mg (1 capsule), taken twice per day for 7 days (a total of 2 capsules per day). Depending on how you tolerate the drug, your doctor will then increase your dose to the maintenance dosage of 462 mg (2 capsules) taken twice per day (a total of 4 capsules per day).

If you tolerate Vumerity, you’ll remain on the maintenance dosage. If you can’t tolerate the maintenance dose, your doctor may lower your dosage back to 231 mg twice per day. Then, within 4 weeks, your doctor will again increase your dose to 462 mg twice per day. If you still can’t tolerate this maintenance dosage, your doctor will likely have you stop Vumerity treatment.

In some cases, your doctor may suggest taking up to 325 mg of non-enteric coated aspirin 30 minutes before your Vumerity dose. This is to lower your risk of flushing with Vumerity. Your doctor will discuss this side effect of the drug with you and whether you may need to take aspirin.

Is Vumerity used long term?

Yes, Vumerity is usually used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

Keep reading for more details about Vumerity’s dosage.

Vumerity and Tecfidera are used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome. These two drugs have similar active ingredients. Both these drugs break down into the same substance (monomethyl fumarate) in your body.

But there are differences between the dosages of these drugs. Tecfidera is available in two strengths: 120 milligrams (mg) and 240 mg, while Vumerity comes in one strength of 231 mg.

The starting dosage of Tecfidera is 120 mg twice per day for 7 days. After this, the dosage is increased to 240 mg twice per day for maintenance.

Tecfidera has lower recommended dosages for treating MS compared with Vumerity. To learn more about how these two drugs compare, check out the “Vumerity vs. Tecfidera” section of this Vumerity article or talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The dosage of Vumerity you’re prescribed may depend on several factors. These include other medical conditions you have and how your body responds to Vumerity. If you have side effects that you can’t tolerate at your recommended dosage, your doctor might recommend a different treatment for you.

Do older adults need a lower dose of Vumerity?

It’s not known whether older adults (ages 65 years and above) need lower doses of Vumerity. In studies of the drug, there weren’t enough older adults enrolled to confirm this.

However, some older adults may have liver or kidney problems. These organs help remove Vumerity from your body. Having problems with these organs can cause the drug to back up in your system, increasing your risk of side effects of Vumerity.

Your doctor will order blood tests, including liver function tests, before prescribing this drug for you. Tell them if you develop liver problems during treatment. Symptoms include:

If you have moderate to severe kidney disease, your doctor won’t prescribe Vumerity for you.

Your doctor can provide more information about whether you may need a dosage adjustment for Vumerity based on your age.

Vumerity is a capsule you’ll take by mouth twice per day. You can take it with or without food. But you shouldn’t take it with a high calorie, high fat meal. (In other words, do not take Vumerity with food containing over 700 calories or 30 grams of fat.) This can affect how the drug works in your body.

Taking Vumerity with food can reduce flushing, which is a possible side effect of the drug.

Do not open, cut, crush, or chew Vumerity capsules, as this can affect how the drug works in your body. If you have difficulty swallowing capsules, see some tips for swallowing pills.

Accessible drug containers and labels

Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

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

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

Let your pharmacist know if you have trouble opening medication bottles. They may have tips to help, or they may be able to supply Vumerity in an easy-open container.

If you miss taking your regularly scheduled dosage of Vumerity, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s close to your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.

If you’ve missed several doses of Vumerity, call your doctor or a pharmacist. They can guide you on the best way to continue with your dosing schedule.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Vumerity on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

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