Zeposia (ozanimod) is a prescription drug used to treat certain forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. Zeposia is a brand-name drug and is not currently available in a generic version.

Zeposia comes as an oral capsule. The drug’s active ingredient is ozanimod. Zeposia belongs to a group of drugs called immune modulators.

Zeposia is also approved to treat ulcerative colitis. This article will focus on how Zeposia works to treat MS and a related condition called clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).

To learn more about Zeposia and its other uses, see this in-depth Zeposia article.

MS is an autoimmune condition that damages the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. Autoimmune conditions occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues in your body.

With MS, your immune system mistakenly attacks and damages your nerve cells’ coating (called the myelin sheath) in your brain and spinal cord. The myelin sheath usually protects and insulates the nerves. When it’s damaged, the nerves can’t communicate correctly with other parts of your body.

What are the symptoms of MS?

Symptoms of MS can vary depending on which nerves are affected. But in general, symptoms can include:

Who is Zeposia prescribed for?

Doctors prescribe Zeposia to treat relapsing forms of MS in adults. These include:

  • Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): With RRMS, you have periods of relapse, where your symptoms get worse or you develop new symptoms. These are followed by periods of remission, where your symptoms stabilize or reduce.
  • Active secondary progressive MS (SPMS): With active SPMS, your symptoms get gradually worse with no periods of remission in between.

Doctors also prescribe Zeposia to treat CIS in adults. With CIS, you have an episode of MS-like symptoms that lasts at least 24 hours. CIS can sometimes develop into MS.

Zeposia treats relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults.

MS occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks and damages nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord.

Your immune system is your body’s defense system. It’s made up of many organs, proteins, and cells, including white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes usually help protect your body from infection. But with MS, they’re also involved in attacking your nerve cells.

How does Zeposia work?

Doctors don’t understand exactly how Zeposia treats MS. But Zeposia’s mechanism of action (how it works) is to reduce the number of lymphocytes in your bloodstream. This likely reduces the number of lymphocytes that can attack your nerves, slowing the nerve damage and helping to prevent MS symptoms from getting worse.

Zeposia is a type of MS treatment called disease-modifying therapy. It reduces relapses and slows the progression of the disease.

In studies, Zeposia was found to be effective at slowing the progression of relapsing forms of MS.

In these studies, people who took Zeposia had fewer relapses (periods of worsening symptoms) than people who took a placebo. They also had fewer new or worsening brain lesions (areas of nerve damage in the brain that can be seen with an MRI scan) than people who took placebo.

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

Your results with Zeposia may vary from those seen in studies. To learn more about what to expect from Zeposia, talk with your doctor.

Zeposia comes as an oral capsule that’s available in three strengths: 0.23 milligrams (mg), 0.46 mg, and 0.92 mg.

When starting Zeposia treatment, your doctor will increase your dosage slowly over the first week. This helps your body get used to the medication and lowers the risk of having certain side effects, such as a slowed heart rate.

What is the usual dosage for Zeposia?

The usual dosage for Zeposia is described as follows:

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

Note: Zeposia has other uses in addition to treating multiple sclerosis. The dosage may be different for these other uses. To learn more, talk with your doctor.

How do you take Zeposia?

You can take Zeposia either with or without food.

You should swallow the capsules whole with a drink. Don’t split, open, crush, or chew the capsules. If you have difficulty swallowing Zeposia, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

How often should I take Zeposia?

You’ll take Zeposia once per day. Taking your dose around the same time each day helps keep a steady level of the medication in your body. This helps Zeposia work effectively.

Taking Zeposia for MS* may cause side effects in some people. These side effects can be mild or serious.

The following lists include some of the main side effects that have been reported in people taking Zeposia. For information about other possible side effects of this medication, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also learn more from the Zeposia side effects article or from Zeposia’s prescribing information.

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

What are Zeposia’s mild side effects?

Zeposia may cause mild side effects in some people. These include:

In many cases, mild side effects from the drug can be temporary. Some side effects may be easy to manage, too. But if side effects last for a longer time, or if they bother you or become severe, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What are Zeposia’s serious side effects?

Taking Zeposia may lead to rare but serious side effects. Examples include:

If you end your Zeposia treatment, you may experience a severe worsening of MS symptoms.

Call your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects while taking Zeposia. If the side effects seem life threatening or if 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 an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Zeposia treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Zeposia, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

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

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

  • if you have an infection
  • if you have a low white blood cell count
  • if you have high blood pressure
  • if you have a heart condition, including slow or irregular heartbeat
  • if you’ve had a heart attack or stroke in the past 6 months
  • if you have a breathing problem, including sleep apnea
  • if you have liver problems
  • if you have diabetes
  • if you have an eye condition, such as uveitis
  • if you’ve had cancer
  • pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • alcohol consumption
  • recent or upcoming vaccines
  • if you’ve had an allergic reaction to the drug or any of its ingredients
  • if you take other medications, especially monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or immunosuppressants

The price of Zeposia depends on several factors. These can include your treatment plan, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your location.

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. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)

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.