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Table 3 Characteristics of discontinued users

From: The real-world patient experience of fingolimod and dimethyl fumarate for multiple sclerosis

Characteristic, n (%)

DF (N = 32)

DDMF (N = 59)

When did you start therapy?, n (%)

 Within the last 7 days

0 (0.0 %)

1 (1.7 %)

 Between 8 and 30 days ago

0 (0.0 %)

5 (8.5 %)

 Between 31 and 60 days ago

1 (3.1 %)

2 (3.4 %)

 More than 60 days ago

31 (96.9 %)

51 (86.4 %)

When did you stop therapy?, n (%)

 Within the last 7 days

0 (0.0 %)

2 (3.4 %)

 Between 8 and 30 days ago

1 (3.1 %)

14 (23.7 %)

 Between 31 and 60 days ago

3 (9.4 %)

8 (13.6 %)

 More than 60 days ago

28 (87.5 %)

35 (59.3 %)

Reasons stopped taking therapya, n (%)

 Side effects

14 (43.8 %)

46 (78.0 %)

 Doctor advice

8 (25.0 %)

14 (23.7 %)

 Lack of effectiveness in treating MS

8 (25.0 %)

13 (22.0 %)

 Concerns regarding the safety

5 (15.6 %)

5 (8.5 %)

 Struggled to take therapy as prescribed

1 (3.1 %)

3 (5.1 %)

 Financial reasons

1 (3.1 %)

2 (3.4 %)

 Did not want to take oral treatment

0 (0.0 %)

1 (1.7 %)

 Changes to health plan benefits

1 (3.1 %)

0 (0.0 %)

 Another reason not listed

6 (18.8 %)

7 (11.9 %)

Main reason stopped taking therapy, n (%)

 Side effects

15 (46.9 %)

40 (67.8 %)

 Lack of effectiveness in treating MS

8 (25.0 %)

9 (15.3 %)

 Doctor advice

2 (6.3 %)

3 (5.1 %)

 Concerns regarding safety

2 (6.3 %)

0 (0.0 %)

 Financial reasons

0 (0.0 %)

1 (1.7 %)

 Another reason not listed

5 (15.6 %)

6 (10.2 %)

Who mainly made decision to discontinue therapy?, n (%)

 Mainly my decision

9 (28.1 %)

24 (40.7 %)

 Mainly doctor decision

7 (21.9 %)

8 (13.6 %)

 Joint decision

16 (50.0 %)

27 (45.8 %)

  1. aParticipants could select more than one response