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Infusion therapy might sound high-tech, but for many people living with neurologic conditions, it’s become one of the most promising instruments in their treatment toolbox.<\/p>\n
While clinics offering trendy but questionable \u201cwellness\u201d infusions have recently co-opted the term, in medicine, infusion therapy refers to medications administered intravenously\u2014that is, directly into the bloodstream. Since the medication bypasses the digestive system, it works faster. Infusions also prevent drugs from degrading in the gastrointestinal tract.<\/p>\n
Paul G. Mathew, MD, DNBPAS, FAAN, FAHS, an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and headache specialist at Mass General Brigham\/Atrius Health, says this direct access can make a big difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet’s say a patient is experiencing disabling pain<\/a> from a migraine<\/a> or trigeminal neuralgia<\/a>,\u201d he says. \u201cTheir stomach may slow down to the point that it can take hours for an oral drug to absorb, or they may end up vomiting the medication due to disease-associated nausea. Infusion allows us to deliver rapid relief when every second counts.\u201d<\/p>\n For decades, infusion therapy was mostly used in hospital settings. Today, thanks to evolving treatment options and broader access, patients can receive infusions at outpatient clinics, dedicated infusion centers, and even in their own homes with the help of trained nurses.<\/p>\n At infusion centers, patients usually sit in comfortable chairs while a nurse places an intravenous (IV) line in the arm or hand. Depending on the drug, an infusion can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.<\/p>\n Home infusions follow the same steps, but a trained nurse administers them in the patient’s own space. This option can be especially valuable for people who have difficulty traveling or need frequent treatments, as it cuts down on time spent commuting and waiting in a clinic. Regardless of location, infusions always require a doctor’s order, and patients remain under medical supervision and are monitored for adverse reactions.<\/p>\n Transformative Therapies<\/p>\n Richard J. Nowak, MD, director of the Yale Myasthenia Gravis (MG) Clinic and associate professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine, has seen infusion therapy transform care for people with autoimmune neuromuscular conditions like MG<\/a> and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy<\/a>. More than a decade ago, he says, treatment was limited to oral steroids and immunosuppressants, which often took months\u2014or even over a year\u2014to show a benefit.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had to be patient and hope people responded,\u201d Dr. Nowak says. \u201cNow, we have newer, targeted therapies that can help stabilize someone in just a few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n These newer infusion medications have let neurologists tailor treatments more precisely to each patient’s needs. Many are monoclonal antibodies\u2014proteins designed to target specific disease-causing substances\u2014that treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis<\/a>, migraine, and neuromuscular diseases.<\/p>\n For people with moderate to severe diseases\u2014such as someone with MG who struggles to walk, speak clearly, or breathe comfortably\u2014infusions may lead to fewer side effects, faster symptom control, and reduced reliance on long-term steroids.<\/p>\n \u201cThe advantage is being able to act quickly,\u201d Dr. Nowak says. \u201cThis approach may be considered more proactive, more personalized, and ultimately more hopeful in treating MG as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Infusion therapy also has opened an entirely new chapter in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease<\/a>. The drugs lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla)<\/a> are delivered via infusion and target amyloid, one of two proteins that can abnormally build up in the brain and are responsible for Alzheimer’s. While the results are encouraging, they come with important safety considerations. Patients must have frequent MRIs so their neurologist can monitor them for outcomes and side effects, such as small areas of brain swelling and tiny bleeds, a reaction known as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. Still, many patients choose to move forward.<\/p>\n \u201cWe explain the risks, and the patient decides,\u201d says Oscar Lopez, MD, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh. \u201cThe important thing is that they have a choice now\u2014something we couldn’t offer before.\u201d<\/p>\n A Convenient Choice<\/p>\n For people with chronic conditions like migraine, a quarterly infusion may be easier to manage than traditional treatment. \u201cMost of my patients are balancing work, kids, and other commitments,\u201d Dr. Mathew says. \u201cThey forget to take daily medications or miss refills. For them, a scheduled infusion might be a better fit.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, no treatment is without risk. Side effects vary depending on the patient’s medication and condition, but common concerns include allergic reactions, infusion site reactions, and immune suppression, which can increase the risk of infection. Before starting treatment with some medications\u2014such as complement inhibitors, which block part of the immune system to reduce inflammation\u2014patients must get meningococcal vaccines, according to Dr. Nowak. Others, like the Alzheimer’s drugs, come with imaging requirements so clinicians can catch signs of brain changes early.<\/p>\n