Key takeaways
- Spinraza is a medication used in children (including newborns) and adults to treat spinal muscular atrophy.
- Treatment begins with four loading doses, followed by one maintenance dose every 4 months.
- Spinraza is given as an intrathecal injection (into the fluid around your spinal cord) by a healthcare professional at an approved treatment center.
Spinraza is a prescription drug used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children and adults. The drug comes as a liquid solution and is injected into the fluid around your spinal cord. After you receive the first four doses, Spinraza is usually given once every 4 months as maintenance therapy.
The active ingredient in Spinraza is nusinersen. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Spinraza belongs to a group of drugs called antisense oligonucleotides, a medication that works by affecting how genes function.
This article describes the dosage of Spinraza, including its strength and how it’s given.
Your treatment for SMA begins with four initial doses followed by ongoing maintenance doses. Your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose that effectively treats your condition.
The following table highlights the basics of Spinraza’s dosage. All doses are listed in milligrams (mg) and milliliters (mL). Always follow the dosage schedule your doctor prescribes.
| Condition | Starting dosage | Ongoing dosage |
|---|---|---|
| SMA | 12 mg (5 mL) once every 2 weeks for three doses, followed by a fourth dose 30 days later | 12 mg (5 mL) once every 4 months, starting 4 months after the fourth dose |
Keep reading for more details about Spinraza’s dosage.
Spinraza’s form
Spinraza comes as a liquid medication. It’s given as an intrathecal injection (into the fluid around your spinal cord) by a healthcare professional.
Spinraza’s strength
Spinraza comes in one strength of 12 mg of medication per 5 mL of liquid solution (2.4 mg/mL).
The usual dose of Spinraza for adults with SMA is one injection of 12 mg (5 mL). For the first three doses, you’ll receive one injection of Spinraza every 2 weeks. You’ll receive a fourth injection of Spinraza 30 days later. After that, you’ll typically receive one injection of Spinraza every 4 months.
Spinraza is used to help treat SMA in children of any age, including newborns. The dosage for children is the same as the dosage for adults. To learn more, see the “What’s the usual dosage of Spinraza in adults?” in the previous section.
Spinraza comes as a liquid solution. It’s given as an intrathecal injection (an injection into the fluid around your spinal cord). For this type of injection, a healthcare professional uses a procedure called a lumbar puncture (commonly known as a spinal tap).
You’ll receive Spinraza injections at a treatment center that has been approved to administer the drug.
For more information on how Spinraza is given, see these details from the drug’s manufacturer. You can also talk with your doctor.
How long do you take Spinraza?
Spinraza 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 use it long term.
How long does it take for Spinraza to start working?
Spinraza starts to work after your first dose. However, it may take several months for the drug to ease the symptoms of your condition. Your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.
If you have other questions about what to expect from your Spinraza treatment, talk with your doctor.
Can Spinraza be used for muscular dystrophy? If so, what’s the dosage?
No, Spinraza is not prescribed for muscular dystrophy. It’s approved to treat only SMA. To learn about how muscular dystrophy compares with SMA, see this SMA and muscular dystrophy overview.
Because Spinraza isn’t used for muscular dystrophy, the drug manufacturer doesn’t provide recommended dosages for this use.
However, other drugs are approved for muscular dystrophy. Examples include:
- Emflaza (deflazacort)
- Exondys 51 (eteplirsen)
- Viltepso (viltolarsen)
- Amondys 45 (casimersen)
- Vyondys 53 (golodirsen)
If you’d like to learn more about treatment options for muscular dystrophy or SMA, talk with your doctor.
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.