Multiple sclerosis Treatments Best & Worse Or Alternatives?

Question

I was just diagnosed wit MS about a week and a half ago and I am nervous having to choose which treatment to use I have read on them but the side effects and the injecting process scare me?

Answer 1

god I hate to say it but marijuana is a miracle drug for MS patients...do the research.

my ex mother in law has it and was miserable...her son in law introduced her to some fine cannabis brownies and she was totally a different person...no spasms no pain...it was a miracle...she swears by it.

please don't shoot the messenger, I'm not advocating it for recreational use, purely medicinal.

Answer 2

I'm a nurse with MS. I spent a great deal of time talking with my doctor and reviewing the literature to decide which drug was best. Copaxone is a shot everyday but no flu-like symptoms. Because I have two very active children (2 and 4), along with still working part-time, I chose Copaxone so as not to have flu-symptoms.

Copaxone is an expensive drug, but my insurance covers it, so I pay $15/mo. This includes the meds prepackaged in their syringes and the alcohol wipes.  You can get an autoinjector free from them, makes it a little easier to psych yourself up to do the shot (I can give a shot to anyone but am a complete baby about doing it to myself).  They'll also give you a child proof container free if you need it (holds 1 mo. supply)

There are days I don't want to "shoot up", and in all honesty I skip a day about once a month, a small reprieve. But I know I will get through it, even if I don't get used to it. A big incentive for me choosing Copaxone was having 2 preschoolers. I don't want to have a detrimental flair and not be able to care for them.

I was at an MS symposium in March, as far as any oral meds for MS there are a few, but they are still a few years down the line. There are 3 in Phase II Trials (to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular disease and to determine common short-term side effects and risks). There are 3 in Phase III Trials (to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide a basis for physician labeling).

And some alternative drug info...

Low dose naltrexone (LDN) just finished a Phase III clinical trial for use in MS last Nov. But articles were already coming out 2 mos. before that saying more clinical trials are still needed for use in MS.

There are several clinical trials at various stages studying antibiotic therapy and MS.

Reports published in 2006/2007 showed initial benefits with Sativex (cannabis). However, reports published in April from the latest trials showed Sativex was no more effective in treating MS pain than a placebo given to half the patients. It has been approved for use in Canada and is still development in Europe and the US.

Here is a general info link:

http://www.medicinenet.com/multiple_scle...

An alternative therapy link:

http://www.medicinenet.com/alternative_t...

The National MS Society:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.a...

And lastly, I also like the "MS for Dummies" book. For me MS was the devil I knew what with my mom having it. But the book was a good reference for my husband. Plus there were tips I hadn't heard of or thought about.

Answer 3

i have a realative with m.s  he chose avonex. he started treatment a year and a half ago and he is perfectly fine. all the side affects may scare you but all of the injections have the same side affects. my relatie had flu like symptoms for the first few weeks he took it. dont be scared because half of the side affects are very rare. the medicine may affect kidneys and liver but is very rare. plus the avonex pharmacy is very nice and offers you free gauze, bandaids, alhohal wipes, needles, and even more. free. they even give you free needles of different sizes if yu dont like the size they give you. also, if you dont like injections dont worry because some time in 2009 they are supposed 2 come out with a pill they are working on the trial now.

   - good luck, and i really suggest avonex.