Multiple Sclerosis and New Drugs

As so many others with Multiple Sclerosis...I am ready for an oral drug. There are a couple in phase 2 and phase 3 trials but none where I live in Dallas, Texas.

I have investigated Multiple Sclerosis oral drug trials in other cities (that is how desperate I am to be on one of the new oral drugs). One that is looking favorable is in Chicago. I have had many conversations with the research coordinator and believe this might be the trial for me. However, Friday we had a conversation about how long you have to be off of your current disease-modifying therapy. For this particular drug trial, 6 months. Ouch!

I don't know if I am willing to be off my Rebif shots for 6 months to possibly be put in the group that gets no drug. One third of the multiple sclerosis patients get one dosage, one third gets a reduced dosage and one third get no dosage of the test oral drug. A little disappointing.

The research coordinator assured me that they will closely watch me and if anything is going negatively, they will get me off the test drug. However, don't current MS disease-modifying drugs potentially lessen future disease problems? How will I know what damage not taking existing drugs in lieu of the new test drug is causing me in the future with decisions made in the present?

As with all things related to how multiple sclerosis affects me, I have consulted me neurologist about the drug test. I am very curious to hear her response!