New Drugs and Multiple Sclerosis

I have been in an uproar lately over:

- the enormous amount of time it is taking to get new drugs to market for multiple sclerosis
- participating in a drug trial often means giving up your current disease-modifying drug
- the lack of attention and focus in comparing the new drug to existing MS drugs in patients
- what I am calling carelessness on the drug companies behalf in using very limited MRI reports to evaluate the success of a drug

It could be that I am just now giving some attention to the drug research being done for multiple sclerosis or it could be that I am justifiably upset. Take rituximab, for example. During the testing they looked at 3 months of MRIs to evaluate its effect on MS patients. Twelve weeks is nothing in the life of disease progression!!

Plus, I am very concerned about side effects from this cancer drug. As we know, it takes a very intense drug to go up against cancer and so many of them have really strong side effects. I would be curious to see what types of side effects this drug has in cancer patients and multiple sclerosis clients.

I just want to say to the drug companies -- "we are rather intelligent, you know, what are you trying to slip by us?"

Multiple Sclerosis and yet another drug!

I am anti-drug whenever possible. However, there comes a point that I need help and I need to look to pharmaceuticals to help manage the side effects of multiple sclerosis.

I have had a prescription for Provigil for quite some time and I would take a quarter of a pill occasionally. However, I am not a big fan of drugs and when I only want to take what I absolutely need when I have to take them. Up until now, I don't think I understood how Provigil can help how I deal with multiple sclerosis every day.

I have been suffering from (what I call) a foggy brain for quite some time. Sometimes it is worse than others but recently it became everyday. I take 4-amino pyridine daily -- I thought this was for the foggy brain (and mobility and generally feeling good/normal). However, my foggy brain was still present and this is one thing I can not stand with multiple sclerosis.

My fabulous friend Mo reminded me that I had Provigil and that should help clear my mind so I could think better. I have been hesitant to take this drug as others have reported it makes them race a little unnaturally once in their body (think speed). However, I am almost desperate. My fogginess is almost to the point of nausea so I started taking about 50mg daily.

Wow - what a difference!! Multiple sclerosis seems a little more manageable with this drug in my body!!!