Plavitron for MS??? Not really!
Filed Under Multiple Sclerosis General | 3 Comments
Is a new drug called Plavitron in testing in the UK? Absolutely not!
According to an article that was posted in the Daily Mail newspaper in the UK, there is a popular show in the UK called The Bill. On this show, they made up a drug called Plavitron that was supposedly in testing to alleviate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. As a result of that, the MS Society in the UK has fielded numerous calls looking for information about this "new drug" that is in testing. Unfortunately, there is no such drug. It’s just television fiction.
As for my opinion, I have to side with the MS Society’s position that it was irresponsible for the show to make up a drug like that. Multiple Sclerosis is a serious matter for all of us who suffer from MS. The producers of The Bill could have at least referred to a REAL drug that is in trials. This kind of thing is just irresponsible. It gets the hopes up for people who have MS.
Anyway, the article I’m referring to is here on the Daily Mail website.
What do you think? Is this irresponsible?
- Vince
Brain Cheese!
Filed Under Multiple Sclerosis General, Multiple Sclerosis and You | Leave a Comment
A fellow MS sufferer has created a list of links to MS Blogs. She is attempting to locate 100 MS blogs. I wanted to link back to her post to see if her list might help any of you! Enjoy!
Her blog post is located here: http://brain-cheese.blogspot.com/2007/10/looking-for-100-ms-blogs.html
Kudos to Braincheese in Seattle!
Medical Alert Jewlery with Style!
Filed Under Multiple Sclerosis and You | Leave a Comment
Even though we are a advanced civilization, millions of people throughout the world are susceptible to incapacitation because of a wide range of medical, environmental, and food borne ailments, which if left untreated, could lead to serious bodily injury, or even worse, death. Fortunately, these individuals have the option of carrying a card, wearing a tag, bracelet, or necklace which speaks for them when they are unable to speak for themselves.
A medical alert tag not only lists the ailment, but it can also list your 24 hour emergency response number, which has all of your medical history in their databases. When medical staff has access to this information, it can save precious time. Some of the more common declarations you might find on medical alert tags:
ADD/ADHD
Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Memory impairment
Allergies (Food, Insect, Dust, Plants, Pollen, Pollution, Pet Dander)
Anemia
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Asthma
Autism
Bariatric surgery patients
Blood type or disorders
Blood thinners/anticoagulants (Coumadin/Warfarin)/including aspirin
Breathing disorders
Cerebral Palsy
Clinical trial patients
COPD
Cystic Fibrosis
Diabetes
Dialysis patient
Drug/Medicine allergies
Emphysema
Epilepsy/Seizures
Hearing, Visual, or Mental impairment
Heart disease (angina, atrial fibrillation, pacemakers)
Hypertension
Insect allergies
Kidney failure
Mental health patients
Multiple medications
Multiple Sclerosis
Pacemaker
Parkinson’s Disease
Multiple medications
Rare diseases
Special needs children
Stroke risk
Transplant or cancer patients
Tourette Syndrome
What’s really neat is that those who suffer from any of these or other ailments (particularly children), no longer have to wear a boring or awkward piece of jewelry which attracts negative attention, or promotes teasing or taunting by other children. Bands can be made with a variety of colors, character beads, crystals etc. to personalize it. The bands are made with 2 clasps, making it easy to change to match any outfit. Medical alert jewelry can now be worn with pride.
This article was authored by Patrina Roberts, President of Bellisimo Bracelets, LLC To contact Patrina, please feel free to email her at: patrina@bellisimobracelets.com.
http://www.bellisimobracelets.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrina_Roberts
Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
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Multiple Sclerosis is the most common of the demyelinating diseases, but the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) will vary from person to person.
At first there may only be an isolated symptom or a combination of several. The initial onset may only last for a short period of time and then be followed by a remission. However, as the condition progresses, the following disturbances and multiple sclerosis symptoms become apparent, depending on the areas of the brain and central nervous system affected. Incidence of multiple sclerosis, however, varies widely in different geographical areas. For example it is very low in the tropics but high in the temperate zones of both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Visual symptoms of MS
Involvement of the optic nerve may give rise to blurred vision, severe pain and tenderness of either one or both eyes. Double vision and nystagmus (oscillatory eye movement) or drooping of the eyelid may be present. In some severe cases of multiple sclerosis, blindness in one or both eyes has been known to occur on a temporary basis.
Motor and sensory symptoms of MS
General weakness and ‘clumsiness’ in one or both legs in the early stages are common. This might be indicated, for example, by toes catching on irregularities on the ground causing tripping. It may also be associated with a feeling of heaviness. There might also be numbness or tingling at the ends of hands and feet.
Bladder and bowel symptoms
Frequency, urgency and incontinence of urine can be of particular concern and is fairly common. On the other hand there may be retention of urine and constipation.
Sexual problems and symptoms
There may be partial or complete impotence. Lack of sensation and lack of vaginal lubrication will also cause distress.
Psychological and emotional symptoms
Euphoria, when it occurs, is quite significant. Depression is often present due to the emotional reaction to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and in some cases can become severe enough to require specific treatment.
Communication impairment
Slurred speech is not uncommon and will occur if the bulbar area of the brain is affected. The speech may become slow and deliberate with emphasis on each syllable.
A common picture of multiple sclerosis is therefore one of a variety of symptoms, such as an ataxic gait (clumsiness in walking), intention tremor, lack of coordination and loss of dexterity. The person becomes weak and easily fatigues. As the condition progresses he or she will become increasingly dependent on others.
Now read on - see the multiple sclerosis symptoms page at severe-brain-injury.com
Barbara Eastcairn writes about all the health issues which really matter to families and carers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_Eastcairn
Injecting Rebif for Multiple Sclerosis
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I thought this would be well worth posting for those who might be new to Multiple Sclerosis. I’ve been through Avonex, Copaxone and currently on Rebif. I ran across this video that Kelli kindly made and posted on YouTube. It shows her walking you through the process of doing a Rebif injection using the Rebiject autoinjector.
Hopefully, this will be of benefit to some of you!
Possible CURE for MS (Multiple Sclerosis)?
Filed Under Multiple Sclerosis General, Multiple Sclerosis Research, Multiple Sclerosis Treatments, Multiple Sclerosis and You | Leave a Comment
Wow! Now this is exciting! If you suffer from multiple sclerosis or know someone who does, this is the kind of news we’ve been waiting to hear! According to this article Accentia Drug First Aimed at ‘Curing’ MS, which was published by United Press International, Accentia Biopharmaceuticals is planning to seek permission from the FDA for Phase 3 trials of its new drug Revimmune. According to the article, studies done at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine showed a 42% average improvement in function in those patients, with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Accentia says that the investigational drug "holds the potential to restore function in many patients who have accute deficits due to MS". With the recent story on genes being connected to MS being found, and now this, MS research seems to be taking a big jump forward lately. Hopefully, this is the type of research that we’ve been hoping for! — Vince
Tysabri Maybe Not So Great for Crohn's Disease
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Bloomberg ran an article here Tysabri May Have Limited Benefit in Crohn’s, FDA Says (Update5) that says Tysabri might not be as effective for Crohn’s disease as previously thought.
Although Tysabri has been shown to be approximately twice as effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis as other drugs, it seems that Tysabri hasn’t clearly distinguished itself as being any better than existing Crohn’s drugs.
I’m sure that this is sad news for sufferers of Crohn’s disease as I know that they were hoping for much better results from Tysabri. Apparently, investors felt disappointed also, since Biogen’s shares fell approximately 2 percent on the NASDAQ, down $1.18 to $57.01. By contrast, the stock has risen a total of 16 percent this year.
- Vince
Multiple Sclerosis Genes Uncovered
Filed Under Multiple Sclerosis Research, Multiple Sclerosis Treatments, Multiple Sclerosis and You | Leave a Comment
I thought this was great news as sufferer of MS. According to this article:
Multiple Sclerosis Linked to 3 Genes in Studies; More Likely
Multiple Sclerosis has been linked to 3 different Genes in Studies and more discoveries are likely. This is significant because this is the first time that scientists have been able to establish a firm link to the genes involved in the process of MS. It’s even more significant because 3 different studies were released today announcing the same finding and they were each discovered by different means and yet they all arrived at the same result.
The researchers are also reporting that they have found at least 12 more genes that may be linked to the disorder. It seems like one of the main culprits is a gene called IL7R.
Until three years ago, according to the article, most of the researchers were actually competitors. Fortunately, now they are working together thanks to a collaborative research grant that was awarded by the MS Society. That was motivation to allow them to work together instead of against each other.
What does this mean to us? Well, now that they’ve identified at least SOME of the genes involved, hopefully that will bring all of us closer to an cure, or at least a more effective treatment, for this dreaded disease of ours!
- Vince
Copaxone Allergy Developed
Filed Under Multiple Sclerosis General, Multiple Sclerosis Treatments, Multiple Sclerosis and You | 5 Comments
On a personal note, it looks like yours truly will be leaving Copaxone behind and switching over to Rebif. After taking (and loving!) Copaxone for 2 years, I’ve suddenly decided to develop an allergy to it. About 10 minutes after injecting, I break out in hives and itch like crazy. The first time, I thought it was just a fluke, took an Atarax, felt better and didn’t think much of it. Maybe it was just a coincidence that it happened as I took the injection!?
Okay, I admit that I was a little gun shy after that. I happened to read the patient information (don’t those scare you to even read???) and it mentioned that if you have an allergic reaction - like HIVES - you should contact your doctor immediately! Do you think I did that??? Of course not! Took the Atarax, got better and went on.
Now, I wasn’t sure, after reading that, that I wanted to risk it so I went without for a week. Took an injection, while making sure I still had an Atarax left, and the same thing happened. I guess that’s a wrap on the Copaxone for me, as much as I like it.
I was at my neurologists office this past Friday and he wants me to switch to Rebif. Not sure quite how that’s gonna work out though! I started on Avonex but never could tolerate it very well. Since Rebif is an interferon also, I’m afraid I won’t get along with it. I know the dosage is different and it’s subcutaneous. Maybe I’ll do okay with it. I certainly don’t want to do without anything and my neurologist says that I’m not a candidate for Tysabri yet and that he still doesn’t recommend it even if I was.
We’ll see how it goes with the Rebif, for now, I guess!
I AM curious if anyone else has developed an allergy like this after extended use of Copaxone! If it happened to you, leave a comment and let me know how long it took to happen.
– Vince
New Rebif Formulation Recommended by EU
Filed Under Multiple Sclerosis General, Multiple Sclerosis Treatments | Leave a Comment
Merck KGaA has announced that their new formulation of Rebif has been recommended for marketing authorization in the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis.
According to an article on Pharmabiz.com this formulation is designed to make the treatment with Rebif better by making the injections more tolerable and reducing immunogenicity.
I would recommend that you read the full article as posted at the Pharmabiz site.
- Vince
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