Category Archives: MS Treatment

Modifying the disease course More than a dozen disease-modifying medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat relapsing formsof MS Continue reading →

UNDERSTANDING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the disease is thought to affect more than 2.3 million people worldwide, that number may be a significant under estimate since MS is not a reportable disease and no centralized reporting system exists at this time. Also, MS can be difficult to diagnose. Since there is no single test for MS, the diagnosis can be missed, delayed or even incorrect. In MS, the immune system malfunctions destroying the myelin which is the fatty substance that coats and protects nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Often times, the myelin is compared to the insulation coating that surrounds electrical wires. When the surrounding protective myelin is damaged and the nerve fibers are exposed, the messages traveling along the nerve become slow or potentially blocked. In some cases, the nerve becomes damaged. Adult stem cells are potentially the most diverse and effective healing agents ever known and have been proven to treat an astounding variety of conditions, ranging from injuries to … Continue reading →

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged.[1] This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to communicate, resulting in a range of signs and symptoms, including physical, mental, and sometimes psychiatric problems.[5][8][9] Specific symptoms can include double vision, blindness in one eye, muscle weakness, trouble with sensation, or trouble with coordination.[1] MS takes several forms, with new symptoms either occurring in isolated attacks (relapsing forms) or building up over time (progressive forms).[10] Between attacks, symptoms may disappear completely; however, permanent neurological problems often remain, especially as the disease advances.[10] While the cause is not clear, the underlying mechanism is thought to be either destruction by the immune system or failure of the myelin-producing cells.[3] Proposed causes for this include genetics and environmental factors such as being triggered by a viral infection.[8][11] MS is usually diagnosed based on the presenting signs and symptoms and the results of supporting medical tests.[4] There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis.[1] Treatments attempt to improve function after an attack and prevent new attacks.[8] Medications used to treat MS, while modestly effective, can have side effects … Continue reading →

Disease-modifying therapies have shown beneficial effects in patients with relapsing MS, including reduced frequency and severity of clinical attacks. These agents appear to slow the progression of disability and the reduce accumulation of lesions within the brain and spinal cord. The disease-modifying agents for MS (DMAMS) currently approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include the following: Interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif) [6] Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron, Extavia) [7] Peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy) [8] Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) [9] Natalizumab (Tysabri) [10, 11] Fingolimod (Gilenya) [13] Teriflunomide (Aubagio) [14] Dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera) [15, 16, 17, 18] Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) [19, 20, 21] Daclizumab (Zinbryta) [22, 23] Fingolimod, teriflunomide, and dimethyl fumarate are administered orally; natalizumab and mitoxantrone are administered by intravenous infusion; interferon beta-1a (Avonex) is administered intramuscularly; and interferon beta-1a (Rebif), interferon beta-1b, and glatiramer acetate are administered by subcutaneous injection. Note that in January 2013, the FDA approved a single-use autoinjector (Rebidose, EMD Serono Inc./Pfizer Inc) for self-injection of interferon beta-1a (Rebif) in patients with relapsing forms of MS. [24] The ease of use, patient satisfaction and acceptability, and functional reliability of the Rebidose are supported by data from a 12-week open-label, single-group study in 109 patients. The autoinjector … Continue reading →

Measuring the effectiveness of treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) is complicated; the disease biology is not entirely understood, and symptoms vary from person to person. While doctors and researchers continue to explore new endpoints for clinical trials that evaluate MS therapies, measuring relapse rates remains one of the most common. Neurologist Enrique Alvarez, M.D., Ph.D., at the University of Colorado, Denver, discusses the importance of continuing to evaluate potential new therapies based on their ability to reduce relapse rates, along with newer measures that are bolstering these evaluations. How do researchers measure the efficacy of new treatments for MS? NEUROLOGIST ENRIQUE ALVAREZ, M.D., PH.D., AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, DENVER, EXPLAINS WHY RELAPSE RATES HAVE REMAINED A BENCHMARK IN MS TRIALS. Relapse rates are a benchmark for measuring the efficacy of new MS treatments in clinical trials. A relapse occurs when a new neurological symptom emerges or an old symptom gets worse for at least 24 hours. MS can cause a variety of symptoms such as vision loss, pain, fatigue or impaired coordination. Signs of a relapse can be reported by the patient, and may have an immediate impact on the quality of a patients life. Relapse rates also tend … Continue reading →

SCIENTISTS have moved a step closer to understanding how to better treat multiple sclerosis (MS) after more evidence emerged of a crucial link to vitamin D. In the latest study, University of Tasmania researchers discovered that MS sufferers treated with interferon-beta, a common MS drug, had higher vitamin D levels than those not on the treatment. Interferon-beta caused patients to become far more efficient at making vitamin D in their skin, senior researcher Professor Bruce Taylor said. MS sufferers taking the drug had nearly three times as much vitamin D from the same amounts of sun exposure than those who didn't take interferon-beta, he said. The results also shed light on how the therapy works, which has previously been unclear although it was thought to effect the immune system. Interferon-beta only reduced the risk of having an MS attack if patients had sufficient levels of vitamin D in their system, Prof Taylor said. MS sufferers in Tasmania and other areas of low latitude, where it was impossible to absorb enough vitamin D from sunlight in winter, may need to consider vitamin D supplementation, he said. The study analysed around 200 people living with MS in southern Tasmanian between 2002 and … Continue reading →

Diagnosis A complete neurological exam and medical history are needed to diagnose MS. There are no specific tests for MS. Instead, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis often relies on ruling out other conditions that might produce similar signs and symptoms, known as a differential diagnosis. Your doctor is likely to start with a thorough medical history and examination. Your doctor may then recommend: In most people with relapsing-remitting MS, the diagnosis is fairly straightforward and based on a pattern of symptoms consistent with the disease and confirmed by brain imaging scans, such as MRI. Diagnosing MS can be more difficult in persons with unusual symptoms or progressive disease. In these cases, further testing with spinal fluid analysis, evoked potentials and additional imaging may be needed. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatment typically focuses on speeding recovery from attacks, slowing the progression of the disease and managing MS symptoms. Some people have such mild symptoms that no treatment is necessary. For primary-progressive MS, ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) is the only FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy. It slows worsening of disability in people with this type of MS. For relapsing-remitting MS, several disease-modifying therapies are available. Much of the immune response associated with MS … Continue reading →

Turning Point provides effective, multi-level care for adults withsubstance abuse, addiction and mental health disorders. As a leading, fully-accredited recovery center in Greater Memphis, weve been helping families restore hope and balance to their lives for many years. Our treatment philosophy is holistic: we address not only the addiction, but also any underlying mood or mental health disorders. Our caring physicians and psychotherapists specialize in dual diagnosis helping clients regain emotional stability as they receive effective treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. We firmly believe that the right level of care is critical to recovery. Each Turning Point client receives an in-depth clinical assessment that shapes a customized plan of care, based on that persons unique health needs. Placements may include medically managed detox, our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), partial hospitalization (day treatment) or referral to our inpatient network. All our programs use an evidence-based therapeutic curriculum, to give each client the best opportunity for recovery. Continued here: About Us | Turning Point Addiction Treatment In Southaven MS … Continue reading →

Modifying the Disease Course The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved more than a dozen medications for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS. One medication is approved for primary progressive MS and one is approved for secondary progressive MS. In addition, several are approved for individuals who have experienced their first neurological symptoms called clinically isolated syndrome known as CIS. Research has shown that all the MS medications can Years of research suggest that starting one of these medications soon after the diagnosis of MS is the most effective way to manage the MS disease process. These MS medications modify the MS disease course and are also known as disease-modifying treatments (DMT). Of these medications, most are self- injected - (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Extavia, Glatopa 20 mg and 40 mg, Glatiramer Acetate 20 mg and 40 mg, Plegridy, and Rebif). Three are by mouth (Aubagio, Gilenya and Tecfidera), and four are infusions (Lemtrada, Novantrone, Ocrevus, and Tysabri). Novantrone is FDA-approved for people with worsening relapsing-remitting MS (worsening in between relapses) and those with secondary progressive MS (started with relapses but are now worsening with no or few relapses). This DMT is used infrequently due to serious side effects … Continue reading →

There are numerousmedicationsthat have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS, including relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). All have been shown to reduce the number of relapses (also called attacks or exacerbations) and number of new lesions (also called plaques or scars) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and they may also slow disease progression. Most MS experts recommend that people consider starting one of these medications as soon as the diagnosis of RRMS has been confirmed. Of these medications, seven are injectable (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Extavia, Glatopa, Plegridy,Rebifand Zinbryta(Zinbryta [daclizumab]was withdrawn from the worldwide market on March 2, 2018. Please see important information about the withdrawal in ourSociety News),three are oral (Aubagio, Gilenya and Tecfidera), and three are infused (Lemtrada, Novantrone and Tysabri). Novantrone is approved specifically for people with worsening RRMS in other words, those whose RRMS is progressing in spite of treatment with one of the first-line medications -- as well as those with secondary-progressive MS. Lemtrada is approved for people with relapsing forms of MS who have had an inadequate response to at least two other disease-modifying therapies. View post: Treating relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) : National Multiple ... … Continue reading →