dgibson70
12-01-2005, 07:35 AM
I just found out about two hours ago that I most likely have MS. My neuro told me that due the diagnostic criteria set forth he can not say definitively that I do, but nothing else explains the lesions in my brain and the elevated protein bands in my spinal fluid. My VEP was normal, all my bloodwork as were the MRI's on my neck and spine. The only two tests that came back abnormal were the brain MRI and LP. My neuro wants me to have another brain MRI in one month to see if my lesions have changed. Regardless of the results, I think he'll want to go ahead and start me on an interferon. For anyone that has already started this treatment, do you have any information as to side effects or a good website to check out?
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lilc
12-01-2005, 08:52 AM
You may want to check out all of the CRABs: Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex and Betaseron. Copaxone is the only non-interferon, and has virtually no side-effects. (This is what I chose.) The others tend to have the flu-like side-effects. Your neuro will probably have an opinion, but all the meds have web-sites.
Glad you got closer to a dx!
Glad you got closer to a dx!
baddoey
12-01-2005, 11:59 AM
I have been on copaxone for 6 months and have had no side effects except for site reactions, I find out next week if it is working for me. . good luck with everything.
jennypash
12-01-2005, 02:34 PM
I was originally on copaxone (for two weeks) and when I went for my second opinion i was told that copaxone hasn't been proven to work for people who have RRMS - so I had to switch to avonex which has had research done and has proven to help. I will be going in a few months to see if it is working for me.
Good luck.
JP
Good luck.
JP
baddoey
12-01-2005, 05:52 PM
wowser - where did you hear that about copaxone? there was all this information recently about the 26 year data that shows it is effective in treating RRMS .. reducing relapse rates. .etc. . .
whuggs1
12-01-2005, 06:31 PM
I have been on Copaxone about a month now with no side effects at all.
Shared Solutions® has been great as well.
March 18,2005) — Given the recent news surrounding the multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies, Teva Neuroscience announced today that COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) is the only available relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) therapy that does not carry a warning or precaution for liver damage and does not require additional laboratory testing. This clarification is important due to recent announcements regarding two approved products in the MS market. The recent marketing suspension on one newly approved product and the FDA-issued warning for liver damage on the other prompted Teva Neuroscience to clarify the attributes of COPAXONE®.
The multiple sclerosis community is asking tough questions about MS therapies. Teva Neuroscience, a leader in the field of neurology, understands the concern and confusion weighing on the minds of people living with MS and their carepartners. The company wants to reassure both physicians and patients that there is a wealth of data to support the efficacy and safety of their product, COPAXONE®.
The science behind COPAXONE® has been developed over many years, including an ongoing, long-term, prospective extension trial that has spanned the last 12 years. The importance of researching and weighing the evidence when selecting a therapy is critical. COPAXONE® is an RRMS therapy supported by three Class I Phase III trials (prospective, randomized, and controlled) establishing efficacy and safety1,2,3. “Class I” means the studies met the highest standards for quality according to experts4.
The three studies included two two-year studies, showing how effective COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) is in reducing relapses over the long term1,2. One of the two-year studies was extended as an open-label trial to 12 years with a commitment to extend to 15 years — making it the longest continuous study ever of patients with RRMS5. A third study showed people on COPAXONE® had steady reductions in the number of new brain MRI lesions3. Furthermore, COPAXONE® is presumed to have a dual mechanism of action both outside and within the central nervous system (where MS is active) to reduce inflammation at the site of brain lesions6,7.
Following stringent regulatory review, COPAXONE® has received approval for treatment of RRMS in 42 countries worldwide. These approvals were based on well-controlled Phase III trials demonstrating efficacy, safety, and tolerability.
Additionally, numerous other open-label studies have supported the effectiveness of COPAXONE®8-12. Clinical experience with COPAXONE® has led to endorsement of its use in published guidelines by the American Academy of Neurology, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Association of British Neurologists.
“We want people living with MS to feel confident in their therapy decision and take comfort in the fact that COPAXONE® has been studied for more than a decade and does not carry a precaution or warning for liver damage,” said Larry Downey, Teva Neuroscience President and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to clinical data, COPAXONE® has more than 340,000 patient-years of exposure in post-marketing data through November 2004.”
As part of its commitment to the MS community, Teva Neuroscience created Shared Solutions®, a free service offering support, knowledge, and answers for anyone affected by MS. People living with or touched by MS are encouraged to call Shared Solutions® at (800) 887-8100 for answers to questions about living with the disease and drug therapy.
About COPAXONE®
The FDA has approved drugs for RRMS, such as COPAXONE®. Current data suggest COPAXONE® is a selective MHC class II modulator. COPAXONE® is indicated for the reduction of the frequency of relapses in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
The most common side effects of COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) are redness, pain, swelling, itching, or a lump at the site of injection, flushing, chest pain, weakness, infection, pain, nausea, joint pain, anxiety, and muscle stiffness. These reactions are usually mild and seldom require professional treatment.
Some patients report a short-term reaction right after injecting COPAXONE®. This reaction can involve flushing (feeling of warmth and/or redness), chest tightness or pain with heart palpitations, anxiety, and trouble breathing. These symptoms generally appear within minutes of an injection, last about 15 minutes, and go away by themselves without further problems.
Call 1-800-887-8100 for more information about COPAXONE®, Team COPAXONE®, or multiple sclerosis.
References:
Bornstein MB, Miller A, Slagle S, et al. N Engl J Med. 1987; 317:408-414.
Johnson KP, Brooks BR, Cohen JA, et al. Neurology. 1995; 45:1268-1276.
Comi G, Filippi M, Wolinsky JS, et al. Ann Neurol. 2001; 49:290-297.
Goodin DS, Frohman EM, Garmany GP, et al. Neurology. 2002; 58(2 of 2):169-178.
Ford C, Johnson K, Brooks B, et al. September 17-20, 2003; Milan, Italy. Abstract and Poster
Neuhaus O, Farina C, Wekerle H, et al. Neurology. 2001; 56:702-708.
About COPAXONE®. Available at: http://mswatch.com/therapy/section.aspx?SectionID. Accessed October 11, 2004.
Khan OA, Tselis AC, Kamholz JA, et al. Multiple Sclerosis. 2001;7:349-353.
Haas J. Neurology. 2003; 60 (suppl 1):A480. Abstract P06.105.
Carra A, Tajer C, Onaha P, et al. Eur J Neurology. 2003;10:671-676.
Miller A, Shapiro S, Gershtein R, et al. J Neuroimmunol. 1998; 92:113-121.
Mancardi GL, Sardanelli F, Parodi RC, et al. Neurology. 1998;50:1127-1133.
Shared Solutions® has been great as well.
March 18,2005) — Given the recent news surrounding the multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies, Teva Neuroscience announced today that COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) is the only available relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) therapy that does not carry a warning or precaution for liver damage and does not require additional laboratory testing. This clarification is important due to recent announcements regarding two approved products in the MS market. The recent marketing suspension on one newly approved product and the FDA-issued warning for liver damage on the other prompted Teva Neuroscience to clarify the attributes of COPAXONE®.
The multiple sclerosis community is asking tough questions about MS therapies. Teva Neuroscience, a leader in the field of neurology, understands the concern and confusion weighing on the minds of people living with MS and their carepartners. The company wants to reassure both physicians and patients that there is a wealth of data to support the efficacy and safety of their product, COPAXONE®.
The science behind COPAXONE® has been developed over many years, including an ongoing, long-term, prospective extension trial that has spanned the last 12 years. The importance of researching and weighing the evidence when selecting a therapy is critical. COPAXONE® is an RRMS therapy supported by three Class I Phase III trials (prospective, randomized, and controlled) establishing efficacy and safety1,2,3. “Class I” means the studies met the highest standards for quality according to experts4.
The three studies included two two-year studies, showing how effective COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) is in reducing relapses over the long term1,2. One of the two-year studies was extended as an open-label trial to 12 years with a commitment to extend to 15 years — making it the longest continuous study ever of patients with RRMS5. A third study showed people on COPAXONE® had steady reductions in the number of new brain MRI lesions3. Furthermore, COPAXONE® is presumed to have a dual mechanism of action both outside and within the central nervous system (where MS is active) to reduce inflammation at the site of brain lesions6,7.
Following stringent regulatory review, COPAXONE® has received approval for treatment of RRMS in 42 countries worldwide. These approvals were based on well-controlled Phase III trials demonstrating efficacy, safety, and tolerability.
Additionally, numerous other open-label studies have supported the effectiveness of COPAXONE®8-12. Clinical experience with COPAXONE® has led to endorsement of its use in published guidelines by the American Academy of Neurology, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Association of British Neurologists.
“We want people living with MS to feel confident in their therapy decision and take comfort in the fact that COPAXONE® has been studied for more than a decade and does not carry a precaution or warning for liver damage,” said Larry Downey, Teva Neuroscience President and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to clinical data, COPAXONE® has more than 340,000 patient-years of exposure in post-marketing data through November 2004.”
As part of its commitment to the MS community, Teva Neuroscience created Shared Solutions®, a free service offering support, knowledge, and answers for anyone affected by MS. People living with or touched by MS are encouraged to call Shared Solutions® at (800) 887-8100 for answers to questions about living with the disease and drug therapy.
About COPAXONE®
The FDA has approved drugs for RRMS, such as COPAXONE®. Current data suggest COPAXONE® is a selective MHC class II modulator. COPAXONE® is indicated for the reduction of the frequency of relapses in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
The most common side effects of COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) are redness, pain, swelling, itching, or a lump at the site of injection, flushing, chest pain, weakness, infection, pain, nausea, joint pain, anxiety, and muscle stiffness. These reactions are usually mild and seldom require professional treatment.
Some patients report a short-term reaction right after injecting COPAXONE®. This reaction can involve flushing (feeling of warmth and/or redness), chest tightness or pain with heart palpitations, anxiety, and trouble breathing. These symptoms generally appear within minutes of an injection, last about 15 minutes, and go away by themselves without further problems.
Call 1-800-887-8100 for more information about COPAXONE®, Team COPAXONE®, or multiple sclerosis.
References:
Bornstein MB, Miller A, Slagle S, et al. N Engl J Med. 1987; 317:408-414.
Johnson KP, Brooks BR, Cohen JA, et al. Neurology. 1995; 45:1268-1276.
Comi G, Filippi M, Wolinsky JS, et al. Ann Neurol. 2001; 49:290-297.
Goodin DS, Frohman EM, Garmany GP, et al. Neurology. 2002; 58(2 of 2):169-178.
Ford C, Johnson K, Brooks B, et al. September 17-20, 2003; Milan, Italy. Abstract and Poster
Neuhaus O, Farina C, Wekerle H, et al. Neurology. 2001; 56:702-708.
About COPAXONE®. Available at: http://mswatch.com/therapy/section.aspx?SectionID. Accessed October 11, 2004.
Khan OA, Tselis AC, Kamholz JA, et al. Multiple Sclerosis. 2001;7:349-353.
Haas J. Neurology. 2003; 60 (suppl 1):A480. Abstract P06.105.
Carra A, Tajer C, Onaha P, et al. Eur J Neurology. 2003;10:671-676.
Miller A, Shapiro S, Gershtein R, et al. J Neuroimmunol. 1998; 92:113-121.
Mancardi GL, Sardanelli F, Parodi RC, et al. Neurology. 1998;50:1127-1133.
lilc
12-01-2005, 07:39 PM
We kinda like our Copaxone! My neuro wanted me to choose either Rebif of Copaxone. When I chose Copaxone she told me Rebif might show improvement in 3 months, more like 6 months for Copaxone. Given the side-effects issues, and the fact that I am working and travelling, etc, it was a no-brainer for me.
All I've heard, read and been told, Copaxone, Rebif and Avonex are the best choices for RRMS. Betaseron may be better for SPMS.
All I've heard, read and been told, Copaxone, Rebif and Avonex are the best choices for RRMS. Betaseron may be better for SPMS.
dgibson70
12-02-2005, 08:43 AM
Goodness, I think Copaxone seems to be a favored drug. Thank you for all your advice. I do have a question though. Copaxone is a noninterferon, correct? Does that mean that it only helps with relapses and doesn't necessarily prevent further progression of the disease? I get confused between the interferons and noninterferons.
Dawn20050
12-02-2005, 02:13 PM
can someone tell me what is an LP?
baddoey
12-02-2005, 02:39 PM
LP stand for lumbar puncture. . basically a spinal tap.
whuggs1
12-02-2005, 03:03 PM
dgibson70,
Here try this.
www.mswatch.com/Therapy
Hope it helps.
Here try this.
www.mswatch.com/Therapy
Hope it helps.
iluvsiamese
12-03-2005, 01:44 PM
I think your neuro you had the 2nd from had that backwards, it's hasn't been proven effective for primary progressive possibly, but it is approved for relapsing remitting.