Read the MS Society news release here.

The study followed the relapsing-remitting patients being treated with any type of interferon beta for up to 7 years, with a median time of 4 1/2 year period. They tracked the patients every 6 monghs, measuring physical disability. Early treatment was defined as less than or up to one year from the onself of the disease. Treatment administered more than one year after onset was defined as delayed treatment.

Early treatment was found to significantly reduce the progression of the disease as compared to delayed treatment starts.

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Of course, this news is only helpful to you if you live in a state that allows the use and disbursement of medical marijuana, and if your doctor agrees that the drug might be helpful. Even where it’s legal, the law can be murky, so you’ll need to do your research on what is lawful and available for your own situation.

In other news:

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“FDA Advisory Panel OK’s Fampridine-SR

First-ever oral medication specifically for MS

Fampridine-SR would treat difficulty walking

On October 14, an FDA advisory committee recommended Fampridine-SR for approval. The FDA is expected to make a final decision on or before October 22. The expected decision will make Fampridine-SR (with the proposed brand name Amaya) the first medication ever approved specifically to treat an MS symptom.

In phase-III clinical trials, Fampridine-SR was found to improve walking speed in people with MS. While the studies mainly measured gait improvement, some participants said they felt less disabled during their daily activities. The drug, developed by Acorda Therapeutics, works by blocking tiny potassium channels on nerve surfaces, which may temporarily enhance nerve signaling.
Jackie Havner and Gracie
Jackie Havner and her granddaughter Gracie. Jackie, diagnosed with MS in 1965, was among the consumers testifying about benefits of Fampridine.

Filling a treatment gap

FDA approval would fill a large gap in current MS treatments, since this drug has shown benefit even in those with primary progressive MS, a form for which there are no approved disease-modifying therapies.

“Although we might think of difficulty walking as an isolated symptom of MS, this is far from true,” said Nicholas LaRocca, PhD, in a statement for the committee. “It affects a large range of everyday activities.” LaRocca is the vice president of Health Care Delivery and Policy Research at the Society.

While the FDA is not required to follow advisory committee recommendations, it almost always does.”

This is especially exciting at my house. My husband has Primary Progressive MS, and this is the very first medication approved for treatment of his disease.

As the press release says, the FDA generally follows the committee recommmendations. However, their final determination won’t come until January:

Acorda Therapeutics Inc. said the Food and Drug Administration delayed a ruling on its multiple sclerosis drug candidate Fampridine-SR by three months.

The agency was due to make a decision by today, 22/10, but the ruling is now due by Jan. 22, 2010.

Acorda said the FDA extended its review because it recently submitted new information on its risk evaluation strategy for the drug.

Acorda sent in the additional information following a meeting with an FDA panel on Oct. 14. The panel recommended that Fampridine-SR receive FDA approval.

Source: The Associated Press Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. (22/10/09)

Be well.

Related News:

Extavia Approved for Multiple Sclerosis (nlm.nih.gov)

FDA Panel Likes Acorda’s Multiple Sclerosis Drug (blogs.wsj.com)

Novartis study shows promise for oral MS therapy (dailyfinance.com)

Technorati Tags: amaya, fampridine-sr, MS information, ms treatment, multiple sclerosis help, multiple sclerosis news

Senators, Stem Cell Research And Me. Multiple Sclerosis.

Allow me please to first preface this posting with the acknowledgement that I am neither an important person nor the guy that gets phone calls like this on a regular basis.

Late on Thursday afternoon, I answered my phone and found myself being asked by the office of Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to speak at a press conference on the following afternoon. The senator, two leading scientists in the field of stem cell research, visiting Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and myself were to speak at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center. Before I could accept, I needed to move a couple of things around on my schedule, and, in the middle of that task, I realized the magnitude of what I would be saying ‘yes’ to.

Multiple sclerosis is overwhelmingly prevalent in my area of the country. In fact, it is stated that a child born and raised in the Pacific Northwest is more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with MS in his/her lifetime than any other child in America. It made perfect sense to have someone with MS speak to the press about this topic. Many other disease groups, however, could benefit from potential treatments derived from said research. I was going to be the only patient advocate (from any group) to speak that day. I started to realize that I’d have to speak from more than a MS point of view at this venue. I was looking at a pretty daunting responsibility. Could I live up to it?

As most of you know, President George W. Bush’s first and only veto was recently used on the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. This was one of the topics the senators wanted to talk about in addition to the general lack of funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

We have discussed that issue in previous blogs as well as the stem cell issue.

What struck me the most in my time with the senators and other expert speakers was their effort to talk about these issues and theire legislative priority. I found that whether you vote Republican, Democrat, Independent or simply for the person running, these two elected officials are truly passionate about the issue of healthcare and government funding for important medical research. I was proud to know these two people were representing their states and our cause in Washington, D.C.

For you Iowans, know that I have a new respect for your senior senator.

We may not always agree here at the ‘Life with MS’ blog when it comes to things like politics, religion or research ethics. However, what I think we can and do agree to is that the more people that know about our situation (particularly if some of those people have political authority) the better off we could be in the future. I made that my goal when I spoke on Friday.

I don’t know if I lived up to my responsibilities that day. I do, however, know that I’ll make sure that all of my elected representatives know where I stand on the issues when they go to vote upon them.

Do your elected officials know how you feel about these issues? Do they know that you, as one of their constituents, are living with MS? If they do, you never know whose call you might be taking at the eleventh hour…

Wishing you and your family the best of health.

By: Trevis Gleason

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Trevis Gleason Trevis’ Blog can be found at blog.healthtalk.com/ms/ For more information, articles and programs on Multiple Sclerosis please visit HealthTalk.com/multiplesclerosis/

Stem Cell Research- Adult Stem Cells Give 3 Multiple Sclerosis …

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Stem cells used to treat students’ MS symptoms. Commonwealth Times (subscription), VA When his neurologist told him he was showing the symptoms of MS, he was surprised and confused. "It threw me for a loop," McClure said. "This is a disease that typically hits 40-year-old white women and I’m like, ‘I’m an 18-year-old black male.

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“We are writing to respectfully urge that you immediately lift the current federal restrictions on funding for embryonic stem cell research,” they wrote Wednesday

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So the multiple sclerosis sufferer joined an increasing number of Scots going overseas for experimental stem-cell treatment not available in the UK. 

Stem cells used to treat students’ MS symptoms

Edwin McClure, an advertising graduate student, participated in a stem-cell study, published Jan. 29, that might have unveiled a treatment for multiple sclerosis. 

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Twenty-one patients with multiple sclerosis were stabilized following treatment with adult stem cells removed from each patient’s bone marrow. In some patients, the disease was reversed. 

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Stem cells and multiple sclerosis

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Adjusting To Living With Multiple Sclerosis

People with multiple sclerosis may feel that their disease has cost them their independence. This is not true. There are simple modifications that you can make to your home and workplace that will allow you to live a fairly normal life.

The first thing that you need to do is consult your physician and groups that provide multiple sclerosis support for ideas and information. In this article, we’ve got some helpful advice on living with multiple sclerosis that will help you make your life easier.

All MS treatments can have some side effects and all people with multiple sclerosis respond differently to different medications. Some injected MS treatments may cause flu-like side effects, such as fever, chills, muscle aches and tiredness. For many people, the flu-like side effects lessen or go away over time.

If you receive an injected MS treatment, then change the time of day that you take your injection. Many people choose bedtime so they can sleep through many of the side effects. Take over-the-counter pain medications. They can help reduce pain or fever. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have an allergic reaction to a multiple sclerosis drug.

One of the most difficult parts of living with MS is coping with the mental and physical fatigue. It’s one of the symptoms of MS, but it can also be caused by some medications. Depending on the type of fatigue, your doctor may recommend aerobic exercise, physical therapy or occupational therapy.

Prioritizing your responsibilities, pacing yourself, and delegating work to others will help to conserve your energy. Depression is common and it is managed the same way as depression that occurs without the medicine: an antidepressant medication and/or counseling.

Living with multiple sclerosis will mean making changes to your living environment. Making specific changes around the home can significantly reduce injuries or mitigate high-risk situations, such as falling or getting a burn.

For the sake of safety, you should have hand rails and other supports installed in the bathtub. You should also use the microwave instead of a traditional stove and kettle. If you do use a stove, then select a model with controls located at the front, use the back burners whenever possible, and use a stove guard which fits around the side or front of the appliance. Buy a kettle and iron with an automatic switch-off.

Living with multiple sclerosis means that you have to take the appropriate home safety measures. Doing things such as making sure that you maintain well-lighted areas in and around the home, keeping floors free of obstacles, fastening loose rugs to the floor and wearing well-fitted shoes with good traction are all simple things you can do that will keep you safe. Taking these little steps will make living with MS easier for both you and your family.

By: Michael Selvon

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Enrich your knowledge further about living with multiple sclerosis from Mike Selvon portal. We appreciate your feedback at our muscular dystrophy blog where a free gift awaits you.

Technorati Tags: Living With Multiple Sclerosis, multiple sclerosis depression, multiple sclerosis fatigue

Multiple Sclerosis And Diet

Healthy eating is important for everyone, but it is particularly important if you have a chronic illness, such as multiple sclerosis. Good nutrition, especially adequate calories and protein, helps maintain your body’s store of protein, provide energy, heal wounds, and fight infection.

A good Multiple Sclerosis diet is believed to help control and possibly eliminate many of the symptoms that come along with the disease. This can help slow the progression of the disease. While you should check with a doctor for specific suggestions or guidelines, there are some basic tips to a good MS diet.

Preparing fresh food can be a hassle,the health benefits to anyone are obvious but for us with MS its an even bigger benefit,I will explain.If we use our precious energy digesting unhealthy and rich foods like cheeseburgers and other naughty food(you know the stuff I mean we all watch TV) then we feel heavy bloated and downright lousy! So what I do is make double portions of healthy food when I feel good and stick it in the freezer for days when Im not so good then I wont be tempted to order take aways.Once you get into the habit its easy to do.Have a look at the recipe page (I do actually have a degree in Food and Beverage and I used to be a chef so they taste good! ) Im always adding to it as I love experimenting with food so keep your eye on it and please email me any recipes you have and Ill try them and then put on my site.

As the diet may contain high levels of polyunsaturates, a good intake of vitamin E, vitamin B6, zinc and vitamin C is needed. Vitamin E is the main antioxidant that helps prevent peroxidation of polyunsaturates and vitamin C helps to protect vitamin E. Zinc and vitamin B6 are part of the enzyme delta-6-desaturase which is involved in conversion of linoleic acid (found in polyunsaturated fat and oils) to its longer chain derivatives.

It is important to have a balance between the two types of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturates). Polyunsaturated margarines, fats and oils (eg, sunflower or soya spread, and sunflower, corn, safflower and soya oils) are a good source of omega-6 polyunsaturates.

You should increase the amount of fresh vegetables and fruits in your MS diet. Try to always eat freshly cooked food when you must cook it. This will increase the amount of vitamins and minerals your body absorbs. This will help to make up for some of the nutrients you lose by cutting certain things from your diet. Vitamin supplements may also be beneficial or even necessary for your Multiple Sclerosis, but you should consult a doctor to make sure you take the right vitamins.

Obviously, any foods you are allergic to should be cut from your diet. If you are unsure of allergies, try consulting a doctor or allergy specialist. You may also try eliminating all of the most common problem foods from your diet, and after two weeks bring them back one at a time. If you have a bad reaction to any food, then you should probably eliminate it from your multiple sclerosis diet.

Dairy products make your body more acidic and susceptible to disease. You can get your necessary vitamins and minerals from vegetables and supplements instead of dairy.

By: Corwin Brown

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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October recipe success for MS: Using flax seeds

I have resorted to looking at healthy eating and to food as my “medicine” for my health to return to something better than it was. Flaxseeds have been an important part of what I have been into for a few years now and it is actually helping . … Trevis Gleason was diagnosed with secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis. He is a volunteer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a food journalist, and was an award-winning chef and culinary instructor. 

Cholesterol Miracle Breakthrough Review

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Technorati Tags: multiple sclerosis diet, multiple sclerosis healthy eating

Certain things may make a person ask her self if she is starting to suffer from multiple sclerosis. If a person has a blurry vision or has maybe trouble concentrating that doesn’t necessarily mean that she or he are suffering from this terrible disorder. Something else may to blame for a whole other reason.

It’s a well known fact that multiple sclerosis has a lot of symptoms similar to a lot of other disorders of the central nervous system. Still, as said earlier, if any signs of the disease appear in any person, checking with the doctor should be the next thing to do. Early diagnosing of the disorder and early treatment has shown to greatly improve the slowing of the rate of witch the disease progresses.

A special diagnosing from your doctor may also be a bit tricky considering the fact that there isn’t a specific set of rules to follow in order to correctly see if that specific person suffers from the disorder. The best thing to do is to let the doctor asses the symptoms that the patient has said he is suffering from. The next thing to do is let the doctor give you a compleat physical check in order to see if other more subtle symptoms are also present. These symptoms may be either changes in eye movement or very minute changes in speech patterns. If still a proper diagnosis can’t be made further tests may include a RMI scan or a spinal tap. Treatments have shown that they are able to improve the state of the patient, and the fact is the earlier the treatment begins the better the chance is that the effect will be stronger in the patient.

People are different one from another. Thinking of this we realize that it is the same thing about how the disease affects the patient. Some people may this way experience very diverse symptoms while others just a few. Even if the symptoms are not showing damage is being done to the central nervous system, damage that gets worse and with the passing of time. Treatments are available now in many forms but it is important that the patient stays in therapy if the chance to slow the action of the disorder is ever to exist.

The way that the disease actually works is that because the nervous cell loses its myelin it’s more predisposed to get damaged. The optic nerve suffers some serious damage because of this: it gets swollen causing blurry vision in a matter of days after it has started. Pain may also be felt especially when moving the eye.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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 We recommend you clicking this site www.multiple-sclerosis-center.com for more multiple sclerosis subjects like symptoms of multiple sclerosis or multiple sclerosis therapy

Medical Updates – Early Stage Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common neurological disorder diagnosed in young adults, affecting 2.5 million people worldwide, including 400000 Americans. MS is a disease of the central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord. The. … Some of the early symptoms of MS are weakness, tingling, numbness, and blurred vision. 

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Technorati Tags: multiple sclerosis diagnosis, multiple sclerosis early symptoms

Multiple Sclerosis Treatment With Interferon Beta

Medicines that contain the interferon beta are similar to the natural interferon generated by the body in case of activation of the immune system when it needs to fight a disease. These medications proved their efficiency in case of viral infections and were also very helpful in problems involving the immune system.

But the information related to their effect on MS is poor. But one of its widely known effects is the anti-inflammatory action. Interferon -beta also maintains the myelin. .

Interferon-beta seems to annihilate the effect of a very dangerous factor that activates MS symptoms: gamma interferon.

Avonex is administered by injection into the muscle of the thigh, upper arm, or hip weekly. is also an injection that is inserted beneath the skin about 3 times in a week; Betaseron is administered the same way as Rebif every other day.

The treatment including interferon beta medicines deals with relapsing-remitting forms of MS .Although it is tested on adults and, thus, more recommended to them, interferon-beta is also used in children.

Betaseron received the approval of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the treatment of people with secondary progressive MS

The Effectiveness

Based on studies, it was proved that:

Interferon beta treatment produced a significant decrease in number and severity of MS relapses. People who were administered Betaseron injections, once in two days and those that used Rebif for three times during a week were 1/3 less affected by relapses.

* – Less surfaces of the brain are affected by MS in the people that are on interferon. There MRI scans have shown this improvement of the condition and also that interferon beta doesn’t allow the formation of lesions.

* – In case of relapsing remitted form, Avonex. Rebif or Betaseron prove their efficiency in minimizing disability chances and in delaying it in other cases.

* – Betaseron seems to delay the progress of MS in the secondary progressive form and, thus, disability.

* – Also for relapsing – remitted form of MS, Avonex and Betaseron delay the cognitive impairment.

Both Avonex and Betaseron have been approved by FDA, the first one to deal with early lesions or changes of MS detected by MRI and the other – for the other for the treatment for the secondary – progressive form and also that of relapsing – remitted form.

All three interferon beta compounds are effective, but better results seem to be obtained from more aggressive treatment (Betaseron, Rebif) compared to the low doses of Avonex’s effects. Rebif is more effective by 12 percents in the prevention of relapses than Avonex, says a study which also shows the superiority of Rebif to Avonex regarding the lesions of the brain: they were much fewer in case of Rebif use.

Side effects:

* – Similarly symptoms to those of flu: tiredness, high body temperature, muscle aches that appear about a day after the administration of injections.

* – Headaches that appear from the first six months of treatments. Depending on their severity, the doctor will decide whether to change the medicine to glatiramer acetate.

* – Depression may appear, generated by interferon beta medicines. The labels of these medications contain a mention of this possibility. Avonex is the one that generated most of this kind of side effects. It is not recommended for people with serious psychiatric problems, especially depression. In case of mood fluctuation, depression or suicidal ideas, the doctor should be immediately informed.

* – The site where the injection was administered may inflame, turn red and present an increased sensitivity. Usually this is generated by Rebif and Betaseron. A pain reliever that precedes and follows the injection may be the best solution.

* – Common symptoms to these of MS: anxiety, confusion, loss of appetite and insomnia. In case they last for more than 2 days, the doctor should know about it.

Blood tests are necessary for people on interferon beta treatment; so that their leucocytes and the liver’s function may be monitored because this kind of medications may seriously damage them.

The interferon beta medication mustn’t be started until the MS diagnosis is a fact. Once it is diagnosed, this kind of therapy should be administered as soon as possible to prevent or stop the degradation of the nervous system functions due to the unpredictable nature of the disease.

The FDA and the producer of Avonex warn the people to avoid using this medicine in case of depression or another psychiatric condition because it makes their symptoms worse. Your doctor will tell you whether Avonex suits your case.

The annoying part of interferon beta treatments is represented by their side effects, that most frequently include flu like symptoms after the injection is administered. Ibuprofen, Napraxen or Acetaminophen improve these symptoms and increase your tolerance for higher doses of interferon beta compounds that really help MS.

Except for their side effects interferon beta treatment presents other disadvantages too:

– A person cannot be sure that the treatment will be effective in his/ her particular case; sometimes it may just not work.

– The risks of long term medications haven’t been discovered yet.

– In time, interferon may loose its efficiency because the body learns how to annihilate its effects by means of antibodies.

– It is a very expensive treatment, over ten thousands $ each year

This kind of treatment isn’t appropriate for pregnant women because it may produce a miscarriage. The women that follow this treatment must use birth control methods. In case pregnancy occurs, see your doctor as soon as possible and demand his advice.

By: Tobias Higgens -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

What is multiple sclerosis ? Read about the symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Technorati Tags: interferon beta therapy, multiple sclerosis treatment

Multiple Sclerosis And Depression

Most often than not, before the actual diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, a person will experience inexplicable and apparently strange symptoms that is mysterious. The person will be perplexed, bewildered and often terrified when numbness, weakness occurs in addition to other neurological symptoms.

These symptoms will occur haphazardly and then disappear just as you are getting a hold of it. The diagnosis gave them an assurance that they are sane and their condition is truthful.

To properly diagnose multiple sclerosis, your neurologist will examine your medical history on top of examine your physical symptoms. Be frank and upfront with the neurologist and list out all symptoms regardless of how miniscule it may be. As there is no one authoritative test for multiple sclerosis, it is usually done by eradicating all likelihoods and taking into account the symptoms experienced by the patient.

But there is a set criterion before multiple sclerosis is established as MRI, lumbar puncture and V.E.P however obligatory are not enough to suggest multiple sclerosis. The criterion is that there are two disconnected central nervous systems that are affected; the symptoms have to take place within a month by the patient. They are then accompanied by a complete neuro examination; after which by MRI and lumbar puncture too.

Multiple sclerosis can cause conflicting emotions and depression is the worst. When certain segment of the brains or nervous systems is affected by multiple sclerosis, depression can occur. Alternatively, coping with multiple sclerosis can give rise to depression as the symptoms can affect your day to day existence. When depression crops up, pay a visit to the physician and get prescription medicine such as Prozac and Elavil, etc. to treat it. In addition to the standard medicines, herbal cures can be effective too but again seek the advice of your doctor as herbal remedies might get in the way of regular multiple sclerosis medications.

Ways to manage multiple sclerosis is to put aside time to do what you enjoy, be it with family or close friends. Keeping to yourself will only make multiple sclerosis that much more tricky to manage. Get out and enjoy the bright sunlight as devoid of it, depression can set in. Live life with a purpose as that will make life so much more relevant and a future to look forward to. Don’t let disability overcome you and let exercise be a part of your daily routine as exercise releases endorphin which makes you feel better even though you may experience all the discomfort.

By: Jhye

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Jhye is an author who read widely about health and article on multiple sclerosis is his contribution. Take a look at www.managingmultiplesclerosis.com.

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Technorati Tags: multiple sclerosis depression

Parenting And Multiple Sclerosis

In the past when a woman is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the physician will counsel against setting up a family. But the advance of science and medications as well as better acceptance of multiple sclerosis let many in the medical profession to acknowledge that a person with the illness can bear children and deal with the debilitating disease.

Even with multiple sclerosis, you raise more than one child but for that, it is necessary to take a inner look at yourself and how you are coping with multiple sclerosis. There is definitely a necessity to prepare well and sort out your life to deal with the growth and health of the children.

Don’t take it as a challenge all by yourself as raising a family can be trying even for parents without multiple sclerosis. Planning your time wisely is important and as looking after children can be draining, tries to ration your energy so that you can experience the day without feeling worn out. When you are energetic, allot some time to play with your children but at other times, when you feel tired, have quiet activities with your child.

Children are very observant and when the time is right, explain to them your condition as they are young and very receptive. As multiple sclerosis set in, at times there is a need to enlighten your children that you need time to deal with it and may affect whatever plans you have with them. Activities can be postponed but seek their acceptance and perhaps set aside the time for other more sedate activities such as reading, etc. When you take the opportunity to explain to your child, it can be helpful and not lead to misunderstanding.

Multiple sclerosis needs not be a disabling as there are still many things you can do as long as you learn to prioritize. Your time with your children is very precious and for other tasks that can be put aside to a later date, learns to do it and spend your time wisely. Allocate your time to run errands and other essential tasks but do not overexert. When you are occupied with energy sapping task, do a simpler and less energy draining one next so that you can conserve and not excessively fatigued.

Always instill in your child the need to be thoughtful and accepting of those with disabilities. Children with multiple sclerosis parents tend to grow up to be more responsible, loving and caring adults.

By: Jhye

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Jhye is an author who read widely about health and article on multiple sclerosis is his contribution. Take a look at www.managingmultiplesclerosis.com

Technorati Tags: multiple sclerosis and pregnancy, multiple sclerosis information