Just a few things:

#1: Pink, as long as you had the blood tests/MRI etc, your doc appears to be sure it is a relapse, and if it is a relapse, steroids are allowed. It sounds as if they are right on top of what needs to be done as far as tests prior to steroids. I hope they help.

One thing I don't understand is that when I had steroids IV during relapses, I always had the three day course. At NO time did anyone ever prescribe 5 days. Why is the protocol/dose different for everyone?


#2: Avonex is now more expensive than Tysabri. Do you think they are pulling a Cephalon move? Cephalon increased the price of Provigil to try to force people onto Nuvigil, since provigil is going off patent. If they can get people on Nuvigil, they retain the $$. Biogen owns Avonex and owns part of Tysabri. Avonex is going off patent soon and any pharma with biological production capability can start making Avonex. Where do you suppose Biogen wants their patients on Avonex to go?

#3: The assay- The FDA is already in trouble for what's been going on with pills and meds-think Avandia. They are going to be VERY careful before approving anything. Ask yourself why they would require a two year trial of a simple blood test. I understand they may need to find where "statistical significance" is, and that the neurologists will get the results, but do they actually think that any good doctor is not going to disclose results to their patient? The patient will be cautioned about trials and stat sig, but the result will be there, negative or positive.
Speak with your neuro if you want this test. You can find more info on the two trials at:

Stratify 1: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/sh...d+assay&rank=1


Stratify 2: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/sh...s_ex=Y&rank=41

Everything going well here, hope it's the same for you all!