http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...t-1991104.html

Why MS Drugs Don't Work....

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease. It may take 40 years to run its course. In developing drugs to slow its progression, doctors have used brain scans to show lesions which the drugs appeared to prevent, and gave quicker results. Some experts thought the lesions were the disease but little effort was made to check. But preventing lesion formation does not prevent disability caused by the condition. The drugs deal with the lesions, not the disease.

Jeremy Laurance

My question is: what causes the disease/disability? Isn't it the formation of lesions?
And don't the DMDs slow down or prevent the formation of lesions?

Okay, that's two questions...I can't count well due to lesions...

That doesn't explain the research results of, for instance, Copaxone. I haven't had any relapses or new symptoms while on it either. Before I started the DMDs it was new icky stuff happening all the time and it got even better with Copaxone.

when researching DMD a few months back...I came across this on the official copaxone website;

"Copaxone does NOT have an indication for reducing the progression of disability"
http://www.copaxone.com/NewlyDiagnosed/pivotTrial.aspx
scroll to the very bottom of the page.

this is one of the reasons I decided against DMD.....and just went with LDN.

I'm not sure, but I think the Disease Causes the lesion, not the other way around. Brain lesions can be caused by other events, as well, such as a stroke etc..

Maybe Copaxone is a mystery, like LDN. I'm not going to quit LDN, because some Docs scoff at it. I wouldn't quit C either, if I were you.

It could also have something to do with the things going on in Europe with their sinking economy. They're in a crisis situation and they are very likely looking for any reason to not supply expensive medicines such as those for MS. If you read the article and look for the key terms you might see what I mean.

There will always be reasons to avoid the DMDs for those who wish to take that route. I choose to use the medicines that have been trialed and shown to have beneficial effects for MS. My MS neuro has been studying this for over three decades and he works for a clinic that takes a majority of medicaid patients so he isn't getting rich off of this, but he's involved in research trials for MS and, (mayo trained) and I believe what he says. There are people who fly across the country to see him.

I'm sticking with Copaxone after many years of my own research but I admit I could not afford it without insurance.

This will be interesting to follow--not only this thread, but the reaction (assuming there will be one) of the medical community, specifically neurology.

when i was first diagnosed in feb 08 i did tons of research and panicked over which med, when/whether to use a med and how would my disease progress over the next 40 years....i went w/dmd's based on research then that showed a difference (for some) who started on them as soon as possible after diagnosis
then had to focus on daughter's kindergarten activities, work and just living...now not worrying about the research...skipped a year of mri's and recent mri showed diminished lesion--after 2 years of betaS...however...also possibly some new little lesions...ms seems to be a random thing for many as is the progression, reaction to dmd's (or not).

my neuro was pretty honest...no guarantees-w/dmd's--they might not do anything at all. but, i will email the article to him to get his take...

I am so tired of this!

#1 I feel AWFUL when I take Copaxone. I keep hearing how my sx are NOT listed, and how many patients do well on this drug, and how I should hang in there, and take a pill to counter act the feelings, and then I am medicated,and dont feel well. ALL of the MDs keep telling me how important it is that I stay on the meds.

#2 When I stop the meds, my brain comes back. I can think again! I have energy! I have creativity. I have stability emotionally, and I am able to interact with folks again.

What does that say? it says that C is the CAUSE of my sx, and stopping it cures it!

I have agreed to a 3 month trial again of C, and this time, I am doing quadruple research on this med, and I have made the statement loud and clear that if I land back in the sit on the couch and watch my life go on without me crowd, I am laying down the needles. I didnt survive stage 4 breast cancer to live my life stuck on the couch! or so exhausted, from lack of sleep I cant function. I want my life back!

Thank you so much for sharing your info. I have found the DMDs to be worse than the ding dang disease!