Acthar is the 'new' brand name drug that is ACTH which pre-dates IVSM. It does work better for some people, but it is very expensive. It might be a problem to get Insurance to cover it unless IVSM has been tried first and failed.

I really appreciate all the feedback, because drugs scare me, and none of my fellow ms-ers in town have even heard of the drug. I am definitely more comfortable with it now, but the nurse still hasn't called me to set up pick up and tutorial on the injection, so I am not sure what's going on. it seems we have alot of flaws in our medical system here, so I will probably have to call back Monday to remind them they were doing so.

Again, Thank you soooo much everyone!

I took it a few months ago. One 5mL bottle. 1mL per day for 5 days was dose but .6 - .7 ws all I could fit in my modified Copaxone auto injector that I use for weekly testosterone shots so it took 8? days. It shouldn't matter cause it's long lasting. Did it help more then IVSM? I doubt it AND the cost for that 5mL bottle is $25,000! I won't do it again since IVSM is so much cheaper to insurance with same results, for me anyway.

Neuro told me it works by stimulating gland to produce more of whatever where as IVSM suppresses production, just like testosterone I take slows my teste's production. Your body knows levels and trys to adjust.

Salt intake must be cut to a minimum. I can't stress this enough. I eat quite healthy and boy was my mouth dry (started Dry Mouth thread) and still is during the night. Increases appetite which i'm cool with because I exercise all I can and muscles like fuel.

I'm still losing feeling on a weekly basis and i'm on Ty with occasional Copaxone shots. Sucks. I feel (or don't) your pain.

Wow. $25,000 is ALOT of money

I still haven't heard anything from my doctor. I really don't want to treat this flare, and try and come out of it naturally, maybe eating alot of natural anti-inflammatory foods? I just hate doing drugs, they turn me into a horrible person, and then takes quite some time after I'm off the drug to get back to normal. This flare is definitely getting worse though so I am not sure if the no drug route is even an option. Everyday I am more and more numb. It seems the numbness is spreading and water from the shower is a horrible sensation right now.

GRRRR to MS.

Here is the good news about the price:

You can have your neurologist negotiate the price down for you. My neurologist did (and said it was a common practice to do so). My cost was $500, and that was without insurance. After further negotiations because of my lack of insurance at the time, the absolute final price was only $250. Furthermore, I know others who have reported even lower out-of-pocket costs.

Try the negotiations route.

-Vic

Thanks for that advice! I didn't know negotiating prices was even an option! I was called by the man from the acthar company today so I believe I am in the process of getting registered. I'm still really not looking forward to this, I hate what steroids do to my body.

This made my MS calm down immediately...I used to have acute MS attacks. Usually I was on it around 7 days tapering down as I went off of it.

You should be prescribed Potassium, take a Calcium pill daily and take Zantac 30 minutes before your shot. Avoid salty foods.

This drug worked wonders for me ... I hope it does the same for you.

Take care.