Anyone heard of using 2 DMD's? My doctor told me today if the anti-body test was off for the beta he was going to switch me to copaxon. Then later in his email he even sugested copaxone to rebif, If I wouldnt mind the extra shot.

Being on 2 at the same time, no... but being switched, yes. You can switch for any number of reasons. Not working, don't like the side effects, don't like the # of shots, blood panel, ect.

All I know is he told me Monday that my MS has become real aggresive.

I agree with beautytransforming on this one. I've never heard of using 2 DMDs at one time; only about the clinical trials teaming avonex with copaxone*. I think Rebif also may be a beta DMD.

* Edited: The clinical trial teaming avonex with copaxone has been terminated according to the ClinicalTrials.gov website.

I have heard of people doing two DMD's. I have also heard of double dosage of Betaseron (but that was in a trial).

I'm a bit surprised he would suggest perhaps "adding" Copaxone, when he isn't even sure if your antibody test for Rebif alone might not be ok. I don't think Copaxone would add to the antibody problem, but I don't think I'd add another heavy-duty drug when you are already having problems with one of them.

I don't think I've heard of Copaxone and any of the interferons together either, I think it was Rebif or Avonex with Betaseron.

Betaseron is different from Avonex and Rebif (which are the same type of interferon, but a difference dosage). Copaxone is not a interferon, and I have always understood it to modulate in an "enhancing" manner vs. the interferons modulating in a "suppressive" manner.

Are you RRMS? How long have you been dx?

Cherie

This was part of the email I cut out.
If you don’t have antibodies to interferon, we could add copaxone to rebif, if you don’t mind the extra needle sticks. Or we can switch you to tysabri. Please read up on that drug on the web.

Ive had people say maybe he isnt a good Dr. Or know what he is talking about when it come's to ms. Then I show them his stuff...

Florian P. Thomas, MD, MA, PhD, FAAN, Diplomate,
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurology)
American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Spinal Cord Injury Medicine)



Director, Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction Service
Director, National MS Society Multiple Sclerosis Center
Associate Chief of Staff, St. Louis VA Medical Center



Professor of Neurology, Associate Professor of Molecular Virology and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Saint Louis University




He also said NO to me trying to get on the trial for the pills. He said I might get a plecbo and that would not be good.

A friend of mine is currently on Avonex and Copaxone at the same time, outside of the clinical trial. Just because the trial is not ongoing doesn't mean it isn't done.

Rebif is basically the same interferon as Avonex, just dosed differently.

It was suggested to me to add Copaxone to Betaseron when I was failing on Beta, but instead we added Methotrexate to Beta. I stopped that after a year as it was not doing me any good. I then switched to Tysabri but it was pulled from the market after I had two infusions.

Bottomline Brandon, injecting 2 DMT (disease modifying treatments - the new term) is not unheard of and more common than you might think. There are a lot of Neurologists who think outside the box these days to treat their patients. I hope you get some relief soon.

IViG is another option you might want to look at as well as Cytoxan before moving to Novantrone. Keep us posted on your progress.

I think I would chose to try Tysabri rather than shooting 2 DMDs....IF, you are still RRMS.

Good Wishes..