Is there any alternative medicine for multiple Sclerosis (M.S)?

[ram9204]

Is there any alternative medicine for multiple Sclerosis (M.S)?

[ChristieR]

my mother has been living with ms for years now. unfortunately, there really isn't anything that works. she is taking copaxone, prior to that it was avonex. there are some promising new treatments on the horizon though. we have done some research and there is something about female pregnancy hormones that seem to put the disease into remission. although it hasn't been approved yet. the best way to control the symptoms without any medicine, is regular exercise. (about 45 min a day) as for the pain associated with it, each person is different and responds to different pain relievers or combination to several. (some people actually take Marinol or smoke marijuana and that helps them. she hasn't tried it though)

[pcheesewhiz]

Yes, but you must keep in mind that everyone has a different experience with MS. So while one medicine may work something of a miracle for one person, it may do relatively little for another. With that it mind let me say that there is a drug called Naltrexone that has garnered the attention of the National Institute of Health. Originally formulated some 25 years ago to help drug addicts kick the habit, a Harvard doctor discovered that in low doses, it can be amazingly restorative for people with autoimmune diseases. The pharmaceutical companies have no interest in funding trials to have it approved for MS since there is no profit in drugs that have reached generic status. Once the patents are over, so is the profit. I have been taking this drug for two years now and it has given me my life back. I now can work out at the gym, hold a job, and enjoy a full social life. Most pharmacies carry it . However it must be compounded. While general dosage for a drug addict is 50 milligrams, someone with MS needs to take only 4.5 milligrams. So the druggest must grind up the 50 milligram pill and make 4.5 milligram capsules with it. For most (not all) people with MS it definitely provides a much improved quality of life. I pay $50.00 for a three month supply versus the $4,500 cost of copaxone. The National Multiple Society has stayed relatively mum on the topic of Low Dose Naltrexone although they are donating funds to run some of the LDN drug trials. But the NMSS is almost entirely funded by the big dollar drug companies and they are not about to bite the hand that feeds them. I suggest you type LDN.ORG into your web browser and begin doing your research. Best of luck and have a great day!

[eilonwy82971]

I'm a nurse with MS. I spent a great deal of time talking with my doctor and reviewing the literature to decide which drug was best. Avonex is a once a week shot, but on a non-shot day you can have flu-like symptoms. Copaxone is a shot everyday but no flu-like symptoms. Because I have two very active children (2 and 3), along with still working part-time, I chose Copaxone so as not to have flu-symptoms. Copaxone is an expensive drug, but my insurance covers it, so I pay $15/mo. There are days I don't want to "shoot up", and in all honesty I skip a day about once a month, a small reprieve. But I know I will get through it, even if I don't get used to it.I've had some flairs while on Copaxone. But I have also been tracking them against my monthly cycle. Many women notice they have more symptoms mid-cycle or right before they begin their period. Don't you love hormones?We are constantly learning more about MS. But there is currently no cure. Run the other way from anyone/any drug/any herb offering you "cures". Treatment goals for MS are to reduce the number of attacks, improve recovery from attacks, slow MS's progression, and relieve complications due to the loss of function (i.e. numbness, weakness, loss of muscle coordination, problems with vision, speech, bladder control, etc.).I was at an MS symposium in March, as far as any oral meds for MS there are a few, but they are still a few years down the line. There are 3 in Phase II Trials (to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular disease and to determine common short-term side effects and risks). There are 3 in Phase III Trials (to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide a basis for physician labeling).Low dose naltrexone (LDN) just finished a Phase III clinical trial for use in MS in Nov. But articles were coming out already in Sept. saying more clinical trials are still needed for use in MS. There are several clinical trials at various stages studying antibiotic therapy and MS. Reports published in 2006/2007 showed initial benefits with Sativex (cannabis). However, reports published last month from the latest trials showed Sativex was no more effective in treating MS pain than a placebo given to half the patients. It has been approved for use in Canada and is still development in Europe and the US.The best advice I have is to have great communication with the neurologist!

[Voelven]

eilonwy82971: Very detailed answer. I just had to jump in:Avonex is a once weekly shot, side effects usually occur over a period of 24 hours after taking the shot. So it's potentially 1 sickday a week, not one sickday every second day.