I spent the entire weekend documenting everything I’ve tried for my MS. Thank God for iCal, my Amazon order history and the “purchase” file I keep in my email app. I’m not surprised by the vast majority of medicines, therapies and equipment as much as I’m shocked at what I forgot. For example I literally had…
Category: Drugs
Living With MS: What I Wish I Had Been Told When I Was Diagnosed
If you’re newly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I’m happy to give you my number with the understanding that you may never call me because: 1) I’m a stranger 2) You’ll probably spend the next six months scouring the internet and come across a plethora of excellent and downright dangerous suggestions that you’ll try before calling…
Day 27: Failing at Tysabri
Tysabri (Natalizumab) is for sure, the most spectacular drug failure that I’ve experienced. But first a little background information. Drugs, like all medical procedures, fall on a continuum. Because doctors in general want to first do no harm, whenever possible you are offered options with the least amount of side effects. It’s when those options fail…
Day 26: Failing at Ampyra
The second drug I failed to find success with was Ampyra, otherwise known as The Walking Drug. Per Drug.com, Ampyra (dalfampridine) is a potassium channel blocker used to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Dalfampridine produced an increase in walking speed in clinical trials. Exactly how it works is not known. It is thought…
Day 25: Failing at Copaxone
I used to have a $100 a day drug habit and I wasn’t a drug addict. The first disease modifying drug I was prescribed after my MS diagnosis was Copaxone, which was wonderful for the first three years I was on it. Although it seemed to have magical powers, sadly, it stopped working just as mysteriously. My first…
LindaBP 