Annette Funicello Death

Admin | January 05, 2012 | Comments Off

Annette Funicello Death

Annette Funicello Death

Taking Medication for MS

About twenty years ago, there were no disease-modifying drugs for multiple sclerosis. The only defense against the "monster" was steroid treatment. Well-known people such as Annette Funicello and Richard Prior had no active defense against MS. In the early 90's, Betaseron was released as the first disease-modifying drug, giving thousands of people hope. Other "interferon" drugs were released in this decade, but one medication, Copaxone, was different. Copaxone gave people who could not tolerate the flu-like side-effects of interferons a choice.

Overview

Copaxone is a synthetic compound that is used to fight multiple sclerosis. It is one of the disease-modifying medications currently on the market, or one of the "CRAB" drugs---Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex, and Betaseron. Out of these medications, Copaxone is the only one which is not an interferon, which is naturally derived. Copaxone is a synthetic compound called glatiramer acetate which is made up of amino acids. These amino acids are thought to keep the body's T cells from attacking the myelin-covered nerves. This drug is approximately 30% effective in protecting against MS attacks, which is roughly the same as most of the other CRAB drugs.

Usage/ Side-effects

Copaxone is injected subcutaneously (just under the skin) every day. Syringes are prefilled and refrigerated prior to use. Side-effects include injection site reactions (redness, pain, swelling), possible fatigue, weight gain, and anxiety after injection (less common.) Copaxone does not generally cause the flu-like side-effects that interferon drugs may produce, so it seems to be a good choice for those who cannot tolerate the other CRAB drugs. Copaxone also does not seem to cause depression, which can also be experienced with interferons.