Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
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I haven't had insurance for a while now, so I'm having to pay out of pocket for all of my pain killers and other pills. Obviously I can't have any good treatment due to that.
I was wondering if you know of a med that either has the main effect of decreasing the strength of the immune system, or an over the counter one that has that as a common side-effect. My immune system is very strong, which is evident when I catch the same thing as everyone else, but recover more than a week earlier. Of course, having that kind of system is not so great when you have MS. Weakening it would essentially bring it down to the level of a normal one, so it would hopefully slow the progression of the disease, since it is worsening at an increasingly fast rate.
Thanks in advance.
I was wondering if you know of a med that either has the main effect of decreasing the strength of the immune system, or an over the counter one that has that as a common side-effect. My immune system is very strong, which is evident when I catch the same thing as everyone else, but recover more than a week earlier. Of course, having that kind of system is not so great when you have MS. Weakening it would essentially bring it down to the level of a normal one, so it would hopefully slow the progression of the disease, since it is worsening at an increasingly fast rate.
Thanks in advance.
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only thing is, i have ins and it's about $50-60 a month from cvs.
i know that isn't great info, but it's what i've got.
best of luck.
Her is an interesting article I safe on this theory. Like I said, it says what to avoid, not what to seek. Sorry about that, but it is SOMETHING.
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Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers
Alternative Treatments That "COULD" Be Harmful
In Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Consortium of MS Centers
718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Tel: (201) 837-0727 Fax: (201) 837-9414
Email: info@mscare.org Website: http://www.mscare.org Federal ID # 22-3216416
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Alternative medicine is widely used in the United States. In 1998, Dr. David Eisenberg estimated that 42% of Americans use some form of complimentary alternative medicine.
A similar study was conducted with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients at the Rocky Mountain MS Center in 1997. This study found that 67% of MS patients used some form of Alternative Medicine. One could conclude from this data that MS patients are more likely to use alternative or unconventional medicine than non-MS patients.
Concerning alternative medicine, patients with and without MS have one thing in common; they RARELY admit to their doctors that they use it. This can be very dangerous because 90% of individuals who use alternative medicine also use conventional medicine. Drug interactions can occur between conventional and unconventional medications just like they can occur between conventional medicines. The best way to avoid ALL drug interactions is to make your physicians aware of any and all medications (conventional and unconventional) that you use.
MS is a very complicated disease that affects both the immune and nervous systems. In order to understand which alternative medications are safe and unsafe in MS, it is necessary to examine the disease. Patients with MS have an up-regulated or excessively active immune system. CD4-TH1 cells in the immune system attack the myelin in the nervous system. Multiple sclerotic plaques then develop in the CNS and axonal damage can result.
The immune system in the MS patient is the opposite from the immune system in a cancer or HIV patient.
These patients have a suppressed immune system. Therefore, immune-stimulating therapies that would be helpful for cancer and HIV patients may actually be harmful in MS patients.
A general rule of thumb for alternative medicine and MS: If a particular product is recommended for a condition where the immune system is suppressed (i.e. cancer, HIV, colds, etc), AVOID THE PRODUCT IN MS.
Many alternative medications are known to stimulate the immune system. While these products are
beneficial in treating conditions of a weaken immune system, they can possibly worsen MS since it is a
disease of an up-regulated immune system. It is very important for MS patients to be aware of alternative
medications that can up-regulate the immune system.
The following alternative medications pose potential risks for the MS patient because of their immune stimulating properties.
Alfalfa Echinacea Ginseng, Siberian Green tea
Arnica Garlic supplements Goldenseal Licorice
Cat's Claw Ginseng, Asian Grape Seed Extract Saw palmetto
In high doses, certain vitamins may also stimulate the immune system. It is best to avoid HIGH DOSES of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Beta-Carotene, and Zinc in MS patients. Taking the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of these products poses no risk to patients with MS.
As mentioned above it is very important to talk with your doctor before you take alternative medications.
This gives you and your physician the opportunity to weigh the pros and cons of the agents in question.
This advice is especially true for MS patients since certain alternative medicines can theoretically worsen the course of the disease. Basically, when it comes to your body and your health, it is better to be safe than sorry.
If topic is of interest you, let me suggest 2 references. The first is a book titled Alternative Medicine and Multiple Sclerosis by Allen C. Bowling, MD, PhD.
The second is an internet site (www.ms-cam.org) that focuses on CAM and MS. This Internet site, like the book, contains a wealth of information.
Taken from a post at PatientsLikeMe:
http://www.patientslikeme.com/forum/show/4877