Interferon

[ADaC]

I was asked if I was choosing a treatment for my MS, well no I was diagnose with MS over four years ago. The question was if there was any other treatments but interferon, my reason for asking is that I am 5' 7", 130 lbs and I really do not have enough 'flesh' to inject, so if the was other medication that can be take orally, I would really want to know.

[bellaf]

I can see why you would want more 'flesh' to inject into! I am on rebif and i find if i inject into the fattier areas it hurts less but it doesnt really matter in the long run on your size.
Tysabri is an infusion which is done once a month which might be worth considering, it eliminates daily, 3 weekly, weekly injections and is done via transfusion. My friend has just started on it and says so far its great.

[patientx]

I think with all of the oral med trials, there is a placebo arm involved.  So the possibility exists that you won't be getting any medication.  Before any treatment was available, this probably wasn't as much of a concern.  But now that there are medications for MS, getting a placebo seems less attractive.

One nurse coordinator told me that some people are still willing to do the oral trials because they dislike needles so much.

[Lulu54]

Hi !  If you are interested in clinical trials, you can find them on the government website
clinicaltrials.gov.  From there you can sort for specific trials for MS and the area you are in.  Good luck, Lulu

[sllowe]

Hi there,

I think I was one of the ones who asked you about the meds too.  I agree w/JonM and patientx.  Our Jon is a straight shooter and states it as it is true that taking a DMD is highly recommended and proven in studies to prolong disability in MS.  

Patientx brings up a good point too though that you can look into the clinical studies to see if you are a candidate.  I have to find the link, but do believe you can get it from the National MS website.  Hopefully there will be pill form of the interferon in the near future.

How are you feeling since Dx? Have you progressed, stayed the same?

see you around,
Shell

[JonM]

Copaxone, Rebif and I believe Betaseron are all injected subcutaneously (just below the skin), so your size and weight is irrelevant.  Avonex is injected intramuscular about an inch and half deep.  Surely your thighs can accomodate that.  You should be taking one of these if your definite RR MS.

Jon

[patientx]

Right now, the only FDA approved medications are either injectable or by transfusion, but the infusions aren't prescribed as first-line treatments.  Some oral medications, such as Fingolimod and BG00012 are in clinical trials right now.  That would be the only way of getting them right now.  If you're interested in that, you could do a web search to see where the different oral meds are being trialled.

I'm about your size and weight, and I am using Copaxone (which isn't an interferon).  Though I have been only using it for a few weeks, so far the the lack of extra fat tissue hasn't really been a problem.