Font Size
Font Size
While there currently is no ‘cure’ for MS, treatments are available to deal with different aspects of the disease. These can be considered in four main categories:
Acute flare-ups or relapses are usually managed by the administration of corticosteroids (e.g.: prednisone), which can shorten the duration of an attack and lesson its severity. These can be taken either orally or intravenously.
A number of agents generally classed as ‘disease modifying agents’ are now capable of reducing the number of relapses and the development of new brain lesions seen on MR scans. The most widely used are described as immunomodulating agents and include beta-interferon (Avonex®, Betaferon®, and Rebif®), and glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®). These treatments are expensive, must be given by regular injection and must be continued indefinitely to maintain effect. Immune suppressing agents such as mitoxantrone (Novantrone) also have a place. In New Zealand only Betaferon®, Avonex® and Copaxone® are currently funded by Pharmac and access to treatment is restricted to persons with frequent relapses and observable residual disability. Your neurologist can advise you if you qualify for this treatment.
The activity of the liver may be affected by taking interferons (Avonex or Betaferon) and regular testing will make sure your liver is working properly. Elevated liver function test results have been observed in some patients and rare cases of liver damage including liver failure have been reported. These situations have often been associated with concurrent use of drugs or alcohol or other medical conditions known to affect the liver. Your health care professional may ask you to have liver function tests before starting treatment; one month after starting; at 12 months and then annually.
Therapy is available to relieve many of the symptoms associated with MS. Treatment options can include physiotherapy and medication.
While it may not be possible to improve all lost function, persons with MS should try to optimise their physical, mental and social condition. After an exacerbation there may be the need for rehabilitation. During remission periods people with MS should participate in a maintenance therapy programme to achieve and sustain their optimum physical condition. This may involve physiotherapy, stretching, coordination exercises, speech and swallowing instruction. It may also include medication, good nutrition and counselling. There may be the need for lifestyle changes (both social and occupational).
Be Aware:
Some people believe that if conventional medicine cannot provide a cure for MS, then perhaps alternative medicine will do so. Others find that seeking more holistic therapies allows them to feel they are controlling their MS.
Caution should be the keyword, particularly when the use of herbal remedies is being contemplated. A number of these remedies have been shown to interact with prescribed drugs and adverse effects are not uncommon. Specifically a number of these remedies claim to ‘enhance’ the immune system.
As the principal problem in MS is an already over enhanced immune response, it is particularly important to tell your doctor if you are taking or contemplating taking any ‘natural’ or ‘herbal’ remedies. Some of these can react badly with prescribed drugs and are often promoted by people with little or no understanding of the disease.
Medsafe is the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority. It is a business unit of the Ministry of Health and is the authority responsible for the regulation of therapeutic products in New Zealand. Medsafe can provide useful information about particular products and therapies. The Rocky Mountain MS Centre and Quackwatch websites can also be helpful if you have internet access, and the MS Society of NZ can provide information on specific topics.
Be aware that information you read on the Internet or in a newspaper may not necessarily be correct.
Be particularly wary of any product or information that claims to be a cure for MS; if it’s genuine and has been scientifically proven, your neurologist will know of it. Don’t forget that MS can go into remission suddenly and ‘miraculously,’ for no apparent reason, so apportioning success to any particular treatment can be misleading.