Archive for the ‘Multiple Sclerosis’ Category

Dick: Starting an ABC medication, I would have to imagine is also for a patient a difficult step. What advice do you give patients when they are just diagnosed with MS? And then, how do you help them choose which medication may be right for them? Dr. Stefoski: ... Full story

Dick: People with MS may experience relapses or have these exacerbations that we've been talking about. How are they treated, and do you agree that that may not be the primary consideration? Dr. Stefoski: Relapses, exacerbations, or "attacks" of MS, if you will, are important. ... Full story

Dick: And then progressive disabilities, which of course 48% of patients said was the most important to them? Dr. Skeen: Absolutely. In my opinion, there's a little differentiation between the medications, at least in terms of the data that we have available to us. In ... Full story

Dick: Dr. Skeen, could you tell us more about the ABC medications - Avonex, Betaseron, and Copaxone - and how they each target multiple sclerosis? Dr. Skeen: There are five things that the various scientific studies have looked at to assess whether these drugs work ... Full story

Dick: On the phone with us from Oklahoma is Terry. Terry: I am currently on FMLA, and I've been approved for Social Security disability, and I'm getting ready to ... Full story

Dick: Here is an e-mail question from Ann in Michigan. "We recently changed insurance coverage, and now they want me to change from one interferon to a different interferon because it is on their formulary. Is this right? What can I do to fight this if I ... Full story

Dick: We have a question from David who is on the telephone with us from California. David: I've been on Social Security disability for six or seven years, therefore ... Full story

Dick: Let's go to an e-mail question from Steve in Alaska. He has recently changed insurance companies, and they are expecting different things and maybe have different requirements. want to provide the same coverage he has had. You're going through this situation, too, Elizabeth, with the ... Full story

Dick: We are going to move to the portion of our program now where we invite our listeners to ask questions of our experts. An e-mail question first from Sharon in Michigan. "You have mentioned the different pharmaceutical companies have different patient assistance programs. Can you tell ... Full story

Dick: Why is Avonex the only one of the ABCR treatments that is currently covered by Medicare? Dr. Frohman: One of the principal issues has been the difficulty of ... Full story