Re: Re: For anyone interested in the MK-869 thread

[Guest guest]

I don't mean to make it sound like this is going to take the place of

Metrogel or anything, but for those people out there like myself who have

already tried Noritate, Minocycline, Clonidine, Klaron, Plexion, Claritin,

Photoderm, Vitamins, Primrose Oil, skincare adjustments, trigger

avoidance, etc and still have uncontrolled cea I thought this might be a

possible option as far as at least helping a bit.

Admittedly I don't know that much, but I'm basing this on what I've read in

Dr. Nase's book. In his book he says " Medical specialists have demonstrated

that nerve-derived substance P may play a role in skin flushing and rosacea

progression " . He goes on to say that several doctors have used Zofran

successfully to reduce persistent facial redness and flushing in their

patients, and that new oral substance P blockers such as MK-869 may offer

some relief to rosacea sufferers. From my understanding, and from what I

have read in Dr Nase's book, Substance P not only controls some types of

nerve-related pain, but substance P is also a dilator substance that

contributes to blood vessel dilation and skin inflammation. By blocking it,

you may be able to then block certain types of nerve-mediated facial

flushing and inflammation. It is not the only substance in our bodies that

can produce blood vessel dilation, and is not found in unusually high levels

in all cea patients, but it is found to be unusually high in some (the

only study mentioned says 9 out of 23, which comes out to about 40% <-- the

same percentage of people supposedly not finding relief from Metronidazole

products I believe?). I'm not suggesting that this will become the new

mainstream treatment for cea, but I find it hard to believe that I am

the only person who has been unable to find relief with conventional cea

treatment. So for everyone else out there who has been unable to find

relief with the products currently available, I just wanted to let them know

about this one.

I understand this treatment is not being tested for its effectiveness for

cea, but it seems like it Might help. I realize this is not mainstream,

and its not based on trials that show success with thousands of cea

patients. Unfortunately to the best of my knowledge, there are no trials

like that currently going on anywhere in the world. For me, and at least

some of the people on this list we've tried mainstream treatments and they

just haven't worked. If a new medication came out tomorrow that was

indicated for cea and had a proven track record of success, I'd be the

first person lined up to get a prescription, but unfortunately it does not

look like that is going to happen any time soon. So in the meantime I'm

looking for anything that might make it possible to go out and have a normal

day without my skin flushing as soon as i step outside in the sun, or into a

warm room, or eat the wrong food, or try to exercise, or use the wrong soap

etc, and make it possible to sleep without tossing and turning all night

because my cheek hurts too much when pressed up against my pillow... I

mean I wouldn't take some random pill in the hopes that it would cure

cea, but it seems like this one really might help. Sorry for this

turning out to be so long but I guess as I started typing I really needed to

vent. My face has been flushed and in pain for a full 24 hours now, and it

sucks

P.S. I tried the chillow and it was nice, but whenever I took one cheek off

it would start to hurt even worse..like applying Ice.. works temporarily

only

Re: For anyone interested in the MK-869 thread

>

> And I heard Merck's attention is now on another substance P

> inhibitor, but it doesn't matter -- whichever drug they are working

> on, it seemed it is being tested and promoted as an anti-depressant

> that are as safe and effective as the SSRIs but without the sexual

> side effects.

>

> Adam, what's behind your saying that this is " another possible option

> for treating rosacea? " Unless you're holding out on me, I've yet to

> understand how centrally-acting substance P inhibitors could be of

> help to the vast majority of rosaceans. Theoretically, those with

> disabling pain may respond to centrally acting substance p

> inhibitors, which I assume is what Dr. Nase originally was referring

> to. But that's not maintstream rosacea -- my understanding is that

> the burning, stinging and itching of rosacea is usually secondary to

> irritation and inflammation and resolves as those improve. Those

> rosaceans with disabling pain unresponsive to any rosacean treatment

> are best referred to pain control specialists, who specialize in

> managing neurogenic pain.

>

> Marjorie

>

> Marjorie Lazoff, MD

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> > I just came across an article saying Merck began phase III trials

> > for this in the third quarter of 2001, and expect to file for

> > regulatory approval in 2002, so maybe this will be another

> > possible option for treating cea by the end of this year,

> > especially for the people who have depression/anxiety that goes

> > along with it.

> >

> >

> >

> >