Antox

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I thought I'd say something about yet another research programme!

When I first mentioned Antox to my pancreatologist 18 months ago, he

made it clear (as did my gastroenterologist) that he didn't support

its use. It was first introduced at the Manchester Royal Infirmary,

just about 50 miles from Liverpool. I was tempted to wonder if the

Liverpool/Manchester rivalry extended beyond football!! (Not really!)

Because my consultant didn't prescribe it for me, my GP could not do

so....I didn't actually ask him but I know GPs would only prescribe

what the consultant advised in a complex and rare condition like CP.

In fact, I'm not even sure that Antox is on the list of prescribable

items in the UK. There seems to be some dispute about this. Anyway,

since I wasn't having it prescribed I didn't obtain it because it's

far too expensive (without a prescription) to buy. I simply bought a

good quality antioxidant from the chemist's which had the same, or

almost the same, ingredients but in different quantities. Not the

same, I know, but it was the best I could do. (Some of the

ingredients don't seem to be available separately in the healthfood

stores I've visited so I couldn't just make it up easily myself.

Mind you, I possibly didn't explore this to the full. I just visited

Holland and Barrett, our High St chain of healthfood stores. There

are lots of independent ones which I haven't visited.)

Where's this going?! Well, I noticed on the Liverpool website a

couple of weeks ago that Europac are now doing research into the use

of Antox with hereditary pancreatitis. (Europac's particular focus

is hereditary pancreatitis and hereditary pancreatic cancer.) If

interested, you're invited to contact Prof Neoptolemos. Liverpool

plays a leading role in co-ordinating the work of Europac.

Naturally, I intend to ask Prof if I would fit the criteria to be

part of this study! I don't know what the criteria are so I'm not

sure if I'll qualify or not. If I do, I'll be able to access Antox

for the price of a prescription instead of having to mortgage my

house to buy it!!!! (Slight exaggeration!)

I'll keep you posted. Haven't decided yet whether to e-mail Prof

about this or wait till I see him to discuss the results of my

ERCP.

With very good wishes to everyone and hopes for pain-free days.

Fliss (UK)