copaxone

[Guest guest]

I am puzzled by this... Cochrane Reviews are widely reported. The

article says that based on an examination of all studies, copa does

not work!.

Yash

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD004678. Related Articles,

Links

Therapy with glatiramer acetate for multiple sclerosis.

Munari L, Lovati R, Boiko A.

Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedale Niguarda Ca' Granda, P.zza Ospedale

Maggiore, 3, Milan, ITALY, 20162.

BACKGROUND: Some clinical data have shown that glatiramer acetate

(Copaxone ®), a synthetic amino acid polymer empirically found to

suppress experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal

model of MS, might help improve the outcome of patients with

multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVES: We performed a Cochrane review

of all randomised, placebo-controlled trials of glatiramer acetate

in MS, whatever the disease course. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the

Cochrane MS Group trials register (June 2003), the Cochrane Central

Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 2, 2003), MEDLINE

(PubMed) (January 1966 to June 2003), EMBASE (January 1988 to June

2003) and hand searching of symposia reports (1990-2002) from the

neurological Associations and MS Societies in both Europe and

America. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials (RCTs)

comparing glatiramer acetate and placebo in patients with definite

MS, whatever the administration schedule and disease course, were

eligible for this review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Both

patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) and chronic progressive (CP)

MS were analysed. Study protocols were comparable across trials as

to patient entry criteria and outcome definition. No major flaws

were found in methodological quality. However, efficacy of blinding

should be balanced against well-known side effects, including

injection-site reactions in glatiramer acetate-treated patients.

MAIN RESULTS: A total of 646 patients contributed to this review, as

it is summarised in Table 01. Glatiramer acetate did not show any

significant effect on disease progression, measured as a sustained

worsening in the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). On the

other hand, a slight decrease in the mean EDSS score, driven by a

major study, should be considered in the light of the limited

validity of this outcome measure. No benefit was shown in CP MS

patients (progression at two years: RR=0.69, 95% CI [0.33 to 1.46]).

The frequency of reported adverse events does not support any major

toxicity associated with glatiramer acetate administration. The most

common systemic adverse event was a transient and self-limiting

patterned reaction of flushing, chest tightness, sweating,

palpitations, anxiety (relative risk = 3.40 (95% CI [2.22 to 5.21],

p <0.00001]). Local injection-site reactions were observed in up to

a half of patients treated with glatiramer acetate, thus making a

blind assessment of outcomes questionable. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS:

Glatiramer acetate did not show any beneficial effect on the main

outcome measures in MS, i.e. disease progression, and it does not

substantially affect the risk of clinical relapses. Therefore its

routine use in clinical practice is not currently supported. More

investigations are needed. Further research should also develop more

reliable measures of patient disability over time and include

quality of life among primary outcomes.

[Guest guest]

Dyana, i'M NOT TAKING IT...MY DOC WANTS ME TO, BUT i ASKED HIM WHY WHEN IT IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE FOR (sorry...didn't know caps was on!) RRMS. That's when he told me it MIGHT slow down progression. I said, "No." I think he's getting irritated at me because I won't do any of the CRABs or chemo. I think there are perks for docs who write scripts! Marcie dina feldon <ddko.ms@...> wrote: Hello Marcie, Hello , I thought Copaxone was only approved for RRMS? is it strong enough for more serious types of MS? Why do you think your Dr. would continue to prescribe Copaxone if he knows you have a more serious condition? Oh I would be so worried. God Bless, Dyana From: Marcie <marcie_martinsbcglobal (DOT) net>Reply-low dose naltrexone To: low dose naltrexone Subject: RE: [low dose naltrexone] Re: BaclofenDate: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 12:56:45 -0700 (PDT) , That's what really makes me think that this doc is just trying to write scripts since I'm PPMS, and it only for the relapsing type. It's also dangerous, and I seriously doubt he would take it himself. Good luck with the LDN! Marcie GERSHATER PAUL <paulgershatersbcuc (DOT) net> wrote: Marcie,Ive been on Copaxone for 18 months and have concluded that progression may have slowed but certainly not stopped.My Neurologist prescribed it because we had tried everything else without success. And I mean eveyrthing. I see my Doc every 6 months and

each time there is a significant progression. Now he's reluctant to give me Tysabri because I'M SPMS. He never mentioned LDN. My wife stumbled upon it on the Internet. I had to find another Neuro to prescribe it. Naturally We got very excited and hope that it helps.Best regards,-- [low dose naltrexone] Re: BaclofenI was only taking a total of 40mg per day. That was enough to weaken me so I could barely get out of bed. It felt like I had no abdominal muscles! I think it is a

dangerous drug and wanted everyone to know.