concerned wrote:How many people have taken Tysabri? not to say I'm all for that drug, but last I read it was 65,000 or something. And I see 11 deaths as of may 2010. How many people have been "liberated" and where have they all been tracked?
Since liberation is going on in several countries, they most likely haven't been tracked. Poland, Egypt, Kuwait, Bulgaria, India, the U.S., Mexico - aren't likely to be coordinating their efforts in tracking patients.
The best effort I've seen is the sharing that was done at the symposium on July 26th when doctors from all over the world came together to share their stories.
Again, if you're concerned, wait. I can't wait - I don't have the luxury of time as my age & disease progression are against me.
And it's not just Tysabri. How many deaths from interferons causing kidney/liver damage? Have they been tracked? How about the ineffectiveness of the CRABs altogether? I took Copaxone and my disease progressed anyway. I know one MS patient who killed himself - any of those drugs contribute to his depression or control it? I know a woman with MS who was on DMDs who died at 55 from MS related complications - she was on a morphine pump for extreme pain, something so horrible I won't bother to describe as I've never seen someone with MS have so much pain.
Your figure of 11 deaths was as of May - as of July they are 12 with 54 patients developing PML. (google it and look for a July date)
So you want to talk risk? Living with this disease is a risk. Make your own decision based on what is known. Wait for more research and trials, if that seems wisest to you. And yes, liberation is a risk. Tell me one thing in life that isn't?