Less than 50% of MS patients continually adhere to drugs

[MSUK]

Less than 50% of MS patients continually adhere to injected drug therapies



Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) are injected medications used to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), and have been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of relapses. But according to a new study led by St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), adherence to all DMDs is low, with less than half of patients, or 44 per cent, continually adherent after two years.
"There are a number of reasons why adherence to therapies of proven value might be low," says Dr. Paul O'Connor, director of the MS Clinic at St. Michael's Hospital. "Thesedrugs don't work in everyone and some patients may stop them because they don't feel they are experiencing benefits. In some cases, patients may stop treatment because of side-effects. It is important that patients understand the need for continuing treatment in order to prevent some of the long-term consequences of MS."

The study, published in the May editio.. [Read More] - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1316

[sou]

therapies of proven value

If they had some value, I would definitely use them. They haven't even convinced themselves that they do have some value, how can they convince the patient?

[HarryZ]

If they had some value, I would definitely use them. They haven't even convinced themselves that they do have some value, how can they convince the patient?

Back in 1996 when my wife's MS started to slowly progress, the chief of the MS clinic here told her not to bother using any of the DMD's that were available at the time. He told her that in general, most of the MS docs were very disappointed in their efficacy and the data that the drug companies had given them was simply not what the patients were experiencing. He told her to take two good vacations a year and that would likely give her the same results as the medications without the side effects.

Harry

[Squeakycat]

They haven't even convinced themselves that they do have some value, how can they convince the patient?

The answer seems to be simple: Just pay the docs to prescribe the drugs. And the lawyers to silence anyone who makes note of bribes to the docs.