This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

The New York Times has another installation today of its series on being a patient. It's about hope, and in my opinion, they do a good job of it. They use an example of a woman with SPMS and it turns out to be quite a hopeful story as she regains much movement. They refer to the drug she is on as a pill taken once a day, in clincial trials in the U.S., and long available in Europe, yet, ironically in an article on hope and medicine, they do not reveal its name.

Anyone have a guess?

And happy holidays to all,
Arcee

I would guess the FTY720... Carole

The drug in question is 4-AP. A member of another forum contacted the Times and got the info...

Thanks. I would imagine the Times got a lot of requests on that one. Let's hope it helps someone.

4-aminopyradine can be made in compounding pharmacies now. I've had it in my cupboard for years, though I heard that there was some trouble with it related to the fact that it has not been trialed in that form for the use in MS, but I'm not sure of the outcome of that. Here is an older reference about it http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/news/May2000/4APFAQ.html

My personal experience was less than great though it worked a little bit to improve heat tolerance and also let me go further and longer, but it also had the effect if making me feel spacey unreal or distant, if that makes sense, and also I tingled like CRAZY. I did not like it and took it only rarely when I felt the need for a boost (my daughter's wedding day for example).
Marie