This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi all,
I had my initial blood work done yesterday. Standard tests, questions and so on. I wanted to put in my 2 cents on the mrtc issue. I spoke in length about it with the clinic Neuro. I have heard a lot of theories about why folks test negative. First, my clinic has had only one negative mrtc out of six and that one had a questionable diagnosis. Only one small lesion on the mri and a cannibas user. Her thoughts in general are that the results can be comprimised by a number of things. Residual crab drugs, previous trial drugs, pot, pain meds, steriods, etc. In my case, she was convinced after looking at my mri (apparently a world record number of lesions) that I was certain to test possitive until I told her I was on Advair (steriod based) for asthma. She actually tried to get me to delay the test until I was OFF Advair. I declined and went ahead with the blood work. At this point if I test Neg I cannot re-test until I am "clean". I also must be off it to take part even if I test Pos. The list of meds that are not allowed is long as I'm sure you all know. So to get to the point, like all of you I now wait and hope with my best attitude.

Thanks for the update Lars and best of luck.

The Advair situation will make this one very interesting for sure!

It really doesn't sound like anything you've been told varies much from information I've heard recently, although it probably varies a lot from something posted a year or so ago.

The fact that your clinic has found 5 positive from 6 tested might mean that Opexa might have raised the odds for positive mrtc's (that would be awesome and wouldn't surprise me) or it might be nothing more than a statistical anomaly and some other clinic might be experiencing 5 neg/1 pos.

Bob

Hi Lars,

I hope you get positive test results. Whether or not the amount of steroids in Advair will mask your MRTCs is anyone's guess. If you do test positive for MRTCs, it would still be advisable to be clean of all of the drugs on the list when you give your bag of blood from which the vaccine will be made.

If any of the drugs on the list prevent the MRTCs from reacting to the peptides that Opexa uses to identify MRTCs, you will end up with a vaccine that depletes only some of your MRTCs. The other ones will still be able to attack the myelin.

If some MRTCs are missed, there will be no memory white blood cells to produce T-cells to eliminate those specific MRTCs now or in the future. The number of attacks has steadily declined as the number of peptides used to identify MRTCs has increased. My original study used only 6. The current vaccine uses about 100.

I hope there is some asthma medication you can use that does not use steroids, but still helps control your asthma.

_________________
Best regards, Tim

In 2001, my family helped fund the startup of Opexa. My father served on the Board of Directors of PharmaFrontiers, now Opexa Therapeutics, until the company completed a successful 23-million dollar financing round.

Thanks for the input Bob and Tim,
It is an interesting dilema to be sure. First of all I am possitively convinced that the asthma business in ms related. I have no proof or medical backup but both started at the same time and I fit no real asthma profile. Absolutely NO previous issues. The problem is no matter where it came from, it exists. I really can't live without the Advair. My Doc. is working on an alternative. If my theory is correct the asthma will go away with the other symptoms. If you can't tell, I have signed on to the positive thinking treatment plan. By the by, the clinical Neuro advised me NOT to join the trial. Based on my MRI she strongly advised me to start Tysabi. Wasn't really the advice I had expected. I'm staying on the path.
Lars
P.S. Tim,
I find it very admirable that you have disclosed your family history. Seemed like a lot of unfair assumptions floating through cyberspace. I'm just happy to hear good reports from everyone.

Not all of us interested are in the trial. Does someone have a link to the meds not allowed on the trial?

Good luck with producing mrtc's. It will be interesting to see, if your not on placebo, if your asthma is affected.

Cure or bust,
I have the list in front of me but I can't seem to locate a site to download it. I don't have a scanner but if I have to I will type it out. I e-mailed TERMS and asked. I'll post when I get some info. Pretty much ALL Corticosteroids and Ginseng are on the list. Tim may have better insight.
Lars

Hi Lars,

The list you have may have been put together by the investigator at your site. Since I must test positive for MRTCs every time I am to give a bag of blood for new vaccine, I have tried to get a list of what to avoid, but the company does not seem to have a list.

This is a general comment about what to avoid -- any drug or supplement that suppresses the immune response seems to prevent the detection of MRTCs. Individuals should determine whether the supplement or drug, etc suppresses the immune response.

I believe the company cannot compile a list of drugs and supplements that effect MRTCs. Any list would need a disclaimer that these are drugs and supplements that are believed to effect the detection of MRTCs, but there may be other drugs and supplements that also effect the detection of MRTCs.

If you would post the list you have, others might be able to add to that list.

_________________
Best regards, Tim

In 2001, my family helped fund the startup of Opexa. My father served on the Board of Directors of PharmaFrontiers, now Opexa Therapeutics, until the company completed a successful 23-million dollar financing round.

To clear things up, I guess I liked to see the list to understand the trial a little better by knowing what things are on any exclusion list.

As for getting the list up, if you have a digital camera, you could take a photo of it. I have used this technique when I need to send faxes from home. You can post the immage on Phoitobucket for free.

Tim and all,
I will do my best to relay this exactly as written, wish me luck. I tried to find this on the web site listed below. No luck.

Opexa Therapeutics TERMS Study: Protocol 2005-00
Exclusionary Medications

Corticosteriods
* Cortisone
* Hydrocortisone (Cortef)
* Prednisone (Deltasone, Meticorten, Orasone)
* Predisolone Delta-Cortef, Pediapred, Prelone)
* Triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort)
* Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
* Methylprednisolone acetate (Depo-Medrol)
* Dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone, Hexadrol)
* Betamethasone (Celestone)
* Beclomethasone (Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril, Vancenase)
* Beclomethasone diapropionate
* Budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort)
* Mometasone furoate monohydrate (Nasonex)
* Triamcinolone acetonide (Azmacort, Nasacort)
* Flunisolide (AeroBid Nasalide, Nasarel)
* Fluticasone propionate (Flovent, Flonase)
* Fluticasone propionate and salmeterol xinafoate (Advair Diskus)
* Alclometasone (Aclovate)
* Amcinonide (Cyclocort)
* Augmented betamethasone (Diprolene)
* Betamethasone (Unicort, Diprosone, Maxivate, Teladar, Valisone)
* Betamethasone and clotrimazole topical (Lotrisone)
* Clobetasol (Cormax, Embeline E, Temovate)
* Clocortolone (Cloderm)
* Desonide (DesOwen, Tridesilon)
* Desoximetasone (Topicort)
* Dexamethasone (Decadron, Decaspray)
* Dexamethasone and tobramycin (Tobradex)
* Diflorasone (Florone, Maxiflor, Psorcon)
* Flucinolone (Synalar, Fluonid)
* Fluocinonide (Lidex, Fluonex)
* Flumethasone (available in Canada)
* Flurandrenolide (Cordran)
* Fluticasone (Cutivate)
* Halcinonide (Halog)
* Halobetasol (Ultravate)
* Hydrocortisone (Anusol-HC, Hyotone, Cort-Dome, Cortenema, Cortifoam, Cortaind, Lanacort, Locoid, Westcort)
* Hydrocortisone acetate
* Methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol)
* Mometasone (Elocon)
* Prednicarbate (Dermatop)
* Triamcinolone acetonide (Aristocort, Kenalog, Flutex)
HERBALS:
*Ginseng

References: Lexi-Comp's Drug information handbook for nursing, 6th edition and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (available on line at www.whocc.no/atcddd)
(Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. If you have questions, please contact Opexa or Pharmanet)

That's it! The legal dept. wanted me to say that we are not responsible for any typos, misspelling or general screw ups. Our heads hurt now, please call back later.

Lars

Awesome job Lars! Thank you!

Typos gratefully accepted.

Bob

Hi Lars,

Thanks for the information. Many of the names are familiar, probably from TV commercials.

I think knowing what to avoid will increase everyone's chance of testing positive for MRTCs.

_________________
Best regards, Tim

In 2001, my family helped fund the startup of Opexa. My father served on the Board of Directors of PharmaFrontiers, now Opexa Therapeutics, until the company completed a successful 23-million dollar financing round.

Interesting that they are all forms (apart from the ginseng) of Corticosteriods. It would be interesting to see if they also have problems with other anti-inflamatories such as NSAID's, curcumin, statins etc

If you have asthma and you're using cannabis, then it seems possible to me that the latter could be exacerbating the former especially if you're smoking it. I know that this might sound really weird, but if your smoking pot, then try quitting for a while to see how your asthma fairs. It would surprise me if after several months or so you saw no improvement in your asthma symptoms. Inhaling smoke of any kind will increase your body's level of oxidative stress which can make MS symptoms worse.

NHE

NHE,
I don't smoke tobacco or pot. The cannibas reference was from my Nuero who seemed convinced it was the cause of neg. MRTC's in one of her patients. I do however advocate any therapy that helps no matter how unconventional.
Thanks,
Lars

I can with confidence tell you that cannabis does not make you test negative for MRTC's. I am the poster child for cannibis for MS. I use it almost every night and it helps with bladder control and helps me sleep better than Lunesta and all the other sleeping meds I've ever tried. I also am in the Tovaxin trial and never had a problem with my MRTC's in terms of what they need to see for making the vaccine.

Lew