Less than 50% of MS patients continually adhere to drugs
Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 1:49 am
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
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