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ClinicalTrial To Evaluate OTC Allergy Med for Remyelination

Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:18 am
by Quest56

Re: ClinicalTrial To Evaluate OTC Allergy Med for Remyelinat

Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 8:47 pm
by jerrygallow
is there any basis to think this may work, or is it a shot in the dark?

Re: ClinicalTrial To Evaluate OTC Allergy Med for Remyelinat

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:21 am
by Quest56
jerrygallow wrote:is there any basis to think this may work, or is it a shot in the dark?
It looks like a shot in the dark, based on preliminary result of a "novel high-throughput screening program aimed at identifying compounds that would promote oligodendrocyte-driven myelinating activity", accomplished via cell assay as opposed to in situ analysis.

Further, the article linked above contains a warning:

"By the way, if you're an MS patient, or a clinician thinking about suggesting clemastine to patients, know this: other than the high-throughput screen result in a cell culture assay, there is not one iota of evidence that the drug has any benefit in MS. No epidemiological studies, no case reports, no animal research, nada".

I think it is too soon to take personal action, but, it is good to see that studies of this kind are underway, and the antihistamine aspect is intriguing (although opposite to the conclusions that gave rise to the formulated histamine medication prokarin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prokarin).

Re: ClinicalTrial To Evaluate OTC Allergy Med for Remyelinat

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:50 pm
by centenarian100
Nice post.

I heard about Jonah Chan's data on clemastine some time ago. Apparently, it is thought to be the antimuscarinic rather than antihistaminic properties that may promote myelination. In his screen of FDA approved drugs, a few of the antimuscarinic drugs appeared to have an effect on re-myelination but not as dramatically as clemastine. He had some ideas of working with organic chemists to attempt to modify clemastine to take away the antihistaminic properties (which also cause sedation). He actually probed this with histamine receptor knockout mice I believe, though I can't find any of that data on a quick search

This is interesting because it goes with the recent article about benztropine, which also has antimuscarinic properties:

http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2013/ ... irson.html

Jonah Chan actually won an award ($100,000 no questions asked) and looks pretty cool on his motorcycle

http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/09/108956 ... -sclerosis

I agree with questor that there is no need to start taking clemastine given no clinical evidence. I am looking forward to the results of the trial though. I figure that eventually one of the these "shot in the dark" projects is going to come through for progressive MS

Re: ClinicalTrial To Evaluate OTC Allergy Med for Remyelinat

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:32 am
by Quest56
centenarian100 wrote:...a few of the antimuscarinic drugs appeared to have an effect on re-myelination but not as dramatically as clemastine.
Could be very good news for the many people with MS who take antimuscarinics (sanctura, detrol, etc) to help with bladder issues, a possible welcome side effect.

Re: ClinicalTrial To Evaluate OTC Allergy Med for Remyelinat

Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 4:27 pm
by centenarian100
questor wrote:Could be very good news for the many people with MS who take antimuscarinics (sanctura, detrol, etc) to help with bladder issues, a possible welcome side effect.
You make a good point; although, there are different muscarinic receptors, and believe the M3 activity of clemastine is believed to be related to it's myelinating effects.

Wikipedia lists the follow as M3 antagonists:

atropine
hyoscyamine
Diphenhydramine
Dimenhydrinate
dicycloverine
tolterodine
oxybutynin
ipratropium
darifenacin
tiotropium

I suppose oxybutynin and tolterodine (detrol) are used pretty frequently for neurogenic bladder in MS

-C

Re: ClinicalTrial To Evaluate OTC Allergy Med for Remyelinat

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:55 pm
by anniepat
Any reason NOT to try clementine as individual?

Re: ClinicalTrial To Evaluate OTC Allergy Med for Remyelinat

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:35 am
by Quest56
Clemastine fumerate in the news again, this time in relation to repair of optic nerve damage:

http://alturl.com/9u9qv

"While the improvement in vision appears modest, this study is promising because it is the first time a drug has been shown to possibly reverse the damage done by MS," said Green. "Findings are preliminary, but this study provides a framework for future MS repair studies and will hopefully herald discoveries that will enhance the brain's innate capacity for repair."

Study participants did report a modest increase in fatigue while taking the drug.

Green cautioned that more research with larger numbers of people is needed before doctors can recommend clemastine fumarate for people with MS, and that newer medications capable of even more powerful effects are in development, including efforts intended to improve the targeting and reduce side effects from these drugs.