Why will my neuro not prescribe Tysabri?
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:17 pm
Not sure where to post this question, so I figure the general discussion might be best...
A bit of background info: I live in Canada, I have drug coverage through work and Tysabri is covered at the same level as the CRAB’s. Tysabri is available with a doctor’s prescription.
I’ve been diagnosed since 2005 and upon diagnosis, my neuro labeled me primary progressive. At a follow up visit in June 2006, he re-confirmed his PPMS diagnosis with much more certainty and told me there is no point in taking any disease modifying drugs. At that time, he told me that he would prescribe me one of the CRAB drugs if I really wanted one, but in his opinion, they would do nothing for me. I took his advice and remained CRAB free.
Now, at my most recent visit this January, after describing my new symptoms (and the old ones which have not gone away) he told me that he thinks I could be having an attack so he put me on a round of IV steroids (which did nothing) and is now recommending Betaseron as a try. He did say that I have very a-typical MS and that the Betaseron would be a bit of a shot in the dark.
So I did my research on the available drugs and decided that I would like to try Tysabri if I were to go on one of disease modifying drugs.
In a follow-up discussion with the neurologist, insisted that he would not prescribe Tysabri because “I don’t have the kind of MS” that Tysabri works on. I’m confused at this statement since I thought that if I had MS where Betaseron could possibly benefit me, then Tysabri could also be potentially beneficial since my understanding is that the 4 injectible drugs and Tysabri are all used in the same MS scenarios (i.e. more of a relapsing remitting pattern).
I’m just hoping that some others out there may have some opinion on why my neuro is so against the Tysabri.
Any thoughts/opinions are appreciated.
A bit of background info: I live in Canada, I have drug coverage through work and Tysabri is covered at the same level as the CRAB’s. Tysabri is available with a doctor’s prescription.
I’ve been diagnosed since 2005 and upon diagnosis, my neuro labeled me primary progressive. At a follow up visit in June 2006, he re-confirmed his PPMS diagnosis with much more certainty and told me there is no point in taking any disease modifying drugs. At that time, he told me that he would prescribe me one of the CRAB drugs if I really wanted one, but in his opinion, they would do nothing for me. I took his advice and remained CRAB free.
Now, at my most recent visit this January, after describing my new symptoms (and the old ones which have not gone away) he told me that he thinks I could be having an attack so he put me on a round of IV steroids (which did nothing) and is now recommending Betaseron as a try. He did say that I have very a-typical MS and that the Betaseron would be a bit of a shot in the dark.
So I did my research on the available drugs and decided that I would like to try Tysabri if I were to go on one of disease modifying drugs.
In a follow-up discussion with the neurologist, insisted that he would not prescribe Tysabri because “I don’t have the kind of MS” that Tysabri works on. I’m confused at this statement since I thought that if I had MS where Betaseron could possibly benefit me, then Tysabri could also be potentially beneficial since my understanding is that the 4 injectible drugs and Tysabri are all used in the same MS scenarios (i.e. more of a relapsing remitting pattern).
I’m just hoping that some others out there may have some opinion on why my neuro is so against the Tysabri.
Any thoughts/opinions are appreciated.