This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Are they all injectibles? I don't wanna!

Do they cause a decrease in symptoms or do they just keep symptoms from increasing?

Hey Just_Me,

So far the only drugs to treat MS are injectables but oral medications are right around the corner. Unfortunately the injectables that are on the market do not improve symptoms but simply decrease the progression of the disease. That said, research shows that the earlier you get on a medication the less disabilty you accumulate down the road(generally). I know the injectables suck but if I were you I would begin taking something ASAP. What should give you comfort is the knowledge that the injectables will only be tempory until the FDA approves one of the many oral medications in the pipeline!

Yea I know I need to start soon. I haven't been to the MS clinic yet so I don't have that official dx yet though...I have an appt in 3 wks but if they have a cancellation I may be able to get in sooner.

Well, if I were you, I would probably take the medicine, because this would all be new to me and I wouldn't know any better.
Anyhow, my husband took the Avonex for about 1.5 years and then the copaxone for another year. Both made him feel worse and did nothing to stop the progression...so he hasn't had anything like that for the last 5 years...and guess what? He just had another MRI and it looks "great". Hardly anything, so if we could just get rid of the actuall symptoms, our life would be so much better.
What he does do, is follow the Best Bet Diet and he has been doing the abx protocol for 2 years, but he has had to stop for the last week due to a UTI.
So, I can't say it made him walk better, but his MRI looks grand.

The best bet diet is as almost bad as injections! No breads or sugar - whats left that is good?!?

What is ABX protocol?

There are loads of things that are good to eat on the Best Bet diet still. It is all healthy though. I am willing to sacrifice the treats if it improves my situation. I believe that the best bet diet at the very least has slowed the progression x Abx is antibiotics.

I think I'm going to start the Swank Diet. I can still have bread with that one.

Do I get a body like Hillary Swank if I follow that one?

And if you start a diet at the same time as starting meds...how do you know which one is helping?

Yah, start with the diet first!! Then you'll know it isn't the drugs....

Just_Me wrote:The best bet diet is as almost bad as injections! No breads or sugar - whats left that is good?!?

What is ABX protocol?

Antibiotic Protocol, also called CAP (combined antibiotic protocol)

There is a lot if info here about CAP if you want to know more. But, your question is about needles. You can also check out LDN. Both CAP and LDN involve "off-label" use of existing medications. It is the nature of the neurologist to prefer the injectibles, but once you've been around a while you find out why many folks are using "off-label" therapies. Ken

LoveActually wrote:I think I'm going to start the Swank Diet. I can still have bread with that one.

You know, I started this when it started to look like I would be diagnosed with MS. It really isn't that bad. I don't miss red meat, and the pizza places around were getting bad anyway. If I go out to eat, I just try to order salad or fish that isn't fried.

Now, going gluten-free - I haven't been able to manage that.

Just_me wrote:And if you start a diet at the same time as starting meds...how do you know which one is helping?

Who cares? I say, throw everything you can at it.