Change of treatment -

Pray for me please for me to make the right decision on medication.

I need prayer to help me make a decision on my treatment as I have just seen the neurologist, and he suggested it might be beneficial to change from avonex (once a week betaferon) to copoxone which isn't a disease-modifying drug - you inject daily with a much smaller needle.

My neurologist feels avonex is no longer of any benefit to me as I seem to be getting progressively worse.

What is copoxone?

This medication is used to treat a type of multiple sclerosis that occurs when symptoms appear in cycles of worsening and improvement (relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis-MS). It is a protein that is thought to work by preventing your immune system from attacking the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This effect can decrease the number of periods of disease worsening (relapses) and prevent or delay disability. This drug is known as an immunomodulator. It is not a cure for MS.

Glatiramer acetate(copoxone) significantly reduces the frequency of relaspes in those with relapsing-remitting MS. It also slows the number of new lesions (tissue damage) as seen on MRI and decreases disability.
Glatiramer acetate can slow the rate of new lesions in those with relapsing-remitting MS, without the flu-like symptoms that interferon beta (avonex) medications can cause. However, it may not be as effective at reducing disability as interferon beta.( oh dear)

How It Works

Glatiramer acetate (formerly known as copolymer-1) is an artificial protein that resembles a natural myelin protein. It is not known exactly how the medication works, but it may help people who have MS by preventing the body's immune system from attacking the myelin coating that protects nerve fibers.,

What To Think About

Glatiramer acetate may be used if you have tried interferon beta and the medication has not been effective or you cannot tolerate the side effects. Generally, glatiramer acetate is well-tolerated and does not cause the flu-like side effects that occur when taking interferon beta medications. However, it may take up to 7 months for any benefit from glatiramer acetate to occur. Benefit from interferon beta occurs within 1 month of starting treatment.
Treatment with glatiramer acetate should not be started until it is clear that you have the relapsing-remitting form of MS. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that treatment with glatiramer acetate or one of the interferon medications be started as soon as a clear diagnosis is made.
In addition to side effects, there are some drawbacks to treatment with glatiramer acetate:

Treatment is not effective at all for some people, and it is hard to predict whether the medication will help a particular person.
The long-term risks of treatment are unknown. It is possible that long-term use of the medication may lower the body's defense against other diseases. For people with mild MS, the benefits may not be worth the possible risks.

Wow - a lot to take in.....

Positive points
smaller needle- much smaller!
Site reactions rare ( i react badly to avonex)
Less side effects- avonex makes limbs painful and gives flu like symptoms
Avonex seems to be no longer benefiting me.

Negative points.
Doesn't reduce disabilty from relapses
Takes 7 months to start working (avonex takes a month)
Daily injecting rather than once a week
Long term side effects not really known - could effect immune system and make you prone to attacks.

I have also been prescribed a drug to help with pain, I am going to rattle!!!

Please pray for me.