December 31, 2005

2005 ARCHIVE

OF

HEADLINE-ARTICLES

MS and hepatitis B vaccination: Adding the credibility of molecular biology to an unusual level of clinical and epidemiological evidence.: In spite of a huge number of reports of severe hazards after injection of hepatitis B vaccine (HBV), the issue is regularly raised that no mechanism is available for the development of central demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). A number of convergent facts, however, suggests that the manufacturing process could introduce HBV polymerase as a contaminant, and then trigger an auto-immune process against myelin in some vaccinated subjects. Of great significance, this hypothesis is likely to give the missing link to account for the considerable body of clinical and epidemiological evidence documenting that, for a drug used with a preventive purpose, HBV has an unusual potential to induce central neurological disorders amongst others unwanted side-effects.

December 30, 2005

MS patients may have to pay thousands of dollars more a year under new Medicare drug plans that begin Jan. 1: "Dec. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Americans who use "specialty'' drugs for diseases such as multiple sclerosis, AIDS and anemia may have to pay thousands of dollars more a year under new Medicare drug plans that begin Jan. 1, according to an analysis by health consulting firm Avalere Health LLC.

December 29, 2005

[Video] "Up to 10,000 children in the U.S. are living with MS...another 15,000 CHILDREN EXPERIENCING WHAT MAY BE SYMPTOMS OF MS: "Every hour in the United States, someone is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. While it’s the most common neurological condition affecting young to middle-aged adults, emerging research suggests up to 10,000 children in the U.S. are living with the condition and another 15,000 have experienced MS-like symptoms such as double vision, numbness and unexplained fatigue."

SignOnSanDiego.com > News >Two chapters merge efforts into one mission: The San Diego Area Chapter and Orange County Chapter have joined forces and are scheduled to move into their new 10,000-square-foot headquarters in Carlsbad

Fatigue in MS: an example of pro-inflammatory cytokines?...Study"Fatigue is a major complaint of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, little is known about its pathophysiological mechanisms. Evidence from chronic fatigue syndrome and studies on sickness behaviour suggest that immune and neuroendocrine factors may play a causative role in the development of fatigue."

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that fatigue in MS is at least partially mediated through activation of proinflammatory cytokines. In line with earlier findings, HPA axis dysfunction seems not to be relevant in MS fatigue pathogenesis but appears to be linked to cognitive impairment. Our findings suggest that increased levels of inflammatory cytokines may be involved in MS fatigue.

December 28, 2005

RRMS (relapse remitting) MS study: "You'll receive all medication and study based procedures at
no charge if you qualify for this trial or one of the many trials being conducted at Barrow Neurological Institute."

BERLEX......306440 "BEYOND"

Barrow Neurological Institute is studying the effects of Betaseron at 250 and 500ug
or Copaxone (3arm trial) and is looking for patients that have never taken Copaxone or
any interferons....18 to 55 years of age.

Taking Control of Sleep Disorders with MS: "Sleep disorders are usually not caused by the changes of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet a number of people with MS complain of insomnia or broken sleep patterns.

Sleep problems with MS are not a result of the disease itself but occur because of secondary factors such as stress, inactivity, or depression...."

Taking the pill 'may cut MS risk in women': "Taking the pill may lessen women's short-term risk of multiple sclerosis, a study suggests. Researchers have found incidence of the debilitating neurological disease may be 40% lower in those taking the oral contraceptive than those who are not."

A team from the Harvard School of Public Health also discovered women who were pregnant had a lower risk of MS during pregnancy but higher risk of developing it six months after giving birth. Animal studies have suggested that female sex hormones can delay development of the disease.

December 27, 2005

Azathioprine trial shows lesion reduction in MS"Azathioprine (Imuran) is an immunosuppressant that disrupts the synthesis of DNA and RNA; it is used to prevent rejection of kidney transplants and is also used to treat lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and colitis. It has been evaluated in a few studies as a possible MS treatment, most recently in combination with steroids and interferon beta, and has shown encouraging results. However, its efficacy as a monotherapy has not yet been fully explored, in particular its effect on lesion formation.....The authors noted that the lesion suppression results seen were similar to those obtained for different IFN-b drugs using the same study design. They suggest that azathioprine be considered a possible alternative to the currently approved MS disease-modifying drugs."

December 26, 2005

[Chicago Tribune] CHOLESTEROL DRUG MAY BE A LOT MORE: Cancer. Alzheimer's. Diabetes. Osteoporosis. These are just some of the diseases that researchers hope can be treated or prevented with statins....ot since aspirin has a class of drugs come along that does so much more than originally intended that it could end up being used as a preventive against many major diseases.

Statins, which lower cholesterol, have been proved in clinical trials to reduce heart attacks and strokes by 30 to 50 percent. They are the most widely prescribed drugs in the U.S.; 1 in 10 adults take them.

But their full value in improving the nation's health rests with research attempting to establish the ability of statins to prevent cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and macular degeneration.

Remyelination, axonal sparing, and locomotor recovery following transplantation of glial-committed progenitor cells into the MHV model of MS: This study demonstrates for the first time that transplant-mediated remyelination is possible in the pathogenic environment of the MHV demyelination model and that it is associated with locomotor improvement.

December 23, 2005

Heave the Holiday Blues...Understanding Anxiety and Stress"Facing a chronic illness like multiple sclerosis can make the holidays feel like anything but jolly. But you don't have to experience the blues this time of year. Learn how to understand your depression and stress, and find ways to effectively manage these feelings."

MS President Reflects on Father's Influence

more

MS patient Toni Caban was making good progress with a physiotherapy program to regain the use of her lower body until she fell and injured her spine

MS management for low-income minorities: "Of those surveyed, 32% were never seen by an MS specialist. One third were not taking immunomodulatory medications...."

December 22, 2005

Immunosuppressive Drug Appears Effective in Reducing New Brain Lesions in MS Patients

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) Disruption Occurs Diffusely in MS: It is known that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is disrupted around lesions in MS. It is not known why, but is thought to be of importance to understanding the disease. This study is the first to show that the BBB is disrupted not only around the lesions, but also in the diffusely damaged areas of the white matter

Fund eases mom's struggle

Pfizer's smoking cessation medicine Varenicline Receives U.S. FDA Priority Review: SMOKING IS BAD FOR MS! "The FDA assigns priority review status to medicines that may provide a significant therapeutic advance over existing therapies. Once the FDA formally determines the application is sufficiently complete for review, the filing will move forward under priority review.

December 21, 2005

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the ABC TV show razed Carol Crawford-Smith’s home and built a new, handicapped-accessible home for her

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” Designer accompanies Carol Crawford-Smith and her sons as they see their new house Sunday afternoon in Blacksburg that Salem people helped make possible within one week.
“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the ABC television show that, in only one week, razed Carol Crawford-Smith’s 1950s-era home in Blacksburg and built a new, handicapped-accessible one for her and her sons with the help of dozens of volunteers.MORE

December 20, 2005

"Bee sting therapy no help in MS""Bee sting therapy is not effective in treating the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), and does not improve quality of life, according to the first controlled study to investigate the alternative treatment in MS patients."

DisabilityNow.org: A different way of holidaying...House-swapping"

MORE

"How to control excessive sweating"

"Doctors call the condition " hyperhidrosis." Patients call it "embarrassing" or "humiliating" and find their fashion choices quite limited by this malady. Simply put: it's sweat, and sufferers of the condition produce a lot of it.

Genes play the biggest role, but hormones and neurological conditions such as stroke and multiple sclerosis also can cause excessive perspiring. Most common body sites affected are the underarms, palms, feet and forehead. The Solutions:......" Scripps Howard News Service: MORE

Grandparents look to stem cells as gift

A British firm that stores stem cells from umbilical cords says more grandparents want to use the service for the future use of their grandchildren. United Press International - MORE

South Korea Panel Seizes Stem Scientist's Computer"A South Korean university has seized the computer of an embattled stem cell scientist and will release the initial findings this week of a probe into whether his team actually made tailored stem cells...Scientist Hwang Woo-suk, who faces charges from collaborators that key parts of their landmark May 2005 paper on producing patient-specific stem cells were fabricated, has defended the veracity of the research.

Mitochondrial DNA variants may affect risk of MS

In addition to chromosomal DNA which is found in the nuclei of our cells, humans also inherit mitochondrial DNA, strands of DNA formed into rings that are found in our mitochondria (aka the powerhouses of the cell) and produce proteins used in mitochondrial function. Unlike chromosomal DNA, which comes from both parents, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is almost always inherited only from mothers."Entrez PubMed
....MORE

More than a year ago Christina's doctor told her she had multiple sclerosis. Determined to power through it, she brushed the warning off.

Family fights to stay on top at Christmas ::MORE

Bayhill Therapeutics reports positive MS trial

Bayhill is conducting a phase I/II trial with its drug BHT-3009 involving 30 patients at four medical centers in North America. The drug has demonstrated an effect on certain T cells, which, when they become pathogenic, cause the autoimmune disease MS.

"The Bayhill research is one of the first hints that scientists engaged in multiple sclerosis drug discovery can directly and specifically affect MBP-specific T-cells in humans," Bayhill said in a press release.MORE

December 19, 2005

Nutra Pharma Reports Discovery of New Gene Involved in Multiple Sclerosis

Although the gene and some of its functions are already known, this is the first evidence of involvement with the disease state of MS. The research also provides evidence that RPI-78M modulates the expression of this gene in laboratory assays. RPI-78M is the lead drug candidate of Nutra Pharma's holding, ReceptoPharm, Inc. and is being studied in preclinical assays for its efficacy in treating MS.MORE

December 18, 2005

PAIN AND MS: Options exist to help manage this difficult symptom

MS Society of Canada

Can An Online Information System Can Help MS Patients Better Manage Their Disease?

The Medical College of Georgia Center for Patient and Family Centered Care has received a $30,000 grant to determine whether an online information system can help MS patients better manage their disease ..MORE

VIDEO: Babinski (extensor toe) sign.....

CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO:

NOTICIAS DE SALUD......MD HEALTH CHANNEL

EN ESPANOL ...HAZ CLIC AQUI PARA MAS

Empieza la presentación en multimedia con preguntas: Esclerosis multiple

...HAZ CLIC AQUI PARA MAS...

MS: Esperanza en la Investigacion: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

...HAZ CLIC AQUI PARA MAS...National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

MORE MS VIDEOS FROM THE MS NEWS CHANNEL

CLICK HERE...OR ON THE BUTTON IN THE LEFT COLUMN

VIDEO: A physician battling MS channels her energy into helping patients with chronic illnesses

CLICK TO VIEW THIS VIDEO...ROO TV USA

Empieza la presentación en multimedia con preguntas: Esclerosis multiple

December 17, 2005

Effects of whole-body vibration in patients with MS: a pilot study

CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study indicated that whole-body vibration may positively influence the po...Click to read study...

Immunosuppressive Drug Appears Effective in Reducing New Brain Lesions in MS Patients - USA

A medication that reduces relapse rates in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) appears to be effective in reducing new brain inflammatory lesions and is well toleratedThe drug is azathioprine, an immunosuppressive agent that is well tolerated, easy to administer and monitor, and has been used for many years in the treatment of transplant rejections and autoimmune diseases. Azathioprine reduces relapse rates in MS patients, but its effects on the frequency and accumulation of new brain inflammatory lesions has not been studied in MS, according to a study in the December issue of the Archives of Neurology...MORE

Schering must decide soon on Betaseron move

drugmaker Schering must decide soon on whether to pay up to $1.18 billion to maintain exclusive marketing rights for multiple sclerosis drug BetaseronReuters Business Channel | CLICK TO READ

December 15, 2005

REBIF TIPS: From Heather

"When I take the cap off the needle... I hold it UP in the air (needle facing ceiling) This helps so that no meds come out of the tip which greatly decreases site reactions! If meds come out while I'm holding the needle to the ceiling...I take the alcohol swab and clean it off."

Human Brain Cells Are Grown In Mice..Success Is Encouraging For Stem Cell Therapies

By injecting human embryonic stem cells into the brains of fetal mice inside the womb, scientists in California have created living mice with working human brain cells inside their skulls.Salk Institute for Biological Sciences...MORE

December 14, 2005

Chronically Ill Patients Turn to Yoga for Relief - New York Times

Studies have shown that yoga can, among other things, reduce fatigue in people with MS and lower anxiety in patients with cancer, heart disease or hypertensionMORE

Researchers discover a protein responsible for shaping the nervous system

“We discovered that p63 is the major death-promoting protein for nerve cells during fetal and post-natal development,” said Dr. David Kaplan, the paper’s senior author"...The Hospital for Sick Children - News Release...MORE

MS cases in Taiwan may be lower than elsewhere only because people with the disease are misdiagnosed

Taipei Times - more

"Fish oils can ease MS symptoms"...?

News 14 Carolina | MORE

"Glucosamine's anti-inflammatory effects may help MS"

"Glucosamine's anti-inflammatory effects may be useful in conjunction with more mainstream therapies such as beta-Interferon in helping patients with multiple sclerosis to delay or perhaps stave off some of the debilitating effects of the MS."
MORE

TIPS: Stress and MS

CLICK TO READ

December 13, 2005

Response to interferon Beta-1a treatment in african american MS patients

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small sample size, AA subjects appeared less responsive to treatment than WA subjects on outcome measures, reaching significance only for T2-weighted lesion count at 48 weeks...MORE

"Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: A misleading model of MS": Fact or Fiction?...

EAE is a disease that is induced in mice that is used to study MS. When you read a newspaper account that says 'mice with MS,' this is what they are talking about. Mice do not actually get MS."A review in the Annals of Neurology: MORE

Spinal Cord Atrophy in MS Caused by White Matter Volume Loss

Arch of Neurology -- Abstract: December 2005, Gilmore et al. 62 (12): 1859...MORE

IMMUNE SYSTEM SUPPRESSING DRUG MAY SLOW DOWN MS

Brain lesions were reduced by more than half in patients treated with the drug Imuran [Azathioprin] Archives of Neurology -- Abstract: December 2005, Massacesi et al. 62....MORE(12): 1843

December 12, 2005

"Marijuana derivatives or "cannabinoids" taken for one year for the treatment of MS may reduce muscle spasms and other aspects of disability

Admiration for a Comedian Who Knew No Limits

MORE - New York Times

MS is no match for mom of 11 kids

[2 hours ago]This is the roster at the Klopfenstein home: Two adults, 11 children (six currently staying at the house, but that number changes), two dogs, three cats, one parrot, one hamster, one rabbit and a dozen fish....CLICK FOR MORE

December 11, 2005

MS took career in aerial photography from Doug Jenkins... SO..he did what he'd never had time for...

he wrote a book.[MORE]

Promising Multiple Sclerosis Vaccine Tested

"Sue Carlson works up to 12 hours a day helping others feel better." Sue has MS "There's nothing I can't do." "Four years ago, Sue could barely muster enough energy to work a half-day. [ABCnews.com:...MORE]

December 10, 2005

Neurologists apply for own MRI machine...competition is't happy...

more

Another New Oral Drug Entering Trials...

CCX915...MORE

STUDY: Gd Enhancing Lesions Vary With Age...younger people and less disabled people are more likely to have enhancing lesions...MORE

MS Interactive Tutorial from the National Institutes of Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH...CLICK HERE

December 09, 2005

Immune System Gene May be New MS Therapy Target....A special gene that plays a key role in the growth of blood cells, as well as in the immune response may become treatment for MS....MORE

December 08, 2005

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"....

MS patient's story

"She is a bundle of nerves heading into a live telecast from her home. To make matters worse, she suffered a painful flare-up of MS the night before the TV shoot"...MORE

Biogen chairman to retire at year-end...[Business Week: MORE]

Rebif and Campath Compared in Study....more

December 07, 2005

Glucosamine may provide relief to patients suffering from MSUsing a mouse model of MS in an animal study, glucosamine dramatically delayed the onset of symptoms and improved the animal's ability to move and walk....MORE

December 05, 2005

STUDY: By Dr. Timothy Vollmer, Dr. Denise Campagnolo, Tuula Tyry from Barrow Neurological Institute and others...

"Changes in the ascertainment of MS"
















Marrie RA, Cutter G, Tyry T, Hadjimichael O, Campagnolo D, Vollmer T.


A team of researchers including Dr. Timothy Vollmer, Dr. Denise Campagnolo, Tuula Tyry from Barrow Neurological Institute and RA Marrie, G Cutter and O Hadjimichael decided to test that assumption using the NARCOMS database, a voluntary MS registry based on self-reported information. They identified over 16,000 participants who met the study criteria (for example, who reside in the US, who had reported both onset and diagnosis dates, and whose onset began in 1980 or later, when MRI was starting to become more important in MS diagnosis). Analysis of the onset and diagnosis dates confirmed that those with onset in more recent years had a shorter delay before diagnosis than those with onset in earlier years. Analysis of disability data also revealed that those with onset in recent years had on average milder disability at diagnosis than those whose onset had occurred earlier.

STUDY CONCLUSION:
The delay from symptom onset to diagnosis is steadily decreasing in MS. An increasing proportion of patients with MS have mild disability at diagnosis after accounting for confounders. As the effectiveness of therapies is influenced by disease duration, this has implications for comparison of treatment effects in modern clinical trials to earlier study results."
MORE: Entrez PubMed

Enzyme May Be Target For New Anti-inflammatory Compounds for MS

[3 hours ago]CLICK FOR MORE: Virginia Commonwealth University researchers studying the enzyme that triggers inflammation have found that it may be a target for a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs to treat arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, lung and colon cancers and Alzheimer’s disease.

DO YOU HAVE MS?

Get your FREE MS MEDICINE ALERTS by clicking the red button in the left column!

The MS News Channel was 1st in AZ to alert MS patients of Tysabri's suspension!

They received a MS MEDICINE ALERT with Dr. Vollmer's Tysabri video (view it in the left column)
















Here's a few recent MS MEDICINE ALERTS:

• WARNING ADDED TO NOVANTRONE LABELING
• STUDY lifts prospects for return of Tysabri: no more cases of rare brain disease
• STUDY: Effects of dose titration on tolerability and efficacy of interferon beta-1b
• VIDEO: how Rebif (interferon beta-1a) helps slow the progression of your MS
• PATIENT VIDEO: I'm on Copaxone & I have some tips for you"
• STUDY: Initial Disability Scores & Progression Rather than Relapses Affect Duration of Avonex
• STUDY: Betaseron Cuts MS Risk In Early Stages
• SHOULD I GET A FLU SHOT?
  

People with MS have been given new legal rights in England

[20 minutes ago] Those who do not show signs of their illness cannot now, under the Disability Discrimination Act, be sacked or refused credit or a mortgage.BBC NEWS |MORE

Antibodies give clues to MS: Markers predict disease's course

University of Connecticut researchers Cecilia B. Marta and Steven E. Pfeiffer have uncovered new details on MS.

[1 hour ago] Researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center and Yale University Medical School have found that one antibody to a myelin protein could prove to be a valuable tool to diagnose the likely severity of a case of multiple sclerosis....Journal Gazette | MORE

$500 PER PERSON!!...An Evening with Montel Williams

MORE

December 03, 2005

"New Saint Louis University Study Attacks Multiple Sclerosis on Multiple Fronts"

[4 hours ago] READ Saint Louis University PRESS RELEASE

"Buttock fat may block injections' value...especially in heavy women"-study.

[48 hours ago)..."It has been taken for granted that once the needle introduces the medicine, it is going to be absorbed and do its job," said Victoria O. Chan, the lead investigator of the study. "But the majority of medicine never reached the muscle."
Scientists used a CAT scan to follow intramuscular injections in 50 patients, half men and half women, of different sizes and shapes, and found that, on average, almost 70 percent of the dose did not get through the derriere's fatty tissue to reach the muscle."MORE

Researchers are developing a system to allow people to communicate via a skullcap th

[3 hours ago]...For those riddled with tremors, speech or any communication can be impossible or incredibly time-consuming.MORE

December 02, 2005

Meditation Associated with Increased Grey Matter in the Brain

"Meditation is known to alter resting brain patterns, suggesting long lasting brain changes, but a new study by researchers from Yale, Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows meditation also is associated with increased cortical thickness."more

Interesting Story!!! Serono Shares Jump on Speculation That Bertarellis May Sell

This article talks about oral MS m\treatments and why the family who owns Serono wants to sellmore

December 01, 2005

"FDA Drug Alert for Healthcare Professionals: Alemtuzumab (marketed as Campath)"

CLICK TO READ PRESS RELEASE ON FDA WEBSITE: "http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/alemtuzumab/default.htm"

Schering shares fall on FDA Campath alert

Campath is approved to treat a type of blood cancer, but in a study on multiple sclerosis, three patients developed a severe blood disorder and one of them died, the FDA said.
The company initially reported the serious side effect in September and put the trial on hold.
"This is the official posting on the FDA website that pertains exactly to the announcement we made in September. We are still in discussions with the FDA," said a Schering spokesman.
Analysts said the FDA warning was anticipated, but the focus would now be on the future of the drug to treat multiple sclerosis.MORE- Boston.com

IMPORTANT MS ALERT: FDA: Alemtuzumab (marketed as Campath)

Three patients in a clinical study of the drug Campath for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) developed severe idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). One of the patients died.

ITP happens when the body attacks and kills its own blood platelets. Platelets are a type of blood cell that controls bleeding. Bruising and bleeding may be warning signs of ITP.

Campath is not approved to treat MS. Campath is only approved for treating a form of blood cancer called B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). The label for Campath has a warning about serious and rare blood problems that may happen with the use of this medicine.

Talk to your healthcare professional if you have concerns about taking Campath.

This information reflects FDA’s preliminary analysis of data concerning this drug. FDA is considering, but has not reached a final conclusion about, this information. FDA intends to update this sheet when additional information or analyses become available.MORE

Effexor XR Worsens Sexual Function Functions including desire/interest, desire/frequency & orgasm!

New Study Compared Sexual Functioning of Patients Treated with Wellbutrin XL Versus Effexor XR...

"PharmaLive": CLICK FOR FULL STORY

"Sexual functioning worsened in patients with major depressive disorder treated with Effexor XR as compared to patients treated with Wellbutrin XL, according to the results of a new study presented yesterday at the 18th Annual U.S. Psychiatric & Mental Health Congress.

This is the first head-to-head 12-week study to compare the impact on sexual functioning of Wellbutrin XL, the once-daily norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI), to the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine XR among patients with major depressive disorder. Wellbutrin XL has been previously shown to have a lower risk of sexual dysfunction as compared to the serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Lexapro(R) (escitalopram oxalate) in similarly designed studies.

The study showed statistically significant worsening in sexual functioning among patients with major depressive disorder who were treated with Effexor XR, regardless of baseline sexual function and despite improvement of depressive symptoms.

Effexor XR negatively impacted multiple domains of sexual functioning as compared to Wellbutrin XL, including desire/interest, desire/frequency and orgasm. Sexual function was not impacted by Wellbutrin XL.

In the U.S., 10 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 18 now take antidepressants. But, of these, as many as 59 percent may experience sexual side effects as a result of their medication.

'People taking antidepressants are often reluctant to discuss sexual side effects with their doctor and many believe that all treatments are the same,' said Anita Clayton, MD, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, and lead author of the study.

'This trial provides comparative data on which to base treatment decisions for those patients who express concerns about or experience sexual side effects.'"

Should I get a flu shot?

It is generally suggested that people with MS get flu vaccinations.

This should be discussed with your health care provider.

For people with MS who get vaccinations, it may be best to avoid the vaccination during an attack and to not get the vaccination at a site where one of the injectable medications (Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, or Rebif) was recently injected. For those who get significant flu-like side effects with interferon injections (Avonex, Betaseron, or Rebif), it would be reasonable to avoid getting the flu vaccine on the days that you inject your medication......the vaccination should not be used during the first trimester of pregnancy.......There are also a number of oral antiviral medications that may be helpful for the treatment and, in some cases, prevention of flu. These include amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), oseltamivir (Tamiflu), and zanamivir (Relenza). For people with MS, it may be especially useful to begin treatment with such antiviral medications as the flu can precipitate an exacerbation.......Recently, the FDA approved a nasal vaccine, which is inhaled rather than injected-it contains live virus, it is a special risk to those taking immunosuppresive medications, such as steroids, methotrexate, and Novantrone. Family members of people taking such medications should also avoid the nasal vaccine.Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center -CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Avonex, Rebif & Betaseron: The reproductive effects of beta interferon therapy in pregnancy

MORE-Entrez PubMed
: "CONCLUSIONS: Beta interferon therapy in the first trimester of pregnancy appears to be associated with an increased risk for fetal loss and low birth weight."