Article by Richard Kuehn
Pebble Beach, CA Multiple-Sclerosis MS Treatments Take A Leap Forward: View From A Private Duty Caregiver Serving, Carmel, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas & Seaside, California
Multiple-Sclerosis (MS) treatments are taking a giant leap forward as a number of treatments in pill form are being rolled out, designed to control flare-ups of the disease and make treatment easier. There have historically been a number of treatments on the market for MS, however, they were all administered by injection. Physicians say some patients are reluctant to give themselves injections and having multiple therapies available in pill format could spur a greater number of MS patients to take medication as needed. Since disability from MS is cumulative, getting those diagnosed to seek earlier treatment could improve their quality of life for years. There are drawbacks. Novartis was the first to hit the market with an oral treatment. Its Gilenya is priced at about ,000 per year Although steep, they will likely come down over time as more drugs hit the market and competition heats up. A recent analysis by Novartis showed that Gilenya reduced relapses among MS patients by 54%. Disability progression was reduced by 30% using a standard measurement of this process. Treatment with the current regime of injection based drugs are expensive too, roughly ,000 per year. Most insurance plans will cover the cost of treatment with just a co-pay. Some Doctors are waiting until more drugs hit the market and they are widely used so side effects can be gauged. Gilenya can cause a risk of infection, potentially lead to toxicity of the liver and an eye disease called macular edema, clinical trials have shown. Side effects of the current injection based therapy include injection-site irritation, flu-like symptoms and liver damage. One patient who recently started on Gilenya said switching from injections made her feel more positive about having MS and it even allows her to forget she has the disease. There is currently no cure for MS, a chronic, inflammatory condition which occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own central nervous system. It afflicts about 400,000 people in the U.S. and can cause vision problems, limb numbness and paralysis according to the National Multiple-Sclerosis Society. For more information on this organization and the disease, click here. At Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey we help seniors remain independent in their own homes. We also have a number of younger Clients that are crippled from disabling diseases like MS and Parkinson’s. It’s tragic to see these diseases progress. But it’s also heart warming when you can help them become more mobile and enjoy the little things in life like a walk in the park.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704681904576319662989399214.html
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx
About Richard Kuehn & Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey:
After more than a decade of caregiving, both in a professional environment and for a 97 year old family member Richard Kuehn was dissatisfied with service from local caregiving agencies. He became convinced of the need for a service which provides very personal assistance to the elderly and founded Family inHome Caregiving serving the Monterey Peninsula. Please visit his blog where he talks about important senior issues at:http://www.familyinhomecaregiving.com/Blog/
About the Author
About Richard Kuehn & Family inHome Caregiving of Monterey:
After more than a decade of caregiving, both in a professional environment and for a 97 year old family member Richard Kuehn was dissatisfied with service from local caregiving agencies. He became convinced of the need for a service which provides very personal assistance to the elderly and founded Family inHome Caregiving serving the Monterey Peninsula. Please visit my blog where I talk about important senior issues at:http://www.familyinhomecaregiving.com/Blog/
