MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
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Ibuprofen
Side
effects frequently experienced by patients taking interferon beta-1b include
fever, chills, sweating, weariness and pain in one or more muscles. Previous
studies indicate that 50 percent of people treated with interferon report
these symptoms. "Reducing
these side effects brings relief for patients," said neurologist and
study co-author Robert Knobler, MD, PhD, of Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. "It may also allow patients to tolerate
higher doses of the drug, which may be more effective in treating the
disease." Research
has shown that interferon reduces the frequency and severity of attacks in
people with multiple sclerosis and may halt disease progression in people with
secondary progressive forms of MS. Researchers
compared 24 people from the MS Center at Thomas Jefferson University and 26
from the MS Clinic at University Hospital in London, Ontario. Half of these
participants had relapsing remitting MS while the other half had secondary
progressive MS. The ten-week study involved three treatment programs: the
first group received standard doses of interferon while taking ibuprofen; the
second group received a gradual increase of interferon along with ibuprofen;
and the third group received the same gradual increase of interferon with no
ibuprofen. The
frequency of flu-like side effects was reduced to levels comparable to a
placebo group in previous studies, with the largest decline seen in those who
had a gradual increase in dose of interferon combined with interferon. Six
percent of those with the gradual dose of interferon and ibuprofen experienced
the flu-like symptoms, compared to 17 percent of those on standard doses of
interferon with ibuprofen and 40 percent of those on gradual doses of
interferon with no ibuprofen. "Minimizing
the side effects of this drug is essential to the long-term use of
interferon," said neurologist and study co-author Fred Lublin, MD, of MCP
Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA. Lublin
said the use of ibuprofen may help researchers evaluate treatments for MS more
quickly, as side effects can hamper the effectiveness of studies. Side effects
sometimes cause people to drop out of studies. Side effects can also reveal to
study participants and researchers who was given the drug and who was not.
According to Lublin, this study could lead to the improvement of double-blind
clinical trials by masking side effects. Source:
American Academy of Neurology This material is provided as general medical information and is not intended as advice for individual patients; please contact your physician for specific recommendations. ©
1996-1999 International MS Support Foundation
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