I remember many years ago reading an article in the Seattle Times about a woman who was able to go from using a wheelchair/cane on a daily basis to walking her dog in the park because of pregnancy. I mentioned the article several times to friends and family because its so remarkable. Within two months of giving birth, she was back to having problems walking and needing a while chair. This article is from 2003 and they are still researching why pregnancy seems to put MS into remission. They believe they have narrowed it down to the hormone Estriol but they are still doing clinical trials. This clinic trial won’t be complete until 2011.
One thing I am looking for in an MS doctor is the interest in trying these kind of medications BEFORE the research is out. I mean, what is the risk? I could become a crying mess of hormones, ha! If I am an informed patient by reviewing all the information from clinical trials and side effects… I feel that doctors are more interested in helping. So, when I feel like the trials have enough information out there for me to make an informed decision, I will print them out and take them to my doctor. If my doctor feels that I am informed about the side effects then why wouldn’t they try it? If they aren’t interested, then I would need to find a new doctor!
In other news, it appears that Copaxone might soon have a generic version. This brings up an interesting problem. While generics are said to have the same efficiency as brand names, there is some deviation allowed by law. Synthroid is a good example of where a brand name medication is preferred over generic. Is Copaxone really a medication you want to risk it? I don’t but if they do have generic then I will be forced by my insurance company to get it. If I choose brand name, I have to pay 10% and yeah, that is a lot of cash. None the less, I do understand why this is a good thing. It will put more competition in the market and lower prices.
Speaking of Copaxone, I received a few phone calls from them today and one from my insurance company. It looks like I might have the shots in a week or so.
Well, off to the gym. I went to the gym yesterday and went blind in my right eye! That sure does make life exciting.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Lisa Emrich // Jun 11, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Nina, sorry to break it to you. But we won’t see generic Copaxone in this country for several, although Teva is moving into the generic biologic market in 2009.
http://brassandivory.blogspot.com/2008/03/when-will-we-have-option-of-generic-ms.html
[Reply]
ninareply on June 11th, 2008 9:33 pm
Well, I am ok with that. I don’t think I want a generic right now.
Generic meds are a little too different from brand name for me to be comfortable at this point.
My doc makes me get the brand name for my thyroid replacement and it costs MORE than my copaxone because there is a generic on the market. It’s sick.
[Reply]
Lisa Emrichreply on June 12th, 2008 11:57 am
I also use Synthroid rather than generic, but it is still substantially cheap. For some MSers, Copaxone is not covered by insurance with a tidy little co-pay.
Mandy pays $500 each month for Copaxone on top of $550 for her monthly insurance premiums.
My insurance’s drug coverage caps out at $1500 each year – that’s only about 3 weeks worth of Copaxone. I wish I could get away with a 10% copay.
Count yourself very fortunate to have insurance which actually behaves like insurance. I wish I did.
[Reply]
ninareply on June 12th, 2008 2:18 pm
I am very lucky and don’t take that for granted at all. I just don’t understand insurance logic. I think they might lack some logic but that is fine. I am benefiting from it.
[Reply]
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