Monday, February 12, 2007

Patients take research into their own hands

Patients with multiple sclerosis are joining together to fund research that they find promising.
Naltrexone is a drug, an opioid receptor antagonist, which is sometimes used for treating addictions. Naltrexone was discovered 20+ years ago, so is off-patent, and therefore no longer highly profitable nor of interest to large drug companies. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) was anecdotally found to be helpful for treating multiple sclerosis. A number of MS patients banded together, forming their own research group to review current knowledge and direct studies. They held a fund raising benefit; the $25,000 proceeds were awarded to UCSF to conduct a small, double-blind, cross-over trial this spring, according to LDNers. Sounds like a carefully designed study. Way to go!

The folks at "accelerated cure" also have a terrific brochure on working with MS. This handy booklet gives lots of suggestions for dealing with workplace issues that are applicable to those with any chronic disease.




http://www.acceleratedcure.org/downloads/acp-workingwithms.pdf