Multiple Sclerosis - CURRENT Symptom Medications

So, your Doctor tells you that you have a disease. You know that you have symptoms that impair you in your every day life, but you want your Doctor to give you something to make the pain/symptom go away!

What is the best medication for your symptoms, for your illness? Remember, only your Doctor can help you. However, the better informed that you are about what is out there, the better you can discuss alternatives with your Doctor(s).

We are beginning a series of Disease-specific "current medication" blogs.

The first illness we are addressing is Multiple Sclerosis. The following information comes from the National MS Society website. Now, most disease medication lists start with the brand name first, with the SYMPTOM that it is to address almost as an after thought. BUT, we, the patients, start with the symptom first, so that's how I have decided to sort the medications. Here goes. Oh, one more thing; where there is not brand name, or where the chemical name is available without a perscription, you will find the chemical name in red; products available without a prescription are so indicated (+).

Once again, this will provide you with information to discuss with your Doctor. By having options of medications for a symptom, you and your Doctor can discuss which treatment would be best for you, given your other symptoms, your specific condition, and any other factors that only your Doctor can know. And, if you do not know what the symptom means (I'm not sure that I know what "Paroxysmal itching" is) you can ask your Doctor, and learn something new!

1. Fatigue Amantadine; Cylert; Provigil
2. Spasticity Baclofen; Dantrium; Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB Therapy); Valium (muscle spasms); Zanaflex
3. Constipation Mineral oil (+); Colace (Docusate (+)); Dulcolax (Bisacodyl (+)); Enemeez Mini Enema (Docusate stool softener laxative (+)); Fleet Enema (Sodium phosphate (+)); Metamucil (Psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid (+)); Phillips' Milk of Magnesia (Magnesium hydroxide (+)); Sani-Supp suppository (US) (Glycerin (+))
4. Erectile dysfunction Papaverine; Cialis; Levitra; MUSE; Prostin VR; Viagra
5. Nausea; Vomiting; Dizziness Antivert (US), Bonamine (Can)
6. Paroxysmal itching Atarax
7. Disease-modifying agent Avonex; Betaseron; Copaxone; Novantrone; Rebif;
8. Urinary tract infections Bactrim; Septra; Cipro; Macrodantin
9. Urinary tract infections (preventative) Hiprex, Mandelamine (US); Hip-rex, Mandelamine (Can)
10. Urinary tract infections (symptom relief) Pyridium
11. Urinary frequency DDAVP Nasal Spray; DDAVP Tablets
12. Bladder dysfunction Detrol (US); Ditropan; Ditropan XL; Oxytrol (Oxybutynin Transdermal System); Pro-Banthine; Sanctura; Vesicare (US)
13. Bladder dysfunction; Pain Tofranil
14. Depression Effexor; Paxil; Wellbutrin; Zoloft
15. Depression, Pain (neuropathic) Cymbalta
16. Depression; Fatigue Prozac
17. Tremor Laniazid; Nydrazid
18. Tremor; Pain; Spasticity Klonopin (US), Rivotril (Can)
19. Acute exacerbations Decadron; Deltasone; H.P. Acthar Gel; Solu-Medrol
20. Pain (dyesthesias) Dilantin; Neurontin
21. Pain (paresthesias) Elavil; Pamelor (US), Aventyl (Can)
22. Pain (trigeminal neuralgia) Tegretol

Now that you have read all 22 categories of Multiple Sclerosis symptoms that HAVE a medication that might mitigate it, and know of many others that have no associated medication, I'll bet that you are asking yourself how do I make the link between knowing that I have one or more of these, and explaining how this symptom impairs me? If you have these questions, please check out our website at www.disabilitykey.com. Also, ask questions on these blogs.