Apparently somebody wrote you and told you a doctor wouldn't prescribe 4-AP
to TM patients.
In my visit today, I also asked my Neurologist about the 4-AP. He is very
familiar with the studies on this drug. He told me that studies can be dated
as far back as the 1930's researching nerve regeneration, etc.
This is what I learned about this drug from my doctor:
4-AP, and he gave me the name of another version,(something like 2-AP) which
I can't recall, does NOT stimulate nerve regeneration. What it does do is go
to the area where there is nerve damage and "trick" them into acting "under
normal stimuli". The problem is that they can not control where the drug
goes in the body. It is a short term medication, which means it wears off
after a few hours, and more dosage is required. Anyway, the drug enters the
blood stream, and also goes to "normal nerves". That is where the problems
can start. It "tricks" the normal nerves also, so there is a chance that
they get overstimulated, which can cause seizures.
There is a 10 - 30% improvement in a person with nerve damage by using this
drug, but there is also a 10 -30% risk of seizures occurring. The normal MS,
GB, or TM patient does not have seizures, so if this drug causes seizures,
then the doctor has another problem that has to be gotten under control, that
was not there to begin with.
So he explained that the doctor has to weigh the consequences. If a person
were severely affected with TM, MS, etc, then would a 10 - 30% chance of
improvement be substantial in that patient, and would the risk of seizures be
a risk he would want to take?
In my own personal case, he said I was not severely enough affected, and that
I was progressing "right on schedule", so it is not even an option, since the
risks far outweigh the benefits.
He said that positive attitude and the drugs he is prescribing, all of which
are not going to be "long term", are what lead to as full a recovery as
possible. The drugs do not clear up the problem, just alleviate the
symptoms.
Anyway, that is what I learned today. I really trust my doctor, and he
always takes a lot of time with me, answering any questions, explaining
anything I don't understand. I always "limp" away feeling good after my
visits.
Debbie
dcapen(AT)ivic.net