So why doesn’t every MS patient take advantage of the DMDs to delay the accumulation of disability and thus protect their Quality of Life?
Disease-modifying agents provide great benefit to the MS patient but potentially come with undesirable side-effects such as fatigue, flu-like symptoms, depression, headaches, and injection site reactions. There may also be a lack of efficacy (no single DMD works for every patient) in which case the patient either tries another treatment or decides to go without.
The decision to use a DMD requires a balance of risk/reward. If the side-effects are so great that Quality of Life is negatively impacted, then you may decide to go without. I’ve known patients who made this decision and found themselves feeling much better without medication. Personally, I am seeing more benefit than risk in the use of my DMD of choice and plan to stick with the treatment plan for now.
We cannot, however, disregard the impact of financial stressors, including the cost of disease-modifying drugs, on the patient’s Quality of Life. With rising healthcare costs and increased cost-sharing (ie. Tier 4 copays), a patient may find themselves unable to access one of the DMDs, an issue we will discuss in more detail in a later post.
When I think of the impact of DMDs on MY Quality of Life, I must have faith that their use is allowing me to pursue meaningful work and to enjoy simple pleasures for an increased period of time. Since I can’t conduct my own clinical trial within my own body, comparing drug versus placebo, I must rely upon the research conducted on my behalf and for all of us living with multiple sclerosis. As you will see in future posts, the use of disease-modifying treatments is but one approach to protecting and increasing the MS patient’s Health-Related Quality of Life.
Do the use of disease-modifying treatments positively or negatively impact upon your Quality of Life? Please share your story and opinions on the matter. Why do you choose to use a DMD or choose NOT to use a DMD? How has your decision impacted upon your perceived Quality of Life?
Next: Quality of Life for MS Patients: The Impact of Comprehensive Rehabilitation (Part Three in Series)
Lisa Emrich is author of the blog Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA and founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers.
