When I questioned my neurologist about what I read on these medications. I was told that I should stay away from looking them up on the internet. I sometimes wonder if he is just perscription happy! Could this be just my imagination?
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Q: Is it necessary to take Zoloft, Depakote, Concerta on a daily basis & Avonex weekly for relapsing MS
Answers (2)
3/17/09 9:53pm
Hi Donna,
Really your physician is the person to discuss medications with. Perhaps you should ask him outright why it is he is prescribing each medication for you.
There is not any one combination of medications which are required for all MS patients. Of the drugs you list, the only one I have experience with is Zoloft which is an anti-depressant.
Depakote is an anti-seizure drug which is commonly used in epilepsy, migraine headaches, and the mania stage of bipolar disorder. Other anti-seizure drugs, including Neurontin, are used to treat nerve pain in MS.
Concerta is a CNS-stimulant which is commonly used for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Another common ADHD drug, Ritalin, is sometimes used as an anti-fatigue medication in MS.
Avonex is one of six FDA-approved medications used as a disease-modifying treatment in MS. Other drugs used for the purpose include Rebif, Betaseron, Copaxone, Novantrone, and Tysabri.
Talk more with your doctor to understand his reason for wanting you to use these drugs. Hope this helps
3/19/09 1:58pm
Hi Donna
Did your doctor say why he doesn't want you to seek out information about these medications? Did he give you any information for you to read. You need to trust your doctor and rely upon his judgement but at the same time, as a patient, you need to advocate for yourself and your treatment.
It is my opinion that you will receive better care and have better outcomes if you are knowledgable about the medications you are taking. You are the one taking them and you have every right to know more about them. You do have to be careful on the internet, this is true. Not everything you read will be accurate.
But honest to goodness, you have every right to read up on your medications.
Let us know how things go for you. And thank you for your question.
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By Donna— Last Modified: 11/15/10, First Published: 03/17/09
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