On Wednesday 11th September, we will be running another Burning Debate at ECTRIMS 2019 in Stockholm. We want MS clinicians and researchers to use social media (specifically Twitter) that can include people affected by MS in discussions and debates about MS research and treatments.
The topic this year is: It is inappropriate to prescribe interferon-beta and glatiramer acetate for active relapsing MS.
Debate Chair: Jacqueline Palace
Speaking FOR the motion: Gisela Kobelt (Health Economist, Sweden)
Speaking AGAINST the motion: Magd Zakaria (Professor of Neurology, Cairo, Egypt)
Time: 15.45 – 17:15 (90 minutes)
Room: Hall C
Date: Wednesday 11th September
This burning debate will address the topical motion: From a healthcare provider perspective, it is now inappropriate to prescribe first generation injectables (interferon-beta and glatiramer acetate) to newly diagnosed patients with active relapsing MS.
The live audience are encouraged to participate in the session by tweeting comments and questions using #burningdebate. At the end of the two presentations, the audience can vote on who should win the debate through Twitter.
Why is this topic of interest to patients? Since high-efficacy treatments are now available to people with MS, this debate posits that to prescribe lower efficacy treatments is no longer an appropriate course of action for clinicians. With so many available treatments out there, patients can be overwhelmed by the variety and can struggle to understand the merits and risks of each treatment. The speakers will discuss the pros and cons of putting patients on low efficacy, versus higher efficacy treatments.
If you want to get involved, you can follow the #burningdebate when the debate is happening and contribute your thoughts and comments to the speakers. In previous years, this has turned out to be challenging, entertaining, and has put some speakers on the spot!
We will post the video of the debate on the blog when it is ready.
Why is this topic of interest to clinicians? Many clinicians follow a pattern of low efficacy until MS worsens. This has been discussed many times on the blog, and is a key part of the Time = Brain (#msbrainhealth) campaign.
Why is this topic of interest to researchers? Researchers should be kept up to date with what happens with treatments once they are licensed and prescribed. This debate could influence how researchers think about developing new drugs, or conducting studies on existing ones.
This debate is this blog and Team G’s reason for existence:
The money is in the medicine, not in the cure.
The folk behind this blog push the drug agenda like crazy people. They are drug pushers, for want of a better term. Nary do they blog about good, holistic living. It is always drugs, drugs, drugs.
Just say no, homies. Drugs mess a brother up.
Kiljoy Dre. There are many posts on this blog about lifestyle etc. Have you read the one about diet being the next DMT?
https://multiple-sclerosis-research.org/2017/08/clinicspeak-dietspeak-could-diet-be-the-next-dmt/
We are scientists and sadly when it comes to diet and holistic living the data is limited
I am secondary progressive so it doesn’t really involve me. I have never taken any medication as I had benign MS and was never told anything about MS until I became secondary progressive, despite having had optic neuritis twice earlier in my life.
Judging by a French acquaintance who has been on a DMT for many many years and is still appearing as though she has never had MS, I would personally say that it is far and above better to put a person on a proper drug and forget the interferons!
My story is almost identical. Diagnosed with “benign MS”. Now secondary progressive.I would urge any newly diagnosed person to take the best and most effective drug available. i also believe DMTs work to retard progression in secondary progressive MS. (And I believe in a adopting a holistic approach including diet as well)
My story is almost identical. Diagnosed with “benign MS”. Now secondary progressive.I would urge any newly diagnosed person to take the best and most effective drug available. i also believe DMTs work to retard progression in secondary progressive MS. (And I believe in a adopting a holistic approach including diet as well)
Excellent way of telling, and good article to get data on the topic of my presentation focus,
which i am going to deliver in college.