Thinking About Stopping Your MS Treatments?

I ran out of my Baclofin at one point & didn't have any for two days. I'm still trying to get back to where I was before that happened, as I got to the point where I was needing a cane or walker to get around. I've never had any thoughts before of giving up but my willpower really went south at that time. I'm back to the fighting it mode now but never again will I run out of my prescribed pills.

MS is devastating my family. I am a 65 year old male that will receive tysabri#61 in two days. I have 3 younger sisters that have been dealing with MS for 30+ years. One of these sisters died 15 years at age 48 after suffering a stroke, blindness, paralysis and all manner of efforts to keep her going. She died weighing 74 pounds, with teen-age children still in the home.

I have another younger sister that died 11 years ago at age 51 after suffering many of the same afflictions, stroke, blindness, paralysis and death.

I have a third younger sister that just turned 60. She was widowed suddenly about ten months ago. She is struggling with the same issues in her MS.

My 33 year old daughter is starting tysabri in a few weeks after trying so many other treatments that have not helped her. She is a young mother with boundless energy except when she relapses. Oh, the struggles.

The Neurologist that diagnosed me said if he had access to the drugs in 1995 that are now available then both of my sisters would still be with us.

Ed, your columns are so full of inspiring and hopeful information. This is a terrible disease that needs to be solved. I am still trying to live a pretty normal life, but the pain and issues of 41 lesions and a black hole in my brain and on my spine makes my struggles a losing battle. But, I will not stop, I will not change until this disease takes away all my strength and drive.

I am quitting Tefidera in a year, I am 65 and have been on it for 4 years and I was on Rebif for 5. I haven't had any relapses in nearly ten years. My husband continues to work so we can have good insurance. We have not figured out a way to afford Tecfidera after he retires. The closest figure we have managed to come up with is close to $5,000 a month. That includes the cost of the insurance policies and deductions. We don't have that type of money. The men in his family don't live past their mid 70's. I want him to enjoy some retirement years, not work until he dies.

Dear Mr. Tobias,
while I agree with you (and Dr. Corboy) that currently nobody truly knows if it makes scientific sense to continue (current) MS treatments into "old age" in so-called "stable" Ms-patients, one must keep in mind that Dr. Corboy's study will only answer a fairly narrow question: compared with patients that continue treatment, what percentage of so-called "stable old" patients remain free of clinically manifest relapses, disability progression as measured by EDSS, and new MRI lesions for a couple of years after stopping their medications.
Thus, the assumptions are 1) that those criteria (relapse count, EDSS, and MRI) truly reflect "all there is to having MS" (which I think is very doubtful - consider the fierce debate about what "NEDA" - "no evidence of disease activity" - really means), and 2) that 2 years or so is a sufficiently long period of time in that age group (given current life expectancy rates, one wonders).
I am concerned that while the scientific questions are of course important to sort out, these preliminary and short-term data will be (mis)used to deny insurance coverage (including, especially, Medicare coverage!) for MS medications.
The fierce debate about how so-called "benign" MS should be defined, measured, and/or treated also sheds much light unto this difficult question.
While it is important that data are being gathered, and that we at least try to answer those difficult questions, it is also crucial to keep the obvious limitations of these kind of studies in mind. When economic considerations - whether profit-maximizing or cost-cutting - are the predominant motivation in evaluating data, both science and patients suffer. I am delighted that Dr. Corboy will be advancing the state of knowledge in clinical MS-research, and I hope he will be appropriately cautious when interpreting the results, given the unavoidable limitations of such studies.
Incidentally, I am a retired 62 year-old neurologist with MS.

I was not diagnosed with MS until I was 67 yrs old. Now I know that I probably had MS for years before but never really caused any problems. My plan since I am very healthy and active that I would not take any drugs since I hate medication. Well my plan didn't work and last year for 2 months lost all feeling in both legs. Then this spring lost all vision in my left eye which 80% returned. I am now taking tecfidera and my last MRI showed no new lesions. I have had 3 sets of MRI's this year with and without contrast. So maybe I am the exception but age does not always make you MS symptom free. At this point I will not stop taking MS drugs. We have an assistance program that pays the copay after the drug insurance pays their part. Our supplemental medicare plan has paid for all of my MRI's this year.

I have had MS for many years but was not officially diagnosed until about 17 years ago. My MS neuro put me on Copaxone and it helped immensely. Fast forward to the last couple of years and I switched to 40mg Copaxone because I was running out of decent skin to inject into after daily injections so long. Now my MS neuro says I probably could give it up due to my age and lack of progression via MRI every five years. I am 72 and feeling great. Generic Copaxone just came out and I know my insurance will be switching me to that. My dilemma is that I am very afraid to give it up even at my age. It gave me back the ability to walk when I was in a WC way back. I get the usual flares from heat or exhaustion but no real relapses in years. I asked my doctor how many my age still use DMDs and he said just a very few and that he would try to talk me into giving up next year at my annual visit. I am so torn. Yes, I hate the shots but yes, I know how it helped me all these years as well. Mylan who makes the new generic will pick up my copay so it doesn't cost me but the inconvenience of doing those shots.

Ed,
Thank you so much for this article. This is the first I have ever heard that MS could go into remission and stay there now that I am older. I was diagnosed 25 years ago, optic neuritis, had a slew of exacerbations the first years, but then started Avonex, then Tysabria, then Gilenya. 4? months ago I stopped Gilenya - and I feel fine. I have not had an exacerbation in many years. I've taken up running, started eating vegetarian, have never felt better. Like most of us, I have some problems from past exacerbations - just one problem, a neurogenic bladder means I have to use catheters. But otherwise, I'm fine, I work full time, run 4-5 miles most weekends.

All I have ever heard about how my MS was going to go was we will all just go downhill, our MS will go from recurring/remissing to secondary progressive, we're all doomed. But that's not what I am experiencing, and thank you for letting me know this is not some extremely rare situation!

Good morning! I have thought about eventually stopping my copaxone shots at some point in the future. My husband and I went to a recent Shared Solutions education event and I heard that it is actually becoming a thing with medical support for some people. This made me very happy. It's been 7 years since I had a relapse (I was diagnosed in 2010 but had RRMS for at least 18 years prior to that but the doctors were unable to figure out what was going on). In January I'll be seeing my neurologist about maybe stopping when I get into my 60's if I remain stable. Fortunately or unfortunately, I don't qualify for this trial b/c I have no disability. Hope the trial produces some good information that will help the MS community.

I took Rebif for ten years (02/03 until 06/13). I was just tired of needles. There had been no relapses while on the medication, & there have been no relapses since. I am 65 years old. The visits to the neurologist are now every two years, as well as the MRI's (since there has been no noticeable signs of progression). I have pain, though I've been told it's not from the MS. With recent articles suggesting Gadolinium poisoning causing pain, I am very leery of continuing MRI's.

Maybe us older patients need to look into Myelin repair strategies instead of suppressing our immune systems?

I have had MS since my thirties. Only diagnosed per MRI since 49. On Copaxone for 13 years. I am 62. I yet have symptoms of my MS, spasms, vibration like sensations down my spine into my legs, itching, intense lateral to my cervical and thoracic vertebral structure, MS Hug, very demonstrated, Numbnes in my left hand and leg, Trememndous Fatigue, Urinary Urgency, Constipation, Brain fog, etc. A good MRI done in September, no active lesions. It is though my belief that this is indeed due to the Copaxone. It is not due to my age. I think that your study is impaired in all due respect. You should initiate your efforts with your own family members. My mobility deems that I use a Cane for ambulation. I would likely be worse without Copaxone, Baclofen, Neurontin, Provigil, Ditropan, a Stool Softner, OTC Tylenol, E.S., my B.P. Medication etc. The fact that I have no active lesions by no means negates the potential for new lesions to develop. Copaxone however does do this. I have in excess of fifteen lesions perpendicular to my lateral ventricles - I am told a Hallmark Classic Feature of Multiple Sclerosis. I do not wish to risk coming out of Remission due to the fact that you have decided that I am old, MS has slowed due to the fact that I am old, let's experiment with her. It is my belief that since my NS still affects me with symptoms, the most recent presenting in November, where I was affected by a twitching / Tapping Sensation at my left temple, eye, ear. It went on for almost three weeks, too have I experienced numbness and tingling in my extremities. Good MRI, yes. Symptom free, No. The reason for my good MRI is due to the fact that my Multiple Sclerosis is being medically managed. Thank you for permitting me to respond. - Margaret

I am 54 and was diagnosed with PPMS three years ago. But probably had it for years, just didn't know about it. I have been taking Ampyra for three years, as well as aleve, tylenol and advil throughout the day. I also take supplements and vitamins - D, B, Calcium/Potassium/Magnesium, Cumin, fish oil, etc... I walk with a cane and work full time. I just got approved to start taking Ocrevus, which I am a bit worried about the side affects, as my last MRI showed no increased lesions and Neuro said my MS was "stable" -- guess I am taking ocrevus because I am stable, and don't want it to get worse. no brain fog, just numb feet, and the feeling of walking through sand - mobility issues - balance and some low endurance/energy. I do yoga daily, and will start up water aerobics again in January. Wondering whether your study will be informative for me since I have not taken any DMD in the past few years at all...

I was diagnosed at age 53 (2008) and am now 62. I was on Avonex for the first 5 years with no relapses after the first relapse that sent me to the doctor. My neurologist thought I should try copaxone as I was having site reactions after 5 years. Then it was copaxone for 2 years followed by generic copaxone until 18 months ago when I went off everything due to 2 bouts of aspiration pneumonia and several deep abcesses that required surgery over a 12 month period (my immune system was pretty bad by then). Still no relapses since going off all DMDs, and my MRIs show no change in lesions. There was an increase in brain atrophy when I was on Avonex with no noticeable increase since going off Avonex - I don't know if the brain atrophy was related to Avonex or just an MS period of activity during that time. I'm on lisinopril for blood pressure, fluoxetine (Prozac) for depression, and naproxen (Advil) for pain, plus over the counter vitamins and low-dose aspirin. I work full-time and have noticed some changes in cognition (brain fog) that I have to deal with daily, plus MS fatigue. My gait is getting worse and I use a walker, but that's partially due to a bad hip that needs replacing in addition to MS balance issues. I'm curious to see what this study will come up with for those of us that have late-onset MS and are DMD-free.

Denice,
There are organizations that help Ms patients with the cost of medication co-pays. If you get in touch with MS One to One they will give you a list of places to call for financial assistance.
MS One to One phone number is 855-676-6326. Good Luck!

Joanne

That the drug companies will usually help you with their medication.

I commented last fall that my insurance would likely cut off my Copaxone. They did and insisted after 15 years of Copaxone I needed to do their step therapy and switch to generic glaterimer acetate for 2018. My prescription for Copaxone was honored til it expired in March. My neuro said he didn’t feel I needed it anymore as I just turned 73. The insurance told me if my MS got worse on generic they would consider letting me go back on Copaxone. I tried to reason with them about the need to not get worse because they took away my successful treatment to no avail! I stopped treatment two months ago and feel great!

The final nail in my treatment saga came in the form of all copay help being denied from both Mylan and Teva! They adopted new guidelines for this year; if you are on Medicare you are denied copay assistance! I argued they have been paying my copay for 8 years I have been on Medicare and was told they are saving it for younger patients! So there you go! So far so good for my MS....but what about my future? I guess at this age they don’t care!

I’m 62 and just had new enhancing lesions on cervical spine. Was diagnosed in 2001, but was doubtful of diagnosis so never took any DMDs for any period of time. Walk with cane or a walker now and quit work 3 years ago. I’m suppose to start ocrevus next week. I’m not sure if MS slows down when you are older!!!

Interesting discussions! Dxd at 51-1/2 yrs old, after being allergic to Extavia and getting new lesions with new symptoms while on Copaxone after 9 mths, since 2/2012, I’ve been on Tysabri. Since then, no new lesions and symptom progression has slowed.
Until clear evidence exists to show that, now, at age 60 yrs old, DMDs no longer provide benefit (eg, slowing progression of disease and symptoms), I can’t imagine stopping a treatment that has preserved my ability to function.

I am thinking about stopping treatment, Ive been on copaxone for about a year until my Neuro decided he wasnt sure I had MS...I had 3 lesion 10 years ago, but he wouldnt diagnose me, even tho I had optic neuritis and trigeminal neuralgia, other things also...fast forward 8 years and I now have had another relpase and this time I have 15 lesions, so he says yes I have MS..I take copaxone for a year until he says Im just not sure you have it..WTH?? so I stopped taking it...two years later I have another relapse and even tho my MRI was the same he says I def have MS, so went back on copaxone..Insurance forced me to take the generic, Im having horrible site reactions that last for weeks, I feel like im in a constant state of flare up....Im going to see him next week, Id rather be off everything and just take my chances...I have no gait issues at all, only brain fog, numbness in arms and face at times, and double vision alot...I may go to Mayo to see if ive been diagnosed right, I need to know that, im not trusting my current nuero so much

Diagnosed at 55 here after a relapse where I lost vision in one eye. I started taking Tysabri. I never want to go off it.

My issue here is -- does mri at this time in medical knowledge, pick up everything that is going on in the form of lesions in the brain (the grey matter)? If it did, monitoring with mri to see if this is an acceptable thing to (go off dmd's at 60) would be easy. Such a hard decision. I will be 61 this year, and I have been on Rebif 17 years this fall. I want quality of life, but I am afraid. And I am afraid that other concerns (money) are driving the show. Such a hard call!

Great blog.I'm 65 on Medicare. Diagnosed with MS in 1978, age 23. Avonex 2001. Rebif 2006. Foot drop long time, could see by looking at the soles of my shoes. WalkAide 2010. Hiking cane 2015 when out of house. Decided to remain on Rebif. Serono has provided 4 months FREE. So thankful. Glad they are doing research on meds and older age. Want guidance on the right choice. Hear so many stop meds at 65, but don't hear what happens then. They stop seeing their neurologist.

Thanks to all.I am 76 and been on copaxone\glatimir for 20+ years, RR MS, tired of shots. Lucky no relapses..the assistance fund has paid for them...considering stopping. Feet legs numb, bladder issue... Am very interested in studies and comments about age related changes. Thanks.