Drug stops multiple sclerosis - but sufferers can't get it!

Nov 29 2005

Cris Kerr highlights Naltrexone in her latest issue of 'Case Health - Health Success Stories'.

Naltrexone is traditionally used to help people who have a narcotic or alcohol addiction stay drug free. Naltrexone is used after the patient has stopped taking drugs or alcohol. It works by blocking the effects of narcotics or by decreasing the craving for alcohol. U.S. National Library of Medicine

Cris recently became aware of a drug that appeared to stop the progression of Multiple Sclerosis, potentially enhancing the quality of life of many Multiple Sclerosis (MS) sufferers.

The drug is Naltrexone (also known as ReVia) and Cris's 'Health Success Stories' database contains a growing body of compelling anecdotal evidence that Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) works, and; it works well - BUT, sufferers can't get it.

"Naltrexone has not achieved mainstream acceptance as a treatment option for MS due to absence of clinical trial data. Research, drug development, and clinical trials are commercially-driven by sponsors. That's okay, but there's no recognized body that can officially step up to the plate to speak and act on behalf of patients. I know this because I've tried, without success, to find an authority that is sanctioned to do so."

The present system is inequitable. It doesn't place sufficient value on patient health success stories. It doesn't place sufficient value on advocating for the patient. It doesn't place sufficient value on patient-driven research or clinical trials. If it did, there would be a body sanctioned to speak and act on a promising body of patient testimonials.

How many stories similar to the LDN story are out there? We don't know, because they haven't all been collected, stored, and shared. That makes me feel uneasy and should make you feel uneasy.

We need an organisation chartered to act on this type of evidence; an organisation that values patient testimony and can make recommendations (without prejudice) on behalf of patients from all corners of the globe.

About the author

Cris Kerr created the 'Case Health - Health Success Stories' community website in 2001. The website collects and shares health success stories (cure or improved quality of life) attributed to any treatment.

Stories are added to an online database with keywords so visitors can search the database by symptom, condition, or treatment. Though based in Australia, the site holds stories and selected research articles from all over the world and the service is provided totally free of any charge.

Evidence-based medicine seeks to make successful outcomes sustainable and repeatable by first recording evidence of successful outcomes, then sharing this evidence with others to enhance the number of successful outcomes.

Cris believes the patient is best-placed to attest health success. “Health systems throughout the world have long overlooked patient testimony. I advocate the value of health success stories in the public's interest, and to promote the need for a more equitable health system.”

“Governments throughout the world could prove they value and give credence to patient testimony by implementing official bodies and processes chartered to act on compelling evidence in the form of health success stories.”

To read ‘DRUG STOPS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS - BUT SUFFERERS CAN'T GET IT' or search for other health success stories visit the ‘Case Health – Health Success Stories' website and search the database.