They call them the A-B-C drugs, and for a long time, they were the only way doctors had to treat Multiple Sclerosis.
Those days are gone, there are a handful of other medications that doctors can use to stave off the progression of MS, but inevitably, the people who work with the illness and know about it, will refer to the A-B-C drugs, so it's important for those of us with the illness know what they mean, and know the history of the medications.
Very simply, the best ways that doctors had to treat relapsing-remitting MS were with Avonex, Betaseron and Copaxone.
All of these are injections, usually self-administered, and they are the most common drugs still used to combat the disease.
There are no thorough comparison studies that prove that one works better over the other, but one-in-five patients using the first two have developed a resistance to the drug. Copaxone is a different kind of drug.
Below is a rundown on each medication, and links to find out more. Below is a list of side effects, when it was approved by the Federal Drug Administration and whatever the latest information is that's available on each.
(I had a list of costs that was validated through a number of sources, including Essortment.com and other sites, but because of the number of complaints questioning the validity of these costs, I have taken it off the site, and you can research it yourself, by going to the links and making your own comparisons. Remember, everyone's cost is often different, and because of insurance co-pays, etc., it's hard to generalize such things.)
AVONEX. This slows the demyelization (or the destruction of the myelin) that causes the symptoms of MS. It is a chemical interferon beta-1a.
FDA approved: May 1996.
Injection: Once a week, but a larger needle than the other two and it must go into a muscle (usually the thigh).
Side effects: Flu-like symptoms, chills, fever, muscular discomfort, and more rarely, mild anemia and elevated liver enzymes may also occur.
BETASERON. Another brand name for a chemical interferon beta-1b, this was the first treatment approved in the United States for the treatment of MS.
FDA approved: September 1994.
Injection: Every other day, injected subcutaneously, with a small diabetes-like needle.
Side effects: Skin irritation, minor fever, fatigue are sometimes associated with the drug. Rare side effects may include elevated liver enzymes and low white blood cell counts.
COPAXONE. A different sort of medication than the other two, this is the brand name for glatiramer acetate. It has fewer side effects and has less of a chance of becoming neutralized.
FDA approved: December 1996
Injection: Given daily, it is a smaller needle, injected subcutaneously.
Side effects: Irritation at the site of the injection, or more rarely, patients may experience anxiety, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and flushing that can last 5 to 30 minutes after the injection.
Other drugs now available are Extravia, Rebif, Tysabri, Naltrexone, Tovaxin, some steroids, Novantrone and other new drugs being used and coming up. I'll write about each of those as well.
(On a personal note, I was on Avonex for nearly eight years until it became ineffective, and am now on Tysabri, which is a montly infusion. I had flu-like symptoms almost every injection, and scheduled my weekly injections for Friday so I could be sick all week and then ready for work by Monday. I do know a lot of people who have had no problems with Avonex.)
Below are videos that show the injections of each of the A-B-C medications.
Comments
Not sure where this author got his info, but I'm on Copaxone and the retail cost is now around $2400 a month, so depending on insurance and if you hit the donut hole with Medicare, I pay more than $9000 a year for the drug.
My Avonex is costing me $2,400 every four weeks and I keep that there only by negotiation and paying with a check instead of a credit card. Please do tell where to buy it for $10,100 per year and I'll be on my way.
Just to chime in on what the others said, the ABC drugs are much much more expensive than the article states. My copaxone approaches $30,000 per year. I do appreciate people taking time to write about MS and try to educate others but as long as the information is as inaccurate as this, it undermines the legitimacy of anything else posted here.
Yep, chiming in with the others. I'm on Avonex right now, and each month is about $2400 retail. I was previously on Copaxone, and it was about the same.
"but inevitably, the people who work with the illness and know about it, will refer to the A-B-C drugs, so it's important for those of us with the illness know what they mean, and know the history of the medications."
With all due respect, the information in this article seems dated. The people who work with the illness would also know that Rebif is usually included in this group, which are now more commonly known as CRAB drugs. If you're going to compare common injectable treatments, Rebif, another interferon beta-1-a, should be included. As other commenters have said, the prices seem understated, as well.
Yep, chiming in with the others. I'm on Avonex right now, and each month is about $2400 retail. I was previously on Copaxone, and it was about the same.
Yep, chiming in with the others. I'm on Avonex right now, and each month is about $2400 retail. I was previously on Copaxone, and it was about the same.
I have taken copaxone, which my neurologist said didn't work. Then I tried betaseron, which made me suicidal because of the interferon. So I'm DONE with the CRAB drugs (which is what I call the ABC's). I NOW take low dose naltrexone, which really seems to be working for me. And it's just a pill!!! It only costs $30 a month, but it has to be compounded. It has changed my life. I can walk unassisted, and I think my incontinence is changing. My thinking is much clearer. It is the only pill I currently take for my MS!!! I highly recommend it for anyone who doesn't take any opiates (it's an opiate agonist, so the opiates won't work). But LDN certainly does work!
The Wall Street Journal JULY 17, 2009
Price Increases Help Biogen Lift Revenue
"Biogen, one of the largest biotechnology companies, boosted revenue 10%, aided greatly by a 22% price increase over the past 12 months for multiple sclerosis drug Avonex, its top-selling product. Biogen last raised Avonex's price in March, by about 9%."
"Avonex, introduced in 1996, costs about $26,400 a year, up 53% from the second quarter of 2007, just before the recession began, according to data from Medicare."
"Copaxone, sold by Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., rose 33%, Medicaid said. The company didn't respond to requests for comment. Both drugs cost about $30,000 for a year's treatment."
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