Posted on 02/16/2023 8:59:03 PM PST by ConservativeMind
What if an over-the-counter allergy medicine could help halt and even reverse multiple sclerosis? And if it did, could patients return to their full capacity? Those were some of the questions posed by Jonah Chan, Ph.D., and Ari Green, MD.
The two had discovered in the lab that the medication clemastine—originally approved as an antihistamine—could repair myelin, the protective insulation around nerve fibers that is damaged in MS.
That early discovery in Chan's lab, in which clemastine was shown to stimulate the differentiation of myelin-making stem cells, led to clinical trials to test the therapy in people.
Surprisingly, these were patients with long-term damage from chronic MS, not just recent damage, said Green.
So together with Chan, they zeroed in on myelin-rich areas of the brain using MRIs from participants in their earlier trial.
The trial had split the patients into two groups: one set received clemastine in the first portion of the study and the other received clemastine in the second portion. The researchers found that the myelin content of the targeted areas they evaluated in the brain increased in group No. 1 during the first portion of the study and continued to increase in the second portion after clemastine was stopped. In group No. 2, myelin dropped in the first portion of the study and rebounded in the second portion. They had their proof.
The 2022 findings were accompanied and preceded by studies that reinforced that clemastine acted directly on myelin and proved the importance of myelin for keeping nerve fibers healthy. Meanwhile, labs around the world have confirmed Chan's initial findings. Data also linked MS patients' vision improvements to increases in myelin around the optic nerve.
Collectively, this work may herald a sea change in prognosis for patients with MS.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
See if your doctor can help you with this. It looks like it can reverse some damage.
Ooh, there’s that word which sends pharmaceutical companies over the edge…”inexpensive”!
Clemastine is an OTC drug, and is available under many names and dosage forms worldwide. Most common brand name is Tavegyl.[9] ( Wikipedia )
Is this Prescription or OTC? I’m confused.
Maybe Jim Robinson should see this.
Ping to each of you.
bkmk
ping
Side effect is fatigue. Most likely the anti inflammatory sedates.
I’m going to pull all the related articles and research for review.
Clemastine is available in multiple generic forms as tablets and syrup, many of which are available without prescription. Common brand names include Tavist Allergy and Dayhist Allergy.
Clemastine is an antihistamine used to relieve symptoms of allergy, hay fever, and the common cold. These symptoms include rash, watery eyes, itchy eyes/nose/throat/skin, cough, runny nose, and sneezing.
This medication works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction. By blocking another natural substance made by your body (acetylcholine), it helps dry up some body fluids to relieve symptoms such as watery eyes and runny nose.
Tavist-D is a combination of clemastine (antihistamine) and phenylpropanolamine (decongestant). Preparations containing phenylpropanolamine were withdrawn from the market some years ago because of the increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Can metformin and clemastine repair myelin in people with MS?
Very good article from MS Society of UK.
Any mention of peripheral neuropathy or RLS?
Actually, the drug is available over the counter under the name Tavist. More broadly, the drug may help with neuropathy, including the pain it commonly causes. And as research illuminates the biochemical mechanisms, better drugs and wider use seem likely.
Http
Dammit, Tavist and Contac 12 hour allergy seem to have been discontinued.
Both, but tough to find.
Here is one place that has it:
https://www.northwestpharmacy.com/product/tavist-allergy
Peripheral Neuropathy yes, RLS no.
The one journal article I linked that used Metformin addressed Neuropathy cure.
Tavist-D is a combination of clemastine (antihistamine) and phenylpropanolamine (decongestant). Preparations containing phenylpropanolamine were withdrawn from the market some years ago because of the increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
It is used in dogs as an allergy medicine.
I checked, under $50 for 100 tablets of 2.8 mg at Wal-Mart’s Pet-Rx. I don’t think a prescription is required.
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