Lois M. Collins Deseret News staff writer Studies have confirmed that injections of glatiramer acetate reduce the relapse rate and delay onset of disability in people who have multiple sclerosis. Now researchers want to know if an oral version of the same medication will have the same effect. University Hospital and the VA Hospital are taking part in a study of the medication, marketed in injection form as Copaxone, to see whether it's effective in oral form and, if so, at what doses, according to Dr. John Rose. Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disorder. Symptoms can range from mild numbness or tingling to paralysis or blindness.
Muscles become weak and limbs lose their coordination.
Fatigue is common. For some of them, the disease reaches a stage where the symptoms are permanent. Others see a steady progression of the disease. The peak time for women to develop symptoms of MS is in their 20s to 30s, while men get it in their 30s to 50s. Women with the disease outnumber the men 2 to 1, but men are more apt to have the progressive form of the disease.