- With Mayo Clinic neurologist
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Dr. Jerry Swanson is a board-certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic and is a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has a special interest in headache disorders and medical education.
Dr. Swanson, a Lacon, Ill., native, was appointed to the Mayo Clinic staff in 1982 and works in the Department of Neurology with about 90 other physicians. He formerly chaired the Headache Division in the Neurology Department at Mayo Clinic and works with headache subspecialists around the world. He has published and lectured widely on headache disorders. He also serves as Assistant Dean for Assessment in Mayo Medical School.
"In a manner similar to the printing press, Internet technology enables the unprecedented ability to communicate with the global community about health information," Dr. Swanson says. "There is no doubt that the knowledgeable individual contributes greatly to his or her own health care, and now we can share information much more widely."
"There is much information already available about health care on the Internet. Unfortunately, much of it is not founded on sound principles. It is exciting to be a part of the MayoClinic.com team and contribute to the creation of a reliable and timely health resource."
Dr. Swanson is the neurology editor for "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and has reviewed articles for "Mayo Clinic Health Letter" and "Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource." He is also editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic on Headache" book, published in 2004. In 2008 the magazine "Women's Health" named him one of America's Top Doctors for Women.
Definition (1)
- Demyelinating disease: What causes it?
Symptoms (1)
- Multiple sclerosis: Can it cause seizures?
Treatments and drugs (2)
- Acetyl-L-carnitine: Can it relieve MS fatigue?
- Multiple sclerosis treatment: Is combination therapy effective?
Lifestyle and home remedies (1)
- Vitamin D and MS: Is there any connection?
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Question
Multiple sclerosis treatment: Is combination therapy effective?
What can you tell me about combination therapy as a multiple sclerosis treatment option? Is it effective?
Answer
from Jerry W. Swanson, M.D.
Combination therapy most often refers to the use of two or more medications to treat a single disease. Scientists are studying the potential benefits of combination drug therapy in multiple sclerosis treatment.
Interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif) and glatiramer (Copaxone) are two drugs currently used to treat relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Each drug works in a different way, and both are generally considered mildly to moderately effective in reducing MS symptoms.
To determine whether these two drugs used in combination may provide a greater benefit than either drug used alone, a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study is under way. The study — which addresses the safety as well as the effectiveness of the drug combination — began in 2005. Results are expected in 2012.
Until study results are released, it's unclear what role — if any — combination drug therapy may play in routine multiple sclerosis treatment.
Next questionVitamin D and MS: Is there any connection?
- Combination therapy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. ClinicalTrials.gov. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00211887?term=multiple+sclerosis&intr=avonex%2C+copaxone&rank=4. Accessed Aug. 20. 2008.
