side effects

Spotlighted Blogger: Parkinson’s Patient Steve Ploussard of “Attitude & Fitness Wins”

2 Comments / Parkinson's Disease, Patient Experiences / By

Last week we kicked off a new blog series featuring patient bloggers, and today, we’re pleased to present our second installment.  Please meet Steve Ploussard, a longtime PatientsLikeMe member who writes a blog about living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) called “Attitude & Fitness Wins.”  Steve decided that blogging was the perfect way to “come out” about his Parkinson’s diagnosis and become more at ease with it. Check out our interview with Steve below to learn how he developed his “fighting spirit,” what he’s doing to raise PD awareness and who inspires him the most. 1.  What’s it been like “going public” about Parkinson’s on your blog? Going public (“My Coming-Out Party”) on my blog has been a very emotional experience for me.  When I clicked “Publish” after writing the post, I felt as if the weight of the world was off my shoulders.  I became relaxed when talking about having PD with my family and friends just knowing they had read my blog and finally knew I had the disease.  I believe one of the reasons my tremors have become less frequent and not as pronounced is that I’m more comfortable with whom I am, a 55- year-old man with …

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Lithium and Lamictal - Patient blogger Andrea

Spotlighted Blogger: Bipolar patient Andrea of “Lithium and Lamictal”

4 Comments / Mental Health / By

How do we know we’re truly living in a Health 2.0 age?  Recently, we’ve discovered that a number of PatientsLikeMe members have fascinating blogs chronicling what it’s like to live with their respective health conditions. For example, we told you in August about the acclaimed gastroparesis blog “My Broken Stomach,” written by one of our members, Mollee Sullivan, and last month, we spotlighted diabetes patient Michael Burke’s blog “Life on the T List,” which shares his experiences before and after a kidney transplant. As a result of this growing trend, we’ve decided to begin a blog series featuring some of the other amazing bloggers that are part of the PatientsLikeMe community.  To start things off, we’d like to share our interview with Andrea, a three-star member who started a candid blog about life with bipolar I disorder earlier this year called “Lithium and Lamictal.”  (The title refers to the two treatments she’s found that work best for her.)  Tune in below to find out why she began blogging and what she hopes to achieve. 1.  Why did you decide to start blogging about bipolar disorder? I decided to start blogging about bipolar disorder after 21 years of living with this …

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Get “Seizure Smart” for Epilepsy Awareness Month

Epilepsy, Patient Experiences / By

What does it mean to be “seizure smart”?  It means being knowledgeable about how to help in the event that someone has a seizure in your presence.  Given that one in 100 Americans has epilepsy – and one in 10 adults will have a seizure sometime during their life – this type of basic seizure first aid could help save someone’s life at work, at a restaurant or just walking down the street. In honor of Epilepsy Awareness Month, the National Epilepsy Foundation has created a short interactive quiz that helps you become “seizure smart.”  The goal is to get five million Americans to take and distribute the quiz.  Once you’ve gotten “seizure smart,” you can then help raise awareness and proudly post your completion certificate on Facebook for everyone to see. Got an affinity for posting things on Facebook anyway?  You’re the perfect candidate for the Get Seizure Smart Photo Contest.  Categories include “Funniest or Silliest,” “Most Impactful,” “Best Animal” and more.  All photos must be submitted by November 30th at 3 p.m. EST.  Learn about other Epilepsy Awareness Month activities taking place each day of the month here. At PatientsLikeMe, we have 4,456 patients who report having epilepsy, with 71% …

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MS PATIENTS PERCEIVE COPAXONE EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY AS COMPARABLE TO REBIF AND AVONEX

Multiple Sclerosis / By

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PatientsLikeMe Continues Report Series on Real-World Patient Experiences with Multiple Sclerosis Medications CAMBRIDGE, MA – November 3, 2011 – In the second report of a series on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease modifying therapies (DMTs), PatientsLikeMe reveals that MS patients perceive Copaxone as having comparable efficacy and tolerability profiles to the interferon therapies Avonex and Rebif.  However, all three medications are perceived as trailing in efficacy and tolerability to Gilenya, Tysabri and Betaseron.  In the report’s analysis of 3,200+ patient conversations about MS DMTs from January-June this year, PatientsLikeMe also finds that Copaxone is perceived as safer than other MS DMTs. “Patients’ sharing of their Copaxone experience may adversely affect its demand as a first line therapy since patients are becoming more influential in their treatment decisions,” says David S. Williams III, Chief Marketing Officer at PatientsLikeMe. “What has become clear through these reports is that real-world evidence will have a major impact on relative pricing for MS DMTs and play an increasingly important role in access decisions.” This 46-page report – entitled “Does Copaxone patient experience in the real world justify its value?” – quantitatively and qualitatively analyzes 4,100+ MS patients with experience using Copaxone.  Other report …

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TWO OUT OF THREE PATIENTS REPORT DISCONTINUING TYSABRI WITHOUT DOCTORS’ ADVICE

2 Comments / Multiple Sclerosis / By

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TWO OUT OF THREE PATIENTS REPORT DISCONTINUING TYSABRI WITHOUT DOCTORS’ ADVICE PatientsLikeMe Releases First in Series of Reports on Real-World Patient Experiences with Top Multiple Sclerosis Drugs CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — September 22, 2011 — In the first report of a series on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease modifying therapies(DMTs), PatientsLikeMe reveals that nearly two-thirds (64%) of patients who report discontinuing the use of Tysabri (n=323) did not cite “doctor’s advice” as a reason. “Side effects too severe” and “did not seem to work” topped the other reasons cited by patients. The report goes on to reveal that patients stop Tysabri due to side effect severity less frequently than patients who discontinue other DMTs for that same reason.  The PatientsLikeMe report is the first of five in a series focusing on how patients are experiencing and evaluating DMTs in the real world. “People with MS and other conditions have become much more than just consumers of prescription medications, they are now customers who wield a high level of influence on treatment decisions,” says David S. Williams III, Chief Marketing Officer at PatientsLikeMe. “The goal is maximizing health outcomes for patients.  Clinicians can use the real-world insights from this report to collaborate better …

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janumet side effects

Janumet Side Effects: What patients say.

55 Comments / Patient Experiences / By

Janumet 50 1000 (see details) is the brand name (and dosage level) of sitagliptin-metformin, a combination prescription drug used in the management of type 2 diabetes.  (50 refers to 50 mg of sitagliptin while 1000 refers to 1000 mg of metformin.)  In addition to diet and exercise, Janumet 50 1000 is prescribed when the use of metformin or sitagliptin alone does not adequately control the condition. At PatientsLikeMe, where more than 130,000 patients are sharing their experiences with conditions, symptoms, treatments and more, 21 patients report using Janumet 50 1000 or a lower daily dosage (50 mg sitagliptin / 500 mg metformin).  What can we learn from these patients’ experiences?  Quite a bit, actually, thanks to PatientsLikeMe’s unique data-sharing platform. Looking at the three treatment evaluations submitted for Janumet, all three patients rate the effectiveness as “Moderate,” while side effects were marked as “Mild,” “Moderate” and “Severe,” respectively.  The chief complaint from the patient who reported “Severe” side effects was diarrhea.  However, she writes, “Blood sugars are going down.” JOIN PATIENTSLIKEME TODAY What about you?  Have you taken Janumet 50 1000 or a different dosage of this combination diabetes medication?  Join PatientsLikeMe and add your experiences to our growing body …

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What’s Your Experience with Cinarizina?

Patient Experiences / By

Cinarizina is an international brand of the prescription drug Cinnarizine, an antiemetic (anti-nausea) agent used for symptoms of inner ear disorders.  These symptoms may include vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, nystagmus, nausea and vomiting. Cinarizina is also used to prevent motion sickness when taken in advance. If you’ve tried Cinarizina, we encourage you share your experiences at PatientsLikeMe, where more than 130,000 patients are using our unique data-sharing platform to review all types of treatments, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and supplements.  Our treatment evaluations cover important data points such as dosage, effectiveness, side effects, cost and adherence so that you can easily share and compare experiences with others. Currently, one patient reports using Cinnarizine (the generic version of Cinarizina) to treat Meniere’s disease, which is characterized by a sudden onset of dizziness, low-frequency hearing loss, tinnitus and the sensation of fullness in the affected ear.  This patient, a 55-year-old male taking 25mg daily, reports no side effects but rates the effectiveness as non-existent. JOIN PATIENTSLIKEME TODAY What about you?  Have you taken Cinarizina or another brand of Cinnarizine?  Join PatientsLikeMe and add your experiences to our growing body of knowledge.  Then, stay to exchange advice and support, research common treatments and …

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Discuss the Effectiveness of InflammaCORE for Bowel Irritability

1 Comment / Patient Experiences / By

Is InflammaCORE helpful in reducing a chronic inflammatory burden?  Can it alleviate bowel irritability?  Find out just that by sharing your experiences with other patients at PatientsLikeMe and learning what they have to say about this nutritional supplement. A protein powder drink mix, InflammaCORE is marketed as a potent way to support your gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and immune health.  It contains 19 grams of naturally complete brown rice protein, 4 grams of fiber and Omega 3’s derived from Flaxseed.  In addition, InflammaCORE offers high-potency phytonutrients, including Turmeric, Guercetin and Green Tea, which have been shown to reduce inflammatory markers.  Other ingredients include L-Glutamine and Glycine to promote tissue repair as well as Vitamin D and Arabinogalactan for proper immune function. At PatientsLikeMe, where more than 125,000 patients are sharing their experiences with all types of treatments including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and supplements, one patient currently reports taking InflammaCORE for bowel irritability.  What can we learn from her experience?  In her in-depth treatment evaluation, she rates the effectiveness as “Major,” and the side effects as “None.”  Her daily dosage is “8 tbsp daily,” while her monthly cost is “$50-99.” Here’s what else she reports in the freeform section of her evaluation: …

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Share Your Experiences with Euphytose

Patient Experiences / By

Available without a prescription in France, Euphytose is an herbal treatment for anxiety and depression that contains six plant extracts:  Hawthorn, Passionflower, Valerian, Ballota foetida, Cola nitida and Guarana (Paullinia cupana).  The latter is available in France as an over-the-counter anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) agent. Producing both sedative and stimulant effects, Euphytose combines traditional herbal remedies for anxiety with components that are thought to act on central benzodiazepine receptors.  It had been studied in one short, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 181 adults, with a statistically significant effect found for both reduction in symptoms and clinical response to Euphytose over placebo at the end of the trial.  In terms of safety, it was well-tolerated in the study with no difference in the number of adverse effects compared with placebo – and no serious adverse effects. At PatientsLikeMe, where more than 125,000 patients are sharing their experiences with all types of treatments, two patients report trying Euphytose.   The reported purposes were “Anxious mood,” “Panic disorder” and “Insomnia.”  Effectiveness was rated as either “Moderate” or “Slight,” while side effects included “Drowsiness” and “Problems concentrating.”  Here’s what one patient with panic disorder wrote on his Euphytose treatment evaluation:  Makes you a little drowsy, but helps in …

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How Would You Evaluate Your Experience with Myrin P-Forte?

1 Comment / Patient Experiences / By

Myrin P-Forte is an anti-tuberculosis agent that contains ethambutol, rifampicin, isoniasad and pyrazinamide. An anti-mycobacterial treatment, ethambutol eliminates certain bacteria that cause tuberculosis and is used in combination with other drugs to treat tuberculosis and prevent transmission to others. At PatientsLikeMe, where more than 120,000 patients are sharing their experiences with conditions, symptoms, treatments and more, one patient with HIV reports using Myrin P-Forte to treat “tuberculosis in the lymph nodes.”  This patient rates the effectiveness as “moderate,” reports experiencing two side effects (red eyes and feeling intoxicated) and offers the following tip on his treatment evaluation:  “Do not consume an excessive amount of alcohol the night before taking this treatment… nausea/vomiting, headache, etc., will be experienced.” If you’ve been prescribed Myrin P-Forte, we encourage you to share your experiences to help other patients.  PatientsLikeMe’s unique data-sharing platform allows you to share detailed data about all types of treatments, supplements and lifestyle modifications that have helped you or simply had no effect. JOIN PATIENTSLIKEME TODAY Have you taken Myrin P-Forte?  Join PatientsLikeMe and add your experiences to our growing body of knowledge.  Then, stay to exchange advice and support, research common treatments and learn from other patients like you.

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