low the shrinkage of brain tissue, therefore, lengthening a patient’s time of keeping his or her mental abilities strong. In addition to Avonex, other beta-interferons have been produced. Three of these drugs are Novantrone, Baclofen, and Copaxine. All three of these drugs have been shown to modestly reduce the number and severity of MS symptoms. These drugs have been applied to patients, and have been found to have minimal side effects. Other drugs have been produced, and would be placed on the market if it were not due to their harmful side effects.Beta-interferons have been found to have minimal side effects such as chills and inflammation of the injection site. Other more productive drugs have been developed that may not be used because they tend to do more harm than they do good. Two examples of drugs like these are Cyclosporine and Prednisone. Prednisone has been found to reduce the severity of MS fits in patients, but brings upon acne, diabetes, hypertension, and even mood swings. Cyclosporine has also been proved to significantly slow the progression of neurological disorder, but its side effects are too toxic to do patients any good. Although these drugs still have some problems, scientists are headed in the right direction. With all the good these drugs can do, it is just a matter of time before a medication is found that will cure multiple sclerosis.Although Multiple Sclerosis is a degenerative disease, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Technology has progressed so much over the years that there have been so many new discoveries about the disease. Now, when a person is diagnosed, there is hope. With the advances in the medical field, and with the accomplishments of the drugs that are being produced, there is hope for a cure. Suzanne Arens, a thirty-nine year old woman who was recently diagnosed, leaves on this note: “I used to see a wheelchair at the end of the tunnel, now I see a life.&...
