Some diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, do not currently have a defined treatment regimen that will result in a cure. As a result, scientists sometimes research the effects of combining different medications as a novel treatment. Studies are researching the effects of a combination of n-acetylcysteine and copaxone to see if they can be used to treat some types of multiple sclerosis.
What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a condition that is caused by the immune system attacking healthy cells in the body, which makes it an autoimmune disease. If you have multiple sclerosis, your immune system attacks myelin, which is a covering that protects neurons and speeds up nerve transmissions. Multiple sclerosis can cause loss of balance, spasms, loss of coordination, loss of bladder or bowel control, double vision, pain, poor attention span and other neurological problems, depending on which nerves are affected.
N-Acetylcysteine
N-acetylcysteine is a compound that is often used as an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that can protect cells from molecules known as free radicals, which can damage DNA and cell membranes and can be generated due to inflammation. Not only does n-acetylcysteine have antioxidant capabilities on its own, it can also let the body make more glutathione, an important antioxidant within cells. N-acetylcysteine is sometimes used to try to protect cells from damage.
Copaxone
Copaxone is also known as glatiramer and is given as an injection. Copaxone is often used to treat some kinds of multiple sclerosis because it can affect the function of the immune system. Medications such as copaxone are called immunomodulators, and they try to keep the immune system from attacking the myelin on nerves. With training, you can learn to self-administer copaxone injections. This medication can cause a variety of different side effects, including pain, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, joint pain, depression and other problems.
Copaxone and N-Acetylcysteine
The effects of copaxone and n-acetylcysteine as a combined treatment for multiple sclerosis is being tested in a clinical trial. In theory, the n-acetylcysteine could protect the nerves from damage and the copaxone could decrease the immune system's activity on nerves. The results of this study have not yet been published, so there is currently no information as to the effectiveness of this drug combination.
