Efforts at making a medication derived from cannabis available for persons with Multiple Sclerosis have moved a step closer, with the completion of the European Mutual Recognition Procedure.

Galway West Deputy Seán Kyne confirmed the news this week, saying that he had a number of representations made to him by constituents concerned at the lack of availability in Ireland of Sativex, a cannabis-derived medication which has been shown to successfully alleviate some of the debilitating symptoms of MS.

“Sativex is available in Britain and the US and has been very successful in assisting people with MS. I first raised the issue of its availability here with the Minister when several constituents contacted me who either have MS or have relatives or friends with the condition.

“Since last September, Minister Reilly and his Department have been examining how to proceed with introducing such a medication that requires the amendment of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 which rightly prohibits the manufacture, production, preparation, sale, supply, distribution and possession of cannabis but unfortunately also prohibits cannabis-based medicinal products.”

Deputy Kyne continued to add that the European Commission had been running a European Mutual Recognition Procedure for the drug, alongside the the Department of Health review.

The The European Mutual Recognition Procedure was introduced with the 2001 Directive on the Community Code Relating to Medicinal Products for Human Use and aims to ensure agreement on the use of a medicinal product that has been introduced in at least one member state of the EU.

“With the successful conclusion of the procedure, the manufacturer of Sativex, GW Pharma, has committed to working on the wording, packaging and pricing of the medication for introduction in other member states,” explained Deputy Kyne.

“I’m confident that the European efforts, alongside the review underway at the Irish Department of Health, will soon see the introduction of Sativex on the Irish market to the benefit of people in Ireland with MS.”

When Surang Janyasing was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease five years ago she was devastated. The 55-year-old mid-ranking police officer knew that the disease cannot be cured, and that she would be on medication for the rest of her life, with the probability of deteriorating health.

The main symptoms of Parkinson’s include stiffness of the muscles, shaking and slowness of movement. It mainly affects the way the brain coordinates the movements of the muscles in various parts of the body.

Patients with Parkinson’s have a tendency to isolate themselves and are easily exhausted. The effects of the disease plunged Ms Surang into depression.

“I think of my Parkinson’s as a disease of snobbishness. my body was very stiff, I couldn’t turn to see anyone who called me from behind, and my face was grim from depression. I didn’t have the heart to chat with anyone,” Ms Surang says. “People who weren’t close to me thought that I was a snob.”

Since then Ms Surang has taken three types of medication four times a day. However, she noticed that she wasn’t getting any better. Finally Ms Surang left her job so she could care for her 90-year-old mother. Parkinson’s has made caring for her mother more difficult, and she started to worry what would happen if her symptoms worsened.

But her life changed rapidly after she joined a Thai dancing class organised by a physical therapist who was researching ways to help Parkinson’s sufferers improve their quality of life.

Dr Roongroj Bhidayasiri.

In a dance class on the day of our interview, Ms Surang was lively, dancing with a radiant glow of happiness on her face. Her movements were smooth and close to those of a normal person. Along with Ms Surang, her seven classmates were also moving with the music. some were moving awkwardly and slowly, others had helpers to prevent them from falling. Only one or two were moving as smoothly as Ms Surang.

This group comprises patients from Chulalongkorn Hospital. they were carefully selected to join a programme, which formed part of the doctoral thesis of Surasa Khongprasert, a PhD student at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Sports Science.

Twenty-eight patients participated in the research, all from the Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s and Related Disorders, run by director Roongroj Bhidayasiri.

Fourteen were selected to learn Thai dance while taking medication, while the rest received only the medication. There were three dancing classes held over a period of four years. each lasted three months, and were four or five months apart from each other. The last class was almost a year and a half ago, but the patients still meet from time to time to dance and chat.

The programme started in 2008, when Ms Surasa was looking for a topic for her thesis, and traditional Thai dance caught her attention. She found that the symptoms of Parkinson’s _ such as stiffness and difficulties in movement _ might be helped by the postures and movements of Thai dance.

“I thought it would be a good form of exercise. However, it was not enough to be the topic for a doctorate degree thesis, so I searched for other factors that could enhance the importance of my study,” Ms Surasa says.

There are 108 postures considered as the basic movements of Thai dance, called Tha Mae Bot or Ram Mae Bot in Thai. Ms Surasa chose eight movements that could have beneficial effects for patients, covering muscles from head to toe.

The new PhD holder recently completed her thesis, and her research was rated as “excellent” by the professors overseeing her work. The results are quite amazing. All of the pariticipants’ symptoms improved and they saw improvements in balance, speed of movement, range of motion and ability to shift between different movements.

“Moreover, their quality of life has markedly improved, such as an increase in communication skills and while their depression has lessened,” says Ms Surasa.

TAKING a CHANCE ON DANCE: Parkinson’s sufferer Surang Janyasing has benefited from dance therapy.

The findings from her thesis might help Parkinson’s sufferers in Thailand _ who have been increasing in number in recent years _ to live better lives, according to Dr Roongroj.

There are 60,000 known Parkinson’s sufferers in Thailand. However, Dr Roongroj believes the number is under-reported because of poor record keeping and administrative procedures in some facilities, and there is also an unknown number of sufferers who are not properly diagnosed because of inadequate facilities and staffing in some areas.

The causes of Parkinson’s are still unclear, but interactions between genetic weaknesses and exposure to environmental factors are widely believed to be the main causes. Pesticide exposure is believed to be an especially important environmental risk factor.

The recent report, “A National Registry to Determine the Distribution and Prevalence of Parkinson’s Disease in Thailand: Implications of Urbanisation and Pesticides as Risk Factors for Parkinson’s Disease”, suggested that urbanisation and exposure to pesticides may both be risk factors for the disease in Thailand. The two central provinces of Chai Nat and Sing Buri have the highest prevalence of Parkinson’s and are also reported to use the most pesticides.

What concerns Dr Roonroj the most is Thailand’s greying population _ the rise in the elderly population and decline in the proportion of children and teenagers. since Parkinson’s is more common among those over the age of 50 that might result in a spike in the number of sufferers.

Parkinson’s is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that occurs when the neurons within the brain responsible for producing the chemical dopamine become impaired or die. Dopamine is essential for the smooth control and coordination of the movement of voluntary muscle groups. once approximately 80% of the brain’s dopamine-producing cells no longer function, the symptoms of Parkinson’s begin to appear.

“There are four subtle early signs of the disease that should not be overlooked _ permanent loss of smell, chronic constipation, depression and REM

[rapid eye movement] sleep behaviour disorder, or para-somnia. There are reports worldwide indicating that these signs can predict the disease 20 years before the symptoms are clearly seen,” Dr Roongroj said.

But even with the onset of these symptoms, misdiagnoses occur and that can result in the loss of precious time in tackling the disease at an early stage. Ms Surang was also diagnosed with spinal stenosis and was subjected to neck surgery.

“But it didn’t have any affect on my symptoms, so I was transferred to the neurology department to be tested for Parkinson’s,” Ms Surang said.

Once the symptoms of the disease are present, a sufferer’s quality of life declines. The most obvious symptoms are movement-related; these include shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement and difficulty with walking. Later, cognitive and behavioural problems may arise, with dementia commonly occurring in the advanced stages of the disease. Other symptoms include sensory, sleep and emotional problems.

THEORY INTO PRACTICE: Left, Surasa Khongprasert’s research for her doctoral dissertation led to an innovative breakthrough in Parkinson’s treatment.

That’s why exercise is essential for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Medication alone cannot increase body strength to better control the body’s movements, but there are many forms of exercise that can help, such as walking, cycling on a static bike and stretching.

In other countries, ballroom dancing and Tai Chi are being used to help sufferers, and many reports clearly state the benefits when patients participate in certain exercise regimens.

Many researches also point out that music with a lively rhythm helps patients in guiding their movements.

“And, in Thai dance with the music, there are a lot of rhythms of variable or frequency as well. so, we think that Thai dance is a good idea in combination with stretching and balancing exercises, and rhythm guidance. so we developed these classes for the patients,” said Dr Roongroj.

Ms Surasa also pointed out other advantages of traditional Thai dance. besides it being a low impact exercise it can help stretch and move small joints such as finger and toe joints, wrists and also palm muscles with its different postures. and it is also able to help improve balance and prevent joints stiffening.

“Patients have to learn to shift their weight to the rhythm, and traditional Thai dancing can improve a body’s balance and prevent joint stiffening. Sufferers can do just one Thai traditional dance movement, but get the same physical benefit as doing two or three physical therapy-based exercises.”

For example, traditional movements such as Prom-See-Na and Nok-Yoong-Fon-Hang can increase movement around shoulder joints and wrist areas as well as helping to stretch flexor muscles. Sod-Soi-Ma-La exercises the fingers, especially the thumb and index finger.

And Thai dance requires a lot of toe tilting and the movement of legs to the front, side and back which increases leg flexibility.

Ms Surasa’s research has now been completed. The class has been over for months. However, Ms Surang and her friends still meet up once a month to review their progress. Ms Surasa has also given them songs so that they can dance at home.

However, many say they feel better in a class. “I feel a bit lonely when I do it alone at home,” Ms Surang says.

“However, I have my one-year-old nephew to cheer me up while I’m dancing at home. he loves the songs and tries to move along.”

Currently, Ms Surasa and her two advisers, Dr Roongroj and Vijit Kanungsukkasem, the dean of the School of Sports Science at Chulalongkorn University, are trying to publicise the dance programme so it can be used by Parkinson’s sufferers across the country.

Posters with Thai dance postures are being distributed to physical therapy units, and a story about the programme was also published in a local health magazine.

With the hope that her findings can improve the lives of Parkinson’s sufferers, Ms Surasa says she will try to publicise the benefits of Thai dancing as widely as possible.

Visit chula-parkinsons.org for more information.

ALL THE RIGHT MOVES :Ms Surasa with some of the patients whose lives have been improved by her novel ideas on dance as physical therapy for Parkinson’s sufferers. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF FACULTY OF SPORTS SCIENCE, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY

About the author Writer: Busaba Sivasomboon Latest stories in this category:

Johnny Wilson spent 24 years as a Navy photographer. when he retired in 2009, he started aiming his lens at people with interesting stories to tell: combat veterans, breast cancer survivors, heart transplant patients.

But the one of the young woman with the haunting eyes and bandaged, scarred belly, clutching a mass of prescription bottles, may be his crowning achievement to date.

“I thought, ‘I’ve probably just taken the most powerful photo of my life. To see her body destroyed by lupus … ,” Wilson said, his voice trailing off. “hopefully, we get the word out.”Raising awareness about lupus is the goal of a monthlong exhibit that Wilson and the nonprofit Life Without Lupus Project will unveil Monday at Penrose Cancer Center.

The exhibit consists of 14 portraits, accompanied by hand-written statements from each subject on how the  energy-zapping, organ-attacking, often-debilitating and sometimes fatal autoimmune disease has affected their lives.(Excerpts of their statements are included withthe accompanying photos.)

Amazingly, most are able to find hope and faith amid a life filled with complex medication regimens, crushing fatigue, and any number of unpleasant and painful symptoms.

“There were times in my life when I just wanted to die,” wrote 21-year-old Alyssa Robb, the woman holding more than a half dozen bottles of pills in Wilson’s photo. “But, thanks to new faith and a new outlook on life, I now know that my trials and storms are preparing me for my eternal life.”

Wilson’s idea for the exhibit grew out of his post-military mission to photograph people with gripping stories to tell.

He gives them an 11-by-14 inch sheet of archival paper and archival ink, then creates a portrait from the stories they write. so far, he has about 40 stories on a variety of subjects.

A few years ago, he met ReNai Frisco, the founder and head of Life Without Lupus, and invited her to an exhibit he had at the Air Force Academy.

“I was telling her: ‘Here’s a way to get the lupus story out to the public,’” he said.Frisco jumped at the opportunity. her sister died of lupus at age 48, leaving behind a son whose portrait will be in the Penrose exhibit.

“I don’t think people really get the impact of Lupus,” Frisco said. “Survivors call it the ‘invisible disease,’ because you can have a decent day, but that next day can be a whole different story. these folks end up on a cycle of treating the symptoms, because there’s no known cause or cure. There are endless medications, staggering co-pays and really, no resolution.”

She started the nonprofit in 2008 to help lupus patients with their rent, food, transportation and other needs. on Saturday, she’s launching a lupus support group.

Meanwhile, Wilson hopes his photo-and-story concept will lead to coffee table books on various subjects that nonprofits can use to convey their missions and raise money. He used the example of a book that might be dedicated to photos and stories of people with breast cancer. “You’ll be able to go to a website or a bookstore, read inspiration stories on survivors of breast cancer, and learn more about it,” he said. “It’s a reference to help people.”

DID YOU KNOW?• There are several types of lupus, including one that affects the skin. But the most common is systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs, including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. It accounts for about 70 percent of all cases.• 90 percent of lupus patients are women. Women of color are two to three times more likely to develop lupus.• Lupus tends to develop in people ages 18 to 45.• Lupus organizations estimate that at least 1.5 million Americans have the disease. more than 16,000 new cases are reported annually.• 20 percent of people with lupus will have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus.• About 5 percent of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.• an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of people with lupus die prematurely from complications related to the disease.• two of three lupus patients lose some or all of their income because they are no longer able to work full time.• one in three lupus patients has been temporarily disabled by the disease; one in four receive disability payments.• Symptoms vary from person to person, and can ebb and flow in intensity and frequency. Common symptoms include joint pain and swelling, chest pain when taking a deep breath, fatigue, fever with no other cause, hair loss, mouth sores, a “butterfly” rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, numbness, tingling, seizures, vision problems, abdominal pain.Sources: Lupus Foundation of America; U.S. National Library of Medicine: U.S. Centers for Disease Control

NEW YORK –  Mets first baseman Ike Davis likely has valley fever and will be given days off to avoid extreme fatigue, a symptom of the disease.

Davis took a physical when he arrived at spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the exam showed an abnormal chest X-ray. He was sent to New York for further tests and when he returned to camp, the Mets said Davis had a simple lung infection.

The team revealed a new diagnosis Saturday night after MLB.com reported Davis’ condition earlier in the day.

“Following additional tests here and in NYC, pulmonary and infectious disease specialists have concluded that Ike likely has valley fever, which is expected to resolve itself over time,” the Mets said in a statement.

Davis was expected to be available to reporters Sunday.

Valley fever is a fungal infection that is released from the dirt in desert regions of the Southwest and is inhaled. it can be stirred up by construction and winds. Davis lives in Arizona in the offseason.

“Ike is not contagious, is not taking any medication for his condition and does not currently exhibit any of the outward symptoms associated with valley fever,” the Mets said. “However, Ike has been instructed to avoid extreme fatigue. No additional tests or examinations are pending, but Ike will have a follow-up exam when the team returns to NYC in early April.”

Expected to bat cleanup this season, Davis had two hits in an intrasquad game Saturday.

Valley fever can be a serious problem — it caused Conor Jackson to miss all but the first 30 games of the 2009 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Greg Kraft had his promising golf career sidetracked after he contracted the disease during the 2002 Tucson Open.

After a promising rookie season, Davis missed most of 2011 with a bone bruise in his left ankle, sustained in a routine-looking collision with David Wright on May 10 in Colorado. Davis has shown no effects of the injury this spring.

Davis batted .302 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 36 games last season after hitting .264 with 19 home runs and 71 RBIs in 2010.

The loss of Davis for any length of time would be a serious blow to the Mets after All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes signed as a free agent with the Miami Marlins this winter. New York has slashed its payroll after going 77-85 last season.

BRUSSELS, 21st September 2011, 07:00 CET? Results from a study assessing the use of the OXO designed Cimzia? (certolizumab pegol) syringe showed patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rated it higher on nineteen preference and performance-based scores, when compared to the conventional prefilled syringe used in the pivotal registration study RAPID 2.1, 2 Additionally, the results, recently published inApplied Ergonomics, showed that 77% of the patients involved in the study were able to exert greater force when using the OXO designed syringe compared with the conventional prefilled syringe.1

?If untreated the effects of RA can often limit a patient?s hand strength and dexterity, which can lead to difficulties in self-administering medication at home,? said Michael Schiff MD, University of Colorado, USA. ?The results from this study reinforce the importance of understanding the limitations RA can impose on a person?s daily activity and the importance of providing solutions to patients that will improve the everyday management of their disease.?

The study assessed the effect of syringe design on the ability of RA patients to perform injections. Twenty-three RA patients participated in this study to compare preferences and injection forces using a conventional syringe and the OXO designed certolizumab pegol syringe. Injection force measurements were collected in two ways: (a) isometric forces, with the syringes? plungers in fixed positions and (b) forces exerted during injection of the medication. Subjects? grip and pinch strengths were also measured. using a 7-point scale (1 was the worst and 7 the best rating) a perception questionnaire gauged subjects? impressions and preferences. Injections were performed using simulated skin pads. one syringe, referred to as the RAPID 2 syringe, was a standard pre-filled ?off-the-shelf? syringe. The second syringe was the ergonomically designed syringe created by Smart Design, OXO, and UCB.

As part of the study, a patient questionnaire evaluated perceptions of the two prefilled syringes and compared patient views on ease-of-use, physical characteristics and general preferences across twenty different attributes. Of the twenty attributes, 15 were statistically significant at the 95% confidence level, and 16 were statistically significant at the 90% confidence level. Results showed that patients found the OXO designed syringe more comfortable (6.0 (?1.0*)) vs. 4.2 (?1.7*)) and easier to inject (5.5 (?1.3*)) vs. 4.0 (?1.8*)) than the traditional syringe.1 furthermore, patients agreed the OXO designed syringe provided more control (5.5 (?1.7*) vs. 4.4 (?2.0*)) and the larger design of the plunger made injections easier (5.7 (?1.7*) vs. 4.3 (?2.0*)).1

Designed in partnership with OXO, the certolizumab pegol prefilled syringe incorporates several key features for RA patients, including a non-slip finger grip, a finger loop on the needle shield and a larger than usual plunger. Development of the syringe was initiated when UCB patient research identified self-injection with a conventional syringe as a challenge for many people with RA.

UCB and OXO spent time discussing design features with RA patients to establish their needs as part of the design process. The result was a syringe designed specifically for patients with RA. In March 2011, the UCB/OXO prefilled syringe received the coveted GOOD DESIGNTM Award for the patient-friendly design and packaging.3 The GOOD DESIGNTM Award is not the first that UCB has been recognised by the design industry for its Cimzia?4 2009 Silver Spark Award,5 2010 iF Product Design Award,6 2010 Universal Design Award,7 2010 Medical Design Excellence Award (MDEA),8 2010 Red Dot: Product Design Award.9

1. Sheikhzadeh, A., Yoon, J., Formosa, D., Domanska, B., Morgan, D., Schiff, M. The effect of a new syringe design on the ability of rheumatoid arthritis patients to inject a biological medication, Applied Ergonomics (2011), doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2011.05.014 (in press)
2. Smolen, J. S., et al. Efficacy and Safety of Certolizumab Pegol Plus Methotrexate in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: The RAPID 2 Study Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases;6-1-2009;68;6;797-804.

For further Information: Scott Fleming, Associate Director, Global Communications? ImmunologyT +44 770.277.7378,

About CIMZIA?Cimzia? is the only PEGylated anti-TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor). Cimzia? has a high affinity for human TNF-alpha, selectively neutralizing the pathophysiological effects of TNF-alpha. Over the past decade, TNF-alpha has emerged as a major target of basic research and clinical investigation. this cytokine plays a key role in mediating pathological inflammation, and excess TNF-alpha production has been directly implicated in a wide variety of diseases. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cimzia? for reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderately to severely active disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy and for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. Cimzia? in combination with MTX, is approved in the EU for the treatment of moderate to severe active RA in adult patients inadequately responsive to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) including MTX. Cimzia? can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to MTX or when continued treatment with MTX is inappropriate. UCB is also developing Cimzia? in other autoimmune disease indications. Cimzia? is a registered trademark of UCB PHARMA S.A.

CIMZIA? (certolizumab pegol) in European Union/ EEA important safety informationCimzia? was studied in 2367 patients with RA in controlled and open label trials for up to 57 months. The commonly reported adverse reactions (1-10%) in clinical trials with Cimzia? and post-marketing were viral infections (includes herpes, papillomavirus, influenza), bacterial infections (including abscess), rash, headache (including migraine), asthenia, leukopaenia (including lymphopaenia, neutropaenia), eosinophilic disorder, pain (any sites), pyrexia, sensory abnormalities, hypertension, pruritis (any sites), hepatitis (including hepatic enzyme increase), injection site reactions. Serious adverse reactions include sepsis, opportunistic infections, tuberculosis, herpes zoster, lymphoma, leukaemia, solid organ tumours, angioneurotic edema, cardiomyopathies (includes heart failure), ischemic coronary artery disorders, pancytopaenia, hypercoagulation (including thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism), cerebrovascular accident, vasculitis, hepatitis/hepatopathy (includes cirrhosis), and renal impairment/nephropathy (includes nephritis). In RA controlled clinical trials, 5% of patients discontinued taking Cimzia? due to adverse events vs. 2.5% for placebo.Cimzia? is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients, active tuberculosis or other severe infections such as sepsis or opportunistic infections, moderate to severe heart failure.before initiation of Cimzia?, evaluate patients for both active or inactive (latent) tuberculosis infection. Monitor patients for the development of signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment with Cimzia?. If an infection develops, monitor carefully, and stop Cimzia? if infection becomes serious.TNF blockers including Cimzia? may increase the risk: of reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in patients who are chronic carriers of the virus; of new onset or exacerbation of clinical symptoms and/or radiographic evidence of demyelinating disease; of formation of autoantibodies and uncommonly of the development of a lupus-like syndrome; of severe hypersensitivity reactions. If a patient develops any of these adverse reactions, Cimzia? should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.with the current knowledge, a possible risk for the development of lymphomas, leukaemia or other malignancies in patients treated with a TNF antagonist cannot be excluded. Rare cases of neurological disorders, including seizure disorder, neuritis and peripheral neuropathy, have been reported in patients treated with Cimzia?.Adverse reactions of the hematologic system, including medically significant cytopenia, have been infrequently reported with Cimzia?. Advise all patients to seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs and symptoms suggestive of blood dyscrasias or infection (e.g., persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, pallor) while on Cimzia?. consider discontinuation of Cimzia? therapy in patients with confirmed significant haematological abnormalities.The use of Cimzia? in combination with anakinra or abatacept is not recommended due to a potential increased risk of serious infections. as no data are available, Cimzia? should not be administered concurrently with live vaccines or attenuated vaccines. The 14-day half-life of Cimzia? should be taken into consideration if a surgical procedure is planned. A patient who requires surgery while on Cimzia? should be closely monitored for infections.Please consult the full prescribing information in relation to other side effects, full safety and prescribing information. European SmPC date of revision February 2011.

About UCB UCB, Brussels, Belgium ( ) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative medicines with a focus on the fields of central nervous system and immunology disorders. Employing more than 9000 people in over 40 countries, UCB produced revenue of EUR 3.22 billion in 2010. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).UCB Forward-looking statementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. all statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, political, regulatory or clinical results and other such estimates and results. by their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions which could cause actual results to differ materially from those that may be implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations, changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws and hiring and retention of its employees. UCB is providing this information as of the date of this press release and expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report a change in its expectations.There is no guarantee that new product candidates in the pipeline will progress to product approval or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to differences between the partners. also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products after they are marketed.Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement.

About OXOFounded in 1990 on the concept of Universal Design, OXO’s mission is to create consumer household products that ease the tasks of everyday life for the widest range of users possible. Since the original 15 items were introduced, the OXO collection has grown to more than 800 strong covering areas for cooking, cleaning, gardening, storing, organizing and lighting. Today OXO good Grips? products are sold in 54 countries and are included in the permanent collections of numerous museums. The company has won more than 100 design and business awards worldwide. OXO is very frequently used as a case study on how a well-executed Universal Design philosophy can be a successful business strategy. OXO is owned by Helen of Troy Limited, a leading designer, producer and global marketer of brand-name personal care and household consumer products. OXO? and good Grips? are registered trademarks of Helen of Troy Limited.

I think I am having a nervous breakdown what are the symptoms I am so unhappy and dont know what to do . I already take a medicine called lexapro but i do not think it is helping my depression at all i cry all day ……

Call the doctor who prescribed that, and let them know how you feel!!!!

How long have you been on your medication? Sometimes it can take a month for medication to build up to the correct levels in your bloodstream. Don't give up though! Call your doctor and see if there is something else that you can take (still while taking the other medication) until the other medication is built up in your system. Sometimes you can take herbal supplements that help too, but you have to ask your doctor first so there aren't any complications. I'm in the same boat right now so I know what you are going through. I'm making an appointment tomorrow as well! Hang in there…you aren't alone even if it seems that way.

asking this question on this forum is a likely sympton!!!

Sounds like you might have Anxiety and depression. I suffer from Anxiety but have it controlled by taking Zoloft which seems to help for my anxiety and my light case of depression. But i think you should consult with a doctor and talk about what exactly is going on. Best wishes of luck!

If at any time you feel that badly, then I urge you to admit yourself into a psychiatric hospital for a thorough evaluation. or talk to a mental health professional about all your dealing with. I hope my answer helps. good Luck.

crying, irrational behaviour, thoughts of suicide, problems controlling your emotions, sweating, nightmares, unable to deal with situations. im going thru one too.

"Nervous breakdown" isn't actually a medical term, it's a secular one. People can snap in many different ways. Depression is just one of them. I mean, last time I had a nervous breakdown, I just vanished and took a road trip for a week.

If Lexapro isn't helping, you may actually be taking too low a dose. If you're a teenager, it may have the opposite effect. definitely check with a doctor to try to tweak your meds until they are what you need.

And read my post here; I especially recommend the book I mentioned.
answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…

Best of luck.

do they come and go, or do they just stay there until treated with medication?

i use to think that they waxe and wane….

depends, it varies from person to person. although most are treated with some form of prescribed medication, some go for years without.

my experience was medications started it… im off all meds and i still have episodes every now and then… schizo can be audio and visual hallucinations… mine have gotten better without meds because i have learned to adapt… when u see something that ur not sure is real watch other ppls reactions to wat ur seeing if they arent reacting to it then its not there so take a deep breath… hearing things if others arent responding to wat ur hearing then take a deep breath it isnt real… coping with it doesnt mean u have to have meds… it just means figuring out a way to tell wats real and wats not…

My son has ADHD and is currently under medication but I was thinking that maybe hypnosis might help him to remember the simple things in school. His teachers have to tell him over and over again to do simple things like raise your hand before speaking, etc. if anyone is a hypnotist or has been hypnotised for ADHD only or knows of someone who has used it for ADHD please feel free to share.
Thanks!

I haven't try it but I know where you can find out more information and probably use if you want to hypnotize someone.

Sort of – our son was diagnosed with ADD years ago by a very good pediatrician. A few of his teacher's insisted that he had ADHD, but we were able to prove (at least to ourselves and to the doctor) that foods were adding the "H" to his behaviour (in particular food dyes – reds, blues, purples, and some sugars – ketchup turns out to be a bottle full of both sugar and food dye!).
With the hyper part gone, and once we found the right dosage of the right medication, the ADD was well under control and our son was 'allowed' to be himself again!

There is an old joke about a man who felt he had symptoms of STD. Too bashful to have himself tested, he waited until he couldn’t stand the itching in his organs any more. he finally went to a doctor. The doctor gave him a check up and said, a??The infection is too bad, you will need a lot of medication.a? Unsatisfied, he went to see another doctor. The second doctor looked him over and said, a??The infection has gotten worse, you’ll need an operation.a? still unbelieving, he decided to try untraditional medical advice. he went to downtown and saw a Chinese doctor. just one look at his organs, the Chinese doctor shakes his head. a??No need for medicine. No need for operation!a? the Chinaman declares. The man was so relieved and excited. a??Really?a? he says. a??Yes!a? said the Chinese doctor,a?Infection so bad, pecker will just fall off!a?

In really life having STD symptoms is not a joke. of course, the male organ will not just fall off if he has STD. but leaving STD untreated can lead to far worse medical conditions. With STDs or Sexually Transmitted Diseases, some forms may or may not show any symptoms. The irony of it is that some symptoms are often mistaken for other less disastrous diseases. So the only sure way to find out if what you are having are signs of STDs is to have yourself checked in a reputable STD testing center.

Some STD symptoms in males differ from that of women. if you take a review of the male biological structure, the male reproductive organs are more exposed than that of women. some symptoms would manifest themselves more visually on males than in females. it is good to know if the physical symptoms you are experiencing are indicative of STDs. Below are examples of the most common symptoms and STDs that occur in males. This however does not serve as a means to self diagnose or be a reason not to seek professional help. it is still best to visit the nearest STD testing clinic.

Herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus 2. The STD Symptoms in Male is the appearance of painful tiny sores and blisters on the penis. These appear on the first outbreak usually within the first 2 weeks of exposure. The sores will appear to heal during the 2 to 4th week. The second stage of Herpes is the appearance of a 2nd batch of sores along with other flu like symptoms such as fever and swollen glands. These sores are mistaken for insect bites or another form of skin disease. if left untreated, these sores are very recurrent. An infected person will experience at least 4 to 5 outbreaks in a 12 month period. The only accurate way to detect Herpes is to undergo a viral and blood test in an STD clinic.

Gonorrhea and Chlamydia

STD Symptoms in Males of these diseases are quite similar. Symptoms of Gonorrhea appear 2 to 30 days after the man is infected. With Chlamydia, the man may or may not have symptoms but if he does it usually appears between the first to third weeks from the day of exposure. This bacterial infection invades the penis and urinary tract causing discomfort every time the man urinates or have sex. The man will also have a burning, itching sensation around the genitals. Pain and swelling of the testicles is also evident. With men, an abnormal discharge comes out of the penis usually white, yellow or green in color. if the man engages in anal sex, he may also experience discharges and bleeding in the anus.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION: After being exposed to an STD, when will a male start having symptoms?Is 3-4 months too long for a guy to just now start showing symtpoms of an STD like gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, etc. if he contracted it months ago? Like if he started getting discharge would that be because of an STD he caught months ago? cause I heard guys show symptoms very fast. Please no answers like it can take months because after being infected you’ll start to have symptoms, i know from experience.

   • ANSWER: just because yo don’t see it doesn’t mean you can’t get it from him. use a condom . . . every time.

2. QUESTION: AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO AN STD, WHEN WILL A MALE PRODUCE SYMPTOMS?Is 3-4 months too long for a guy to just now start showing symtpoms of an STD like gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, etc. if he contracted it months ago? Like if he started getting discharge would that be because of an STD he caught months ago? cause I heard guys show symptoms very fast. Please no answers like it can take months because after being infected you’ll start to have symptoms, i know from experience.

   • ANSWER: The fact that you had symptoms of an STD soon after you were infected does NOT mean that everyone sees symptoms just as fast.

     It could take several months, or even longer, for symptoms of STDs to show up, depending on the type of STD, and depending on the person. The fact that symptoms may take a long time to appear is one reason testing is so important. For example, someone could have HIV for several years before symptoms appear, but more than 98% of people who have HIV would test positive within 3 months. STDs can be transmitted, even if there are no symptoms. you can not tell that someone has an STD just by looking at them.

3. QUESTION: how long can i be asymptomatic for chlamydia? (male)?so i had chlamydia/gonorrhea about 6 months ago, was treated and it completely went away.

   about a month ago i had unprotected sex with another girl, and again the same symptoms showed up. i’ve already treated it and it’s already gone, but i was wondering-

   is there any possibility that it wasn’t completely treated the first time and just stayed in incubation for 5 months, or did i definitely get it again a month ago?

   the first time i had it, it took just a couple weeks to show up

   I just don’t want to blame the girl if it wasn’t her fault, but either way i’m going to tell her to get checked out

   • ANSWER: Anything is possible. you may have had residual organisms.

     What possesses anyone to have unprotected sex?When you do, you are exposed to every partner your partner has ever had!

     What ever happened to chastity, deferred enjoyment, etc. ???