New drug for emotional lability

[Guest guest]

Avanir Says Investigational Drug Curbs MS Laughing,

Crying Episodes

NEW YORK (Reuters) Aug 24 - Avanir Pharmaceuticals on

Tuesday said its experimental drug for emotional

lability, Neurodex (dextromethorphan, quinidine),

successfully controlled a symptom of uncontrollable

laughter or crying in a late-stage trial of patients

with multiple sclerosis.

The San Diego-based company said the phase III trial

involved 150 patients at 22 medical centers, some of

whom received Neurodex for 90 days, while others

received placebos.

It said patients receiving Neurodex had a

statistically significant greater reduction in

frequency and severity of episodes than those

receiving placebos, the main goal of the trial.

Moreover, they had uniformly better outcomes in

secondary goals such as quality of life and pain

reduction, the company said in a release.

Neurodex was well tolerated in the trial, with the

majority of patients reporting mild or moderate side

effects such as dizziness.

Avanir said uncontrollable laughing or crying --

pseudobulbar affect -- can also affect patients with

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease,

stroke and traumatic brain injury.

The favorable results seen in the study of patients

with multiple sclerosis were similar to those seen in

a previous trial of patients with ALS, the company

said.

" Through the treatment of pseudobulbar affect, we can

eliminate or reduce patients' anxiety about

controlling their emotions in social and business

settings, thus improving their quality of life, " the

company said.

Avanir said plans to seek marketing approval of

Neurodex based upon favorable results of its two

late-stage trials.

[Guest guest]

Maureen in Sydney,

My doctor put me on 40mg of Lexapro. That took care of my crying and

most of my laughing. I can now watch any TV program I want to. Before I

has to be careful I would either cry or laugh. I would laugh so much

that my throat would spasm and I would cough. The only way I could stop

the cough was to stop it myself. I would try to take a breath between

coughs and that would stop the cough. A real good joke will still do

that some times but not as much as it used to. I have learned to

control my laugh some so not to get in the spasm mode.

Do any one else have that problem?

L. PLS, OH

[Guest guest]

Hi ! thanks for letting me know about Lexapro. I will mention

it to my new neuro. The last one told me that there was nothing he

could give me for the uncontrollable crying/laughing. I dont really

have a problem with the laughing or with any spasms when laughing

hysterically but i have a big problem with the crying. Will cry when

just slightly emotional. very embarassing.

maureen in sydney

> Maureen in Sydney,

>

> My doctor put me on 40mg of Lexapro. That took care of my crying and

> most of my laughing. I can now watch any TV program I want to. Before I

> has to be careful I would either cry or laugh. I would laugh so much

> that my throat would spasm and I would cough. The only way I could stop

> the cough was to stop it myself. I would try to take a breath between

> coughs and that would stop the cough. A real good joke will still do

> that some times but not as much as it used to. I have learned to

> control my laugh some so not to get in the spasm mode.

>

> Do any one else have that problem?

>

> L. PLS, OH

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue, this is very interesting. david tells me about Lexapro and

you tell me about Celexa and yet doctors here tell me nothing can be

taken for this problem. I can now hardly wait till i see my neuro!!

Maureen in sydney

For me, the crying is the worst.

I will cry when i am

> feeling just a teensy weensy bit emotional. Its very irritating and

embarassing.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jenifer. I have learnt so much here!!

Maureen in sydney

> The celexa also helps me with the crying jags. I wouldn't be

> without it.

>