Bad publicity

I hate the MS pill TV ads. I don’t hate the drug – or any other disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). On the contrary, I am a firm advocate for those medicines because of how much they’ve helped me since my diagnosis. But I don’t like any misrepresentation of multiple sclerosis, and that ad definitely gives the wrong impression about what those drugs do.

Have you seen the ad? A woman is just moving through different life activities one right after the other, ending with her swimming, quickly changing clothes, and heading off to a carnival. The ad shows one long day, shifting from one activity after another, without even stopping to take a breath. The ad implies that if you regularly take their drug, you’ll have the energy to stroll quickly from one activity to another.

But you won’t.

DMTs are not going to take away the fatigue that affects approximately 80% of people with MS. If you’re having mobility and spasticity issues, you’ll still have mobility and spasticity issues. DMTs don’t take away the symptoms you already have. These ads are sending an unrealistic message. They depict a false hope that one little pill will make the symptoms go away. They also send a confusing message to people who don’t have MS, who can get the incorrect perception that these drugs can make all of the existing problems go away.

DMTs are recommended because they:
– Reduce the severity and frequency of exacerbations (attacks)
– Cut down the number of brain lesions caused by MS
– Slow down the disease’s progression

Don’t get me wrong – I think DMTs are terrific. I firmly believe I would be in far worse shape had I now taken – and still take – the medicine. I think the ad does a disservice to an excellent drug. I know that there are people who are benefitting from using it, and I’m thrilled that there is another option out there to help people who have MS. I’m just disappointed that it is being falsely shown as a “magic little pill” that can make all of the problems go away. There are plenty of real benefits to the DMTs to sell them because of what they really do.