Blood Pressure Medicine and MS

How could this be a year old and I never saw it?

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=104764

A drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure may also double as a multiple sclerosis treatment.

A new study shows the inexpensive blood pressure drug lisinopril blocked development of multiple sclerosis in laboratory mice bred to develop the disease. And when the drug was given to mice with full-blown symptoms of multiple sclerosis, it reversed their paralysis without affecting their overall immunity.

Of course, big pharma probably was aghast when this news hit the wire. We CAN'T have a cheap alternative to the established DMDs! This would be unacceptable -- especially one that does not alter the immune system and comes in the form of a PILL!

Lisinopril is not without it's drawbacks, however...

SIDE EFFECTS: First doses of lisinopril can cause dizziness due to a drop in blood pressure. Lisinopril can cause nausea, headaches, anxiety, insomnia, drowsiness, nasal congestion and sexual dysfunction. Lisinopril should be stopped if there are symptoms or signs of an allergic reaction including feelings of swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and hives occasionally occur. Rarely, lisinopril may cause a drop in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Lisinopril can impair the function of the kidneys, and every person taking this medication should have their kidney function checked.

My first question would be: "That's great! But what does someone with LOW blood pressure do? Are they not a likely candidate for this type of treatment?"

I'm just amazed at all the different things, like LDN, CCSVI and now apparently this blood pressure medication that are being studied and what the ramifications might be for those of us with MS.

This is why it's so urgent that we do our best to help fund research into alternative treatments. Big pharma is not going to do it unless there's a billion dollar reason.

By the way, if you haven't done so, please go vote for the Pepsi Refresh Everything idea to Establish a Non-Mainstream MS Research Institute.