Myasthenia gravis treatment, myasthenia gravis remedy

Condition analysis:
Today, myasthenia gravis can be controlled. There are several therapies available to help reduce and improve muscle weakness. Medications used to treat the disorder include anticholinesterase agents such as neostigmine and pyridostigmine, which help improve neuromuscular transmission and increase muscle strength. Immunosuppressive drugs such as prednisone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine may also be used. These medications improve muscle strength by suppressing the production of abnormal antibodies. They must be used with careful medical followup because they may cause major side effects.

Thymectomy, the surgical removal of the thymus gland (which often is abnormal in myasthenia gravis patients), reduces symptoms in more than 70% of patients without thymoma and may cure some individuals, possibly by rebalancing the immune system. Other treatments used to treat myasthenia gravis include plasmapheresis, a procedure in which abnormal antibodies are removed from the blood, and high-dose intravenous immune globulin, which temporarily modifies the immune system and provides the body with normal antibodies from donated blood. These therapies may be used to help individuals during especially difficult periods of weakness. A neurologist will determine, which treatment option is best for each individual depending on the severity of the weakness, which muscles are affected, and the individual's age and other associated medical problems.

Instructions:
Cholinesterase inhibitors: Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as pyridostigmine (Mestinon?) and neostigmine (Prostigmin?), may be prescribed to improve the communication between the patient's nerves and muscles. Although these drugs do not treat the underlying problem, they have been shown to improve muscle strength.