Interesting things I learned during this include 1) study patients are treated with a whole different level of respect than the average patient, 2) others think you're brave for being a lab rat and 3) human trials are a significant time commitment. Oh. And 4) while I have no regrets I will never do another one.
Regarding lesson #2: You want to know Brave, talk to someone in a Phase One trial. Now that's Brave (notice the first letter capitalization). Phase One and early Phase Two is when they determine if the drug is gonna kill you fast. I was in Phase Three which for this particular drug was done in three iterations. I was in the third iteration of the third phase. At that point I think the pharmaceutical company was just killing time until the FDA would review their request for approval. Not every trial works the same, obviously. I'm just talking about mine which - in case you were wondering - is the first-to-market pill to treat multiple sclerosis - Gilenya. I'd put the trademark thingy after the name if I knew how in hell to do that but it is owned by Novartis.
Does it work? My opinion? OH HELL YES, I haven't had an MS flare-up since I've been on it and I don't have to be stuck with a needle to deliver it and the disease is pretty stable and I'm not dead, so yayfuckingrah.
CAN I GET AN AMEN?!
