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sprains, cervical syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome. He adds: "These prescriptions
were given after considering that the order of toxicity of DMSO is very low, these
patients were eager to try it, and would have been exploited while attempting to
obtain it without my prescriptions. No one involved has been impressed with its
effectiveness. . . . No reason to release a drug until there are established indica-
tions for it. Whether we have satisfactory mechanisms for establishing indications,
controlling, and releasing drugs is another question."
W. B., Denver, Colo.-"Used topically, it gives some relief but does nothing to
alter the course of the arthritis. The risk for abuse of the drug is high-I see many
people who have been told they are given it by Mexican physicians.'
J. L., La Cross, Wis.-"My only experience with DMSO so far, personally, has
been one patient who was here with scleroderma that was receiving DMSO from a
physician in Oregon. She used it for the skin component of her scleroderma and
claimed that it was quite effective. Indeed, her skin did seem pretty good consider-
ing the extent of her scleroderma. I have, of course, read about the use of this drug
in multiple arthritic disorders. I would very much like to see more people studying
this drug and its use liberalized for this reason. . . . If need be, I would like to see
the NIH do these studies much like the current laetrile studies. Much has been
written about this drug (as with laetrile). Unlike laetrile, however, I think there
may be a foundation for its use in some of these diseases..
R. E., Tacoma, Wash.-"Effectiveness not established, however, some anecdotal
experience by other practitioners I respect, and isolated cases in the literature make
it worthy of wider use. I have never, ever seen it hurt anyone."
C. A., Cleveland, Ohio has had some experience with DMSO in experimental use
at the Cleveland Clinic on patients with scleroderma. He adds: "It may help
the thickening of the skin but not affect the internal aspects of any arthritic
conditions. The worst problem is that it raises false hopes in all arthritic persons."
S. Z., N. Miami Beach, Fla. has used or prescribed DMSO for arthritis, non-
articular rheumatism, tendonitis and bursitis and felt it was effective in reducing
inflammation, pain or other arthritic symptoms. Although he believes it should be
legalized in the U.S., he commented: "I am definitely against any legislation for or
against the use of medication. The laetrile fiasco was an example of ridiculous
lobbying by uninformed politicians.
L. J., Tulsa, Okla.-"DMSO should meet the same standards as any drug. Clearly
the FDA has been arrogant, prejudicial and even vindictive with respect to this
drug. It is this type of behavior which Congress must control to decrease the drug
lag and increase credibility of the new drug review process.'
S. M., Billings, Mont.-"A few patients I have seen reported improvement in
scleroderma skin involvement. . . . There is no question that careful clinical trial in
humans are indicated especially in Raynard's disease or scleroderma with digital
ulcers."
V. F., Pensacola, Fla.-"Most individuals requesting DMSO do so from experience
in Mexican arthritic clinics. It is highly unlikely that these patients ever receive
DMSO and are actually receiving steroids, and other commonly used tranquilizers,
anti-inflammatories."
E. H., Hanover, N. H.-"It should be realized that this compound is used a lot in
laboratories for its capability of carrying and penetrating into cell membranes. This
is the nature of its usefulness in the skin. It can be painted on the skin and in a
short period of time, absorption takes place. Used by itself, it produces an erythema
and slight irritation of the skin, possibly a counter irritation and it may be helpful
in healing skin ulcers. This experience was accumulated by me at the National
Institute of Health in 1965-66 before the FDA ban on use of DMSO. In several
patients with scleroderma, it seemed to increase local blood flow somewhat, al-
though we never had solid evidence for this. I certainly don't project that it would
be useful for arthritis unless a drug was carried into the joint by its topical
application. This seems unlikely however."
