Neurologist Richard Lewis, MD, explains how infections, medications, and missed treatments can trigger MG flares or relapses and why working with your doctor is important.
Transcript
Well, the biggest trigger for flares is probably intercurring infections. Upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections.
Those kind of things can certainly be triggers for relapses. Certain medications can do it.
In general, stress and anxiety can bring out some symptoms, but it doesn’t usually make the disease worse. Missing medications can do it. So if you’ve suddenly stopped taking some of your medications, that certainly can do it.
I think it does pay to take cold symptoms, for instance, a little bit more seriously. And certainly if you start feeling your myasthenia is acting up, get to the doctor about it.
I mean, some infections, like viral infections causing colds. It’s not so much we can treat, but if you have a urinary tract infection, you’d probably do want to get it treated.
But some of the antibiotics for urinary tract infections are risky for myasthenics. So working with your doctors to find the right ones is useful and helpful.
