The Whole Truth

When the good folks over at "The Stuttering Brain" posted information from a reader that the Pagoclone study was locked and results were known, my first thought was "Tell me it isn't true!" Well, not really, but I wanted to get that Dylan link in there.

Anyway, what I really thought was, "That's odd....  no one said anything to me about that." And as it turns out, no one said anything to me about it because.......   It's not true!

I met with my contact at my local research center today, and she confirmed that I am in week 16 of a 48 week open label testing phase. My participation in the study will (sadly) come to a close at the end of 48 weeks, but the study will go on until everyone in the program has reached 48 weeks of open label testing, according to my contact.

Even after all the participants have concluded the 48 week open label testing stage, it will take them at least a year to analyze the data they've gathered through these research centers before (hopefully) presenting it to the FDA.

Just wanted to squash the rumors that the study has wrapped and results are known - the Pagoclone study is definitely still going and the analysis is yet to come.

Oh, and it's working for me. More details on that in my next post.

The End is Near?

There's been some talk about pagoclone over at Tom Weidig's excellent blog "The Stuttering Brain" recently. 

http://thestutteringbrain.blogspot.com/2010/03/pagoclone-data-locked-results-known.html

I can't confirm his reader's information about the Pagoclone study closing. I'll try to find out more information from my local research center and will advise. 

Does it run in the family?

Interesting news from the U.S. Government's National Institutes of Health; it seems that researchers may have identified a genetic link to stuttering.

Read more about it here:

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/news/releases/10/02_10_10.htm

Research is ongoing, and the NIH is still recruiting participants that fit their specific requirements. If you think stuttering runs in your family, you may be able to help them with this research. Check out the details here:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00001604?term=00001604&rank=1

Higher Dosage

It's been a while since I've posted, but I have some encouraging news for people interested in using Pagoclone in the medical treatment of stuttering.

I have been on the higher dosage (.60mg) for about a month and half now, and my speech is noticeably better.

I am still stuttering, but my blocks are less intense and less frequent. I also feel like my baseline stress level has fallen, as the tension in my throat is noticeable by its absence.

I've even been in some extremely high pressure situations (well, high pressure for me, anyway) and I've been able to retain my composure and speak more fluently than I would have before using Pagoclone.

Side effects? I really haven't noticed any.

I am not touting this as a "cure for stuttering" by any means, but I do believe Pagoclone is helping me manage my speech, and I'm encouraged by the results so far.