there is a drug/pharmaceutical in Ireland used for treating children
who have high measles titers, the name is something like isapreamin or
valapazmin, I am not sure, am wanting someone to look up the Irish
pharmaceutical manual for anti viral drugs for measles.

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 21 Jan 2005 19:23 PST

Hello maryhe,

  Are you referring to rubeola (measles)or rubella (German measles)?
Are you referring to an active case?

Anti-virals are rarely used to treat measles, as vaccine is routinely
used to prevent it. Depending on which form of measles you are seeking
a drug, a high titer can indicate an immunity to measles.

?No antivirals are recommended and supportive therapy is all that is
needed in most cases.?
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=277479



From VHI Healthcare, Kilkenny and Dublin:

?How do I care for a child with measles?

There is no specific treatment for measles. Because it is caused by a
virus, it does not respond to antibiotics. However, if your child has
not been vaccinated and contracts the measles virus, there are a few
things you can do to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms.
?Paracetamol, or a similar drug, will help reduce temperature and
relieve discomfort.
?Plenty of fluids should be given to replace the fluid lost by
sweating during the fever and by diarrhoea, if present.
?Adding baking soda to bath water or applying a soothing lotion, such
as calamine lotion, to the rash may relieve itching.
?Acyclovir, an anti-viral agent, has no effect on measles but may be
used to treat secondary herpes simplex infection.
?Secondary bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. 
Although most cases of measles are mild and uncomplicated, some
children are very sick and require hospitalisation, especially those
with serious complications.?
http://www.vhi.ie/hfiles/hf-043.jsp#5 

Can you tell us where you heard about these medicines? 

Thank you, crabcakes

I believe the drug you are seeking is Isoprinosine. This drug is
manufactured by an Irish company, Newport Pharmaceutical.

I have gathered some online material about Isoprinosine for you.

"Isoprinosine (ISO) -

Drug by Newport Pharmaceutical. Has helped some autistic children with
high measles titers."

Society For The Autistically Handicapped
http://www.autismuk.com/index13.htm

"Newport Pharmaceuticals Ltd was established in 1995 to focus on the
pharmaceutical interests of the Newport Group, a privately owned group
of companies based in Swords, Co Dublin, Ireland.

The company?s primary interest is in products for the treatment of
infectious diseases, immunological disorders and related conditions."

Newport Pharmaceuticals 
http://www.newportpharmaceuticals.com/

"IsoprinosineŽ has been licensed since 1971 for the treatment of cell
mediated immune deficiencies associated with various viral infections.
It has been on the market for over 30 years and is currently
registered in 43 countries world wide for a variety of indications.
These include the treatment of HPV, HSV, VZV, CMV, EBV, measles virus
infections and SSPE [subacute sclerosing panencephalitis]...

Newport has been pursuing a program for the development of
IsoprinosineŽ as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) since
1999."

Newport Pharmaceuticals 
http://www.newportpharmaceuticals.com/isoprinosine_use.htm

This drug is known by several other names:

"Imunovir? (inosine pranobex) is an immunomodulator of the potentiator
type which has demonstrated an enhancing effect on the function and
number of various cells of the immune system, particularly T
lymphocytes. Imunovir? has the ability to enhance the functions of
various cells within the immune system and it seems likely that these
effects are responsible for its clinical efficacy. Therapy with an
agent capable of enhancing certain aspects of the immune response is a
logical approach to the treatment of disorders associated with an
underlying cellular immune defect. These include viral diseases and
immune deficiency states.

Imunovir? is also known in different parts of the world as
IsoprinosineŽ, ViruxanŽ, PrinosineŽ and VirimunŽ. It is approved for a
variety of viral infections resulting from depression of the immune
system. A partial list includes Aolpecia areata, CMV, EBV, Hepatitis
acute and non-chirrotic chronic active B, Influenza, Measles Mumps,
Viral conjunctivitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). A
pilot study in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been accepted for
publication, but its use in this indication is still considered
investigational. Imunovir? is approved for the treatment of SSPE in
Canada."

Rivex Pharma, Inc
http://www.rivexpharma.com/products_imunovir.html

"Isoprinosine is a multi-functional medication which has both
antiviral and immuno-modulating properties. It is prescribed against a
variety of chronic and acute viral infections such as herpes,
influenza and viral hepatitis. It halts the process of neurological
deterioration and can be extremely helpful to people with a
progressive subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a viral infection of
the central nervous system. Also, it decreases the risk of infection
in people who have undergone immune system suppression (e.g.
chemotherapy). Isoprinosine fights the infections by mirroring the
actions of immuno-stimulating hormones and strengthening the immune
system. For these properties the medication is well known in cancer
and HIV infection. Studies have shown that administration of
Isoprinosine delays the onset of AIDS in HIV positive patients and is
a very good complement to any anti-cancer therapy."

Anti-Aging Drugs: Isoprinosine
http://www.anti-aging-drugs.com/biblio/isoprinosine_biblio.php
 
My Google search strategy:

Google Web Search: isoprinosine measles
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=isoprinosine+measles

I hope this is the correct drug. If it is not, or if anything is
unclear or incomplete, please request clarification; I'll gladly offer
further assistance before you rate my answer.

Best regards,
pinkfreud

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Request for Answer Clarification by maryhe-ga on 22 Jan 2005 13:21 PST

this is great, thank you - yes this is the drug - Isoprinsosine,
thanks for the answers, it has been used with kids with extremely high
measeles titters to bring them down into the normal range - we will
use it for our autistic child
thanks
maryhe-ga

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Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 22 Jan 2005 14:04 PST

I am very glad to have been able to help you identify the drug. I hope
it will be helpful.

~pinkfreud

In your question you also mentioned a drug that sounds like
"valapazmin." I believe this is likely to be vinpocetine, which is
sometimes mentioned in connection with treatments for autism.
Vinpocetine is not a prescription drug in most countries. In the
United States, it can be found at many health food stores.

"Vinpocetine -

Powerful memory enhancer. It facilitates cerebral metabolism by
improving cerebral microcirculation ( blood flow )."

Society For The Autistically Handicapped
http://www.autismuk.com/index13.htm