Has anyone done the WILLOW study?

[idoitforthepong]

Any feedback or insight? If not Willow any thoughts on lumbar punctures (spinal taps) in general?

Willow is 10 days in house with at least 2 lumbar punctures and several outpatients. payout about 9K. thanks

[FloridaGirl]

You will probably get a better response about the spinal tap by posting in info about healthy studies or general info.

I have not had one and wouldn't just because it is very invasive and the risks involved.
I know I had discussed this somewhere on the forum because there was a study I was looking at that had four and someone responded with the dangers involved but plz find out more info for yourself. I am sure many here have had them and will respond if you put spinal tap as the topic.
Good luck.

[idoitforthepong]

So with a some hesitance I ended up doing the study. I'd have to say the fears of spinal taps/lumbar punctures are way over rated. Mine went fairly smoothly, though the anesthesiologist had to try another spot and maneuver a bit before enough fluid was found but it went quickly and mostly painless. I say mostly because there the initial shot of numbing agent but other than kind of a weird feeling going in nothing much as far as pain. More mentally "nerve racking" if anything. Some people reported nerve hits that were more uncomfortable but they recovered from that and those are more rare. I did not experience the head aches,nor did others I spoke with. I would say make sure you lay down for a few hours after and take it easy for the next day or two. Make sure there is a good amount of days between the punctures, in this case about 7 which is fine. Just don't plan on physical work or exercise the day of or after for best recovery.

So other aspects of the study, 1 hr long MRI, can test your patience a bit but they give you music/podcasts so it went faster than it was. Also very cool do get a really expensive procedure done for "free" as well as results on paper for that.

The drug (IV infusion) at 3g wasn't noticeable in my opinions (as well as others) can't say if I had placebo or not though. Of course higher dosages may have different results, and this drug penetrates the brain blood barrier so there is risk with that, mentally and physically...hence the suicide scale questions at screening and nuero exams. Short telemetry as well before dosing but most seemed to pass that.

Overall not a bad study at all for the $$, especially if your in the area and can do all the OPVs as the pay is heavily weighted for completion of the last OPVs They will likely be doing more cohorts of this study, possible into 2020 as well.

[ac]

What area of the body do they do the MRI?