Questions about M.S. medications?

March 8th, 2010 | Author: Vince

I was diagnosed almost two years ago, and the first year after my diagnosis I was taking Rebif. The injection site reactions were minimial but the other side effects (fatigue, depression, nausea) we driving me crazy. Soo exactly a year after my diagnosis, I asked my neurologist to prescribe Copaxone, because I heard it had less side effects than Rebif. I’ve been taking Copaxone for about 10 months now and, even though feel a lot more energic and less depressed, the site reactions are bothering me. I itch all day, Im embarrassed to wear shorts because my legs are permanently bruised, and I had to stop working about my abs so I could still injected my ab area. (It hurt wayy too much when I started to build a bit a muscle)

Is there anyone else that has MS, is taking Copaxone and has experiences the same discomfortable in the injection site? If so have you learned any other methods of injecting that have helped?

(I know this is kind of long but, out of curiousity) My MRIs have shown absolutely no change, no progression what so ever. Has anyone actually been taken off of their meds because of this? I know its only been a year and some change but I would be the happiest person EVER if i was told there was no longer a need for me to take Copaxone.

Share and Enjoy:

Posted in Multiple Sclerosis Treatments | Tags: 10 months, Abs, Copaxone, depression, diagnosis, Experiences, Fatigue, injection site, legs, Medications, Meds, mris, nausea, neurologist, Rebif

One Response to “Questions about M.S. medications?”

pcheesewhiz:

March 8, 2010 at 10:05 pm

I take Copaxone also. I never inject in exactly the same spot and that keeps the bruising down as well as those troublesome lumps. I also always use the injector and make sure the depth adjustment setting is at the correct level for me.

There is no doubt it-using any of the FDA approved drugs is not fun. I took Copaxone when I was first diagnosed. I quit using it for a quite a long time because I couldn’t stand injecting myself any more. I just couldn’t face it. But once I started losing my ability to walk, I couldn’t wait to go back onto the Copaxone again. For me, not being able to walk was a lot worse than putting up with the injections. And yes, I sometimes feel a lot of discomfort at the injection site. I sometimes put an ice pack on my skin just before I inject to cut down on the itching and burning.

Have you ever tried Low Dose Naltrexone? It worked for me for a good three years and was a nice respite from the shots.

That is fantastic that you have shown no progression. But since this disease is relapsing/remitting we will never know if we have not progressed due to the injections or the fact that the disease just went remittancetence. Frustrating isn’t it? But at least oral medications for MS are on the horizon.

Take the very best of care! Laura

Managing Multiple Sclerosis

Questions about M.S. medications?

One Response to “Questions about M.S. medications?”

Leave a Reply