I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. You should get a MRI asap and maybe things will be ok (no change) so you can stay on Copax. I take Copaxone but it hasn't been long enough to know if it's helping. Have you tried all of the fatigue meds? Try to rest and please let us know how your MRI turns out and how you're doing.
Hugs,
Stacey

Hi, my daughter takes amantadine for her fatigue, and works well for her. I don't take anything. On her first year my daugther was on Avonex, and she had four new lessions, so her Dr changed her to Extavia, now we wait for the yr for new MRI.
It's frustrating and scary especially for a young mother, ask your Dr for meds, but always think safety first, specially when driving. My fatigue hits me hard, like a faint, so I stopped driving for the sake of others. Let us know what the Dr says .

Alma

only MS med that I have taken, for almost 10yrs is low dose naltrexone. No needles, low cost & no side effects. We use a liquid form which makes cost lowedst possible. One 50mg tab lasts for months.

Online check lndinfo.org
Have read that this keeps MS from progressing, been in remission since I started.

Sorry your feeling so bad. If you've only been on Copaxone for 6 months it really has not been long enough. My neuro told me 6 months plus for Rebif which I am currently on and 8 months plus for Copaxone to be at full strength. I want to point out that a DMD is not supposed to make you feel better, I know that is the last thing you want to hear.

The DMD's are supposed to just slow the progression of MS. I had flares every month for probally 8 months and now they are starting to settle down. For Fatigue I have Provigil and have been experimenting with it to see how it works best and it has been doing a really good job.

Have you talked to your Neuro about Pulse Steroids? I do low dose the 500 strength because I had a bad experience with the 1000 dose and want to up to 750 but am having fever issues not because of the Steroids, something else. But anyways my neuro has me trying a 6 month trial and I will say I think it has done a great job for me, so maybe give it some thought and talk to your neuro.
As far as the Rebif goes all I can say is after almost a year the only problem I've had is fever if I don't premedicate, no flu like problems and I did get an infection at a shot site, but my Alcohol wipe was pretty dry that night so probally my fault, can happen with any shot, so overall happy so far. I hope you start feeling better soon and try Provigil or one of the other meds and make sure you get lots of rest.
Sorry for the long post reply
Take Care
Dave

Copaxone is crap from what I hear. I hear it gets more effective with time, but is never THAT effective.

Unless I had a really benign course, I would be on Tysabri no matter what, even if you are JC+ like 90% of the population.

Fatigue is my worst symptom so I understand where you are coming from. Like Dave and Alma suggested there is provigil and amantadine. Others use Adderall XL or nuvigil too. I recently heard of a remedy of 600 mg. Malic Acid 2x day with about 300 mg. magnesium to fight fatigue. This combination is used in Fibro and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I'm currently taking L-Carnitine, 1000 mg. & Alpha Lipoic Acid 200 mg. which was suggested to fight fatigue. I've been on this cocktail for about 3 weeks now, but haven't noticed a damn thing. If this doesn't pan out, I will go to the Malic Acid cocktail and give that a whirl.

I don't know how you do it with small children. Feel free to rant here on this board anytime. That's what we are here for, to help support you and you to support us with our issues. Good luck.

This was a great post for answers to the fatigue! I have had MS for 25 years and have been ob Betaseron, Avonex, and Rebif. I am no longer on any of them. I am in a progressive stat where I don't believe they will help any longer. The drugs did stave off worsening of the symptoms for a long time! Don't give up. Try another drug! I will try the fatigue fighting suggestions that were given.
Best of luck!Marilyn

I was on Copaxone for 11 weeks and had to stop due to reactions. I have been on Rebif now for 11 weeks and I feel great on it!! I also take Provigil which I have been on for about 6 months. Good luck!!

I am on copaxone and Nuvigal for fatigue. its pretty strong for me so I take half a pill when I need it or ill be up for 36+ hours. Some days the smallest tasks seem so hard for me. Other day I had to drive my husband a spare tire about 45 minutes away...felt like the longest drive of my life and it was so hard to stay awake

My neuro says it takes 6 months on copaxone to see if it will work to reduce relapses. I started it Dec 1, 2011 and had a relapse in January. He treated my relapse with cytoxan and daptomycin because steroids no longer help me. Any reason your neuro isn't treating your relapse? Copaxone does not help with ms symptoms it's just supposed to reduce relapses but again, it does take at least 6 months to see if it will work for you.

Thanks everyone! And my neuro called me in Provigil, I'm going to pick it up tomorrow :) Hopefully I will alive again LOL

katand7kids, he ordered Solumedrol treatments in Dec. That helped a lot but everything came back worse in March.
He wants to see if the Copaxone will take any effect with the flare ups, if not, he wants to switch me to something more aggressive. Other than that I have an MRI I have to go to... i hope i don't fall asleep this time lol
I haven't gone to it yet because, honestly, I'm afraid of the results :(

The only med that I've been taking for the last 10yrs for MS/CCSVI
is LDN. No side effects, no needles. Helping to keep me in remision.
Online check LDNinfo.org.

Huh, wonder why he didn't try solumedrol again in March? Anyway, hopefully your MRI will show that there is no progression and that the copaxone is working so you don't have to switch. But if you do at least there are still some options! Glad you are getting the provigil too.