My side effect only lasted a month....bad dry mouth like what it feels like to take a bite out of a under ripe bananna. And the unfortunate side effect for me....weight gain. Anything beats the bruising from the shots I used to take. BEST WISHES!

I've been on it for 2 years. I only flushed 2 times in the last 2 months. My main side effect has been weight gain. 33 lbs in 2 yrs & it won't leave. My MS.has improved,. No new lesions.

Start it with an open mind ... it's very possible u may.not have any side effects & only good results.

I've been on Tecfidera for 2 years. I had flushing in the 3rd week. It only happened 1 time & was over w/in an hour. Then I had no problems until just a few months ago. GI issues. Lots of cramping. It's not bad enough to make me want to stop it completely. I've been taking just 1 pill in the a.m. & I know I'm going to have to talk to my DR but I think I'll try to get back to 2 a day before I have to have that conversation. I just can't do the shots anymore. I did shots from 1998-2013. Good luck to you. There are lots of tips on the msg boards or you can call the nurses on the tecfidera line & they can give tips to help combat side effects.

I was on tecfidera for just under a year. i would have flushing about once every two weeks, but it would only last for about an hour. I loved the drug and was happy to be taking something oral.
My doctor took me off of the drug last week as my lymphocyte count was low and i tested positive for the JC virus. Hopefully your dr has told you or will tell you about this? I was pretty upset to be pulled off, but it wasn't worth the risk to me.
back to the drawing board i go!

Dear all Thank you ever so much for your replies and your very kind advice! Also with regards to the details you've shared about your experience, I believe that this is exactly what I was looking for! ;)

I do have the JC virus (and for that reason didn't want to start the tysabri) but I'm very much hoping this med wouldn't trigger my immune system to releas it....

Thanks again! ;0)

M

I apologize for this lengthy post... But I did a Tec journal that might help! Everyone's timeline is different. Most people say the side effects subside after a month, which was the same with me! I've been on it for 2 years and as happy as a clam!

Tecfidera Timeline:
Day 1: This isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be...but I have a tiny headache...hmmm
Day 2: AHHHH I'm itching EVERYWHERE, MY BRAIN IS GOING TO EXPLODE...is it hot in here? Do any of you smell bacon or chlorine? MY HEAD HURTS!
Day 3: Ouchie Ouchie Ouchie! My head really hurts! MAN! OK I'm gonna try and rest....ahhh I can't! OWWWWWW
Day 4: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz OUCH zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I'm DYING!
Day 5: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Day 6: Yay it's getting better I can totally do this
Day 7: Yeah, I'm totally getting used to the medication!
Day 8: (DOUBLED DOSE) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO The headache is back! :-/ WITH A VENGEANCE
Day 9: Screw this headache I'm gonna take sleep medicine and try to sleep through it...(wakes up) "IT's EATING THE LINING OF MY STOMACH MY BRAIN IS GOING TO EXPLODE! ZIEKE!!!! (crying for my dog)
Day 10: "Zieke stop barking....are YOU ingesting a biocide in hopes of fighting your chronic brain disease?! NO?! Then stop barking! My head is going to explode from the noise and you're going to have brain matter all over you...is that what you want?!"
Day 13: Nausea and headache (headache bearable after tylenol migraine)
Day 14: vomitting, severe abdominal pain
Day 15: diarrhea started, headache, fever (went down with tylenol)
Day 16: noticed blood in stool, stomach pain was so bad I passed out...went to hospital...came back and slept...didn't take tecfidera that night
Day 17: First ate solid food. Didn't take morning or night...still had diarrhea and severe cramps (like i thought i was gonna die bad cramps at 2am for about an hour) drinking baking soda helped.
Day 18: diarrhea in morning, stopped with immodium, Bad cramping, bad gas. Eating solid food. didn't take tecfidera in am or pm
Day 19 still recoveringno tecfidera today
Day 20 only took one dose of tec today
Day 21 first day of am and pm dose of tecfidera
Day 22: took both doses, started pre-medicating with gavisconhelps a lot. vomitted
Day 23: pain 3 hours after am dose for an hr. was able to sleep fairly well. No vomitting
Day 24: pain in tummy. No diarrhea. Bad acid reflux but pain is bearable
Day 25 (june 4): pain 2 hours after dose for 2 hours
Premedicated @ 6:00am, took tec @ 6:25ampain woke me up @ 8:40 am and is subsiding around 10:20am
Day 26: Got prescriptions for Ativan, Rantidine, and Zofran
Day 27: Premedicating with Rantidine and immodium helps a lotI drink baking soda water when the indigestion hits strong and massage my stomach and apply heat to relieve the pain. When its too much to bear I take Ativan and sleep.
Day 28-40 Pretty much survived doing this same routine, the symptoms started waning, and around day 40 the symptoms were completely gone!

Wow! Katerina, Thank you ever so so much!!! What you have there is like a proper survival guide! You totally rock, Girl! ;0) x x x x

hi, I am on month 2 of the Tecfidera journey. The first day of taking the lower dose i had flushing that lasted 3 hours. But, I am now on the full strength and so far, I have not had any more side effects! I may be one of the more fortunate, and I give God thanks for that, I am so far happy on it.
I also had an MRI today, and the results on the brain was no new active lesions! The spine review is still under going the process to determine if there is any new activity there or not.
So, anyhow, so far, things are looking pretty good!!
Sherizi

Dear Sherizi,

Thank you ever so much for your kind reply! Hope it would continue working for you!

I will be starting my full dose tomorrow. So far I had been taking the lower dose. And didn't haven't had that many Syde effects. Hope it stays that way.

Thank you again !

Wishing you all the luck and patience ;)

With warmest regards.

Malvina

Been on Tec for about 45 days and no problems but I was told to take with peanut butter and or applesauce to help with the GI issues. It works for me, they say it helps the medicine bond together.

I'm going to try the applesauce. I hadn't heard that one.

Yes and because we need to keep our sugar intake low. I suggest the organic unsweetened applesauce. I was surprised I couldn't even tell it was unsweetened.

I'm glad that most of you have had positive experiences with Tecfidera. After less than two weeks, I had extreme difficulty walking, and my brain had turned to mush. I went back to Betaseron and improved.

I really want to stop the shots, but haven't found an alternative yet. For me, Tecfidera was like taking a placebo. I don't qualify for Gilenya, and there are too many bad reviews for Aubagio. At least the Betaseron works for me until a better alternative comes along.

I started Tecfidera in Oct of 2012 when it was almost brand new. I was my doctors first patient on it but had failed Copaxone and Betaseron and I have a severe needle phobia. Every MRI on the injections was showing multiple new lesions but after 6 months on the Tecfidera, I had no new lesions and some had started to decrease in size. My fatigue was better, my balance was better and I just felt better. I never had side effects.

I stopped taking it April of 2014 when I got pregnant with my daughter, started back up in May of 2015. No side effects and same increase in activity. Personally I love the Tecfidera.

Good luck to you!