My doc recommended Betaseron so that is what I am on. From what I read, we all go through pretty much the same things, whichever med we pick. My best advice is follow the instructions fully, pre medicate if the recommend etc. You will get used to it. It becomes just part of the routine. Glad you know for sure now so you can start fighting it!

My neuro said there is little difference between the treatments. He had a preference for Rebif and I knew someone who was on it (though I'm not sure why that really mattered to me), so that's what I'm on.

My doc didn't give me a choice he said betaseron. He said if I wanted anything different he was open to anything but copaxone. He said we already know what is causing the problem, we are going to harness what is causing the problem not give it more practice at doing the wrong thing.

Copaxone is the most prescribed med but go through the treatment section and there are posts on copaxone. It helps some at 30% like the interferons but it worsens it for others. Not just ineffective, it worsens it for some.

When choosing a med, first divide by 2. An interferon or Copaxone.
They are different.

The intereferons work in the immune system. Copaxone works in the nervous system.

Copaxone is a bunch of "fake" dummy myelin for the immune system to attack in the hopes that the fake myelin will be attacked before the real myelin. It takes about 9 months to build up the fake myelin and become fully effective. It becomes effective immediately, but it takes about 9 months to reach full effectiveness.

The interferons are cytokins. The cell within your immune system that identifies virus and sends an alarm to the rest of the immune system to attack. They don't need concentration to build, they reach full effectiveness right away. With the extra alarm cells your immune system, the immune system is 30% too busy attacking these fake alarms to attack the myelin it is mis identifying as a virus.

Because the body thinks it is always under attack by a virus, the immune system is always launching those "flu" like symptoms as it does under a normal virus. Fever, sore muscles whatever your body normally does for a virus. Over time the side affects stop happening-so I'm told. I never had them, but I always felt tired & rundown like I felt with a virus. My body though it was under attack by some kind of virus, while I was taking betaseron.

After you choose Copaxone or an interferon. If its copaxone stop. If its an interferon divide by 2 again. Interferon 1b or Interfreon 1a. Wikepedia has the differences I can't remeber. It's an interferon from a mamary gland or interferon for a protozoa? Natural or man made interferon?
frequency of dosing,method of injection: Intramuscular or Subcutaneous. Once a week, or MWF or every other day.

I have read that Copaxone may have some neuroprotective effect to the nervous system. So I'm saving it for when I can no longer harness what is doing the wrong thing. But before going to Tysasbri, I wish I had used copaxone to see if I needed Tysabri.

I did an interferon first, Tysabri, then copaxone? I'm not sure what is next, actually. I'm using Tysabri now. I spoke to the doc about going to copaxone next, when it is time to move on, she said she had a different med in mind next when I switch from Tysabri. I don't have plans to do it, but I expect eventually I will. Since MS is uncurable now, I think I can plan on always being on a med for MS but not the same one.

Another thing to think about with interferons is storage:Refrigerated or stored at Room temperature.

Rebif stings on injection because of a PH difference to the body. There is a new formulation that has beem released and is approved for use outside the US and is used outside the US. It is waiting for approval from the FDA, then it will be used in the US. You might want to call Rebif to find out if there is any projected time until it is released in the US.

The storage, temperature difference, does not matter for the shot comfort, as they all can be taken out early & allow to come to room temperature before the shot. Its just room in the fridge to store it.

If not stored in the fridge the shot has to be assembled every other day.

The new Rebif formulation is PH compatible with the body. I said a new formulation, but I forgot to say what the new formulation was.

Oh I just re read your post, you have already chosen and started copaxone...they all have the same effectiveness.

And if you eventually have to go to a different one, you understand some differences- MS isn't curable so MS people use a med but not necessarily the same one over time...Remember to give Copaxone, the 9 months to reach full effectiveness , now that you started,before making a decision about it. With luck you have chosen the one that is right for you. Its a crap shot for everyone, no one knows until they try a med if it is effective in them..

My neuro let me choose. She kind of seemed to have a preference toward Avonex, but when I read about all of them it sounded to me like I might have more side effects with Avonex so I choose Rebif. I adjusted to Rebif really well as far as the side effects and had no problems with injections site reactions. However, after being on it for seven months I had 2 relapses which lasted for 2 months each. My doctor felt that Rebif was not working well for me and has recently started me on Copaxone. For me Copaxone does not sting at all going in like Rebif did sometimes, but within a few seconds after the shot it does start hurting and continues to be painful for an hour or two after the injection. I inject manually and don't use the auto injector and I meticulously rotate injection sites. I've tried heat packs and cold packs so far nothing really helps. I guess it's suppose to get better as your body adjusts. I've also had some nausea and headaches, but these have been fairly mild and probably just due to my body adjusting to the new med.

By the way, with Rebif I never used a hot pack or a cold pack for the injections. Never needed to.

I didn't get a choice. My neuro felt that Avonex was best for me. I was on that for about five years. Then I was switched to Rebiff for eight months. The instant I learned that there was a possibility of going on Tysabri I leaped for it ! On the other two I was having one relapse every year, always in the Spring. I've been on Tysabri for just over two years now and haven't had a relapse since beginning.

The really wild thing is that twice now, both again in Spring, I had all of the "precursor"s to a relapse, but they never actually materialized ! The infusions are a major bother, but they're a heluva lot better than all the damn shots !

My neuro gave me a choice of the 4. I started on Avonex and loved it as it was only once a week and I prefer intramuscular injections, no site reactions. I had two relapses and 4 new lesions. It wasn't strong enough for me so I was put on Rebif. I did that fo3 years and had 2 relapses first two years and 3 the last year. I then went on copaxone for the last year but had 4 relapses in last 10 months. Now I have been given the choice of chemo (Mitox) or Tysabri. The problem is I am nervous about both. With Mitox 1 in 1000 can get leukemia, even years later and with Tysabri, 1 in 1000 can get PML, a potentially fatal infection that even if treated usually means a serious disability outcome. Best of luck in your decision!

I was diagnosed in April after 3 relapses in 8 months. I was given the choice by my Neuro of therapies and studied all of them. I also selected Copaxone for several reasons. I recently hit my 90 day "on treatment" mark but shortly after was hit by a new attack. Both legs numb and burning from knee to toe... still as strong as day one and I am three weeks in to this episode. I feel like the round of Prednisone did nothing for me...
I started w/ manual injections and rotated sites. My biggest complaint was the extreme itching at my sight reactions that bothered me at least 3-4 days after the shot! I hold a cold pack on for at least a 1/2 hour after the shot and it helps me w/ the immediate burning! However, the itching has gotten much better over the last month. I now use the Auto Inject and LOVE it. I feel like it helps me be more consistent in my depth and speed.
There have been 2 nights when I was "tempted" to not take my shot. Kind of like, "why not skip it....?" but by using the auto inject I sucked it up and did the shots quickly. I realize that it is a commitment I must partake in.
I am mostly scared of the unknown... I can handle the shots but am discouraged because I am currently having this attack and I cannot control any of this.

I was told Rebif was the best and went on that after a second opinion on the ms Dx and getting told Rebif again. Stayed on that about a year and was having major issues dealing with the sting of the stot, moved to Betaseron for about 6 months, was feeling horrid and my MRIs were getting worse. Got moved to Tysabri about a year ago and have been actually improving a bit! I've been looking into supplements and take 1000 IU D3 a day as I learned at a TRENDS symposium, along with a couple others. I also exercise some and generally try to do things like I used to, with the exception of using a cane most of the time lol. My neuro believes the Tysabri has quieted my system down enough to let my body start helping itself.

That's my story though - I know people on about all the different drugs who seem to do wonderfully, and also some who have problems similar to mine.

Listen to your body and you'll know what is right. Also look into diet and exercise to help your body.

Good luck. :-)

Darling, it took me over 7 years to get a dx which finally came in 1993... Yeah, I've had MS over 23 years... Was on betaseron when it was the only drug available for 8+ yrs, quit when it ate my leg (shot gone really badly...), and have been on Copax just over a year. I do love the Copax as I have very few side effects (really important since beta gave me open sores that took forever to heal wherever I gave a shot...). Copax is like a walk in the park by comparison!

Good luck, and stay positive!!! POSITIVE THINKING is our BEST DEFENSE!!! xoxoxo Cj (Cindyjo)

I am doing something a little different in my quest to keep RRMS in remission. I use an off-label drug called low dose naltrexone which is not an injection, but just 3mg taken @ bedtime. Using a liquid method, this now costs about $10.00 per month.

Online information @ ldninfo.org, written by a neurologist.

Did your neur give that to you?