I do shots(3 years now) Doing good but would love to take pills but is it as good as shots?

Hi- I did shots for 9 years (Copaxone) and stopped in June because I was I wanted to switch to a pill which I thought was easier. Next week, I'm going back to Copaxone. The pills did not work for me. The first pill (Techfidera) was going great for 2 weeks than it made me so incredibly sleepy and I had other side effects. I didn't feel like myself and I started to get depressed. It's been so awful!

I then asked the doctor to switch to Aubagio. I went to a group before I started and ran out because everyone talked about the clumps of hair they had lost. I said NO WAY and I'm going back to the shots next week.

Sometimes it's best to stick with what works.

Thank you I also take Copaxone.

I'm all for the pill. Tecfidera is my new friend, I've been on the pill for a year and have no changes on the MRI so no complaints here. I hated the shots. Did Copaxone for a year, Avonex for a year and now Tecfidera I plan to stick with unless something changes in the next year.

The injections have been in the market for more than a decade, with most of them having been in the market for more than 20 years. They have a well-established record of safety and efficacy. Oral medications, on the other hand, have only been in the market for a few years, with the oldest one, Gilenya being approved in 2010.
It is clear that FDA is pushing these oral meds through the pipe line because some MS patients do no like to take injections. However, what should be important are safety and efficacy and that is why the injections should be first-line therapy in treating MS, even though the FDA has approved the oral medications as first line therapy as well.

Here is my $0.02...I have been on Avonex, Copaxone, Rebif and Tysabri at some time or another over the past nine years. Now I am taking Gilenya and it is working well for me. No progression and no exasperations. I am tolerating the pills much better than the injections. If it works for you I think you will be happier with the pills. Good luck and be well.

I agree with Pharmd, there ia a saying " don't be the first one on or off the boat ". I will wait to see the long term effects of the pills or new treatments before I go that route. Statins for blood preasure were the new wonder pill, as time has gone by more and more people are having serious problems from them. I plan on going the distance, so I will stay cautious. IMHO

I tried Tecfidera and loved that I had no side effects EXCEPT IT CAUSED MY MS TO GET WORSE. I got weird symptoms that the nurse said was due to my MS. But the symptoms went away when I stopped taking Tecfidera. It didn't work for me and caused my MS to temporarily to get worse.

I don't like taking the shots but they do work for me. I had the side effects but so far so good with the long term effects as PharDF says. Let's hope no cancer causing things with them.

I think it is ultimately what works for you. I was on Copaxone, Betaseron and avonex within a year, but I had such bad skin reactions and multiple flareups, I was switched to Tecfidera. I was hesitant because it was new but I had zero MRI activity and was told some of my lesions had shrunk. Everybody is different and you take what works for you. Good luck!