Hi there
I was on Rebif for just over a year and a half, became totally suicidal due to the depression associated with the Rebif, the meds also did not agree with me on the MS side, had a few relapses during my time on Rebif, was actually looking at being medically boarded, my neuro moved me onto Copaxone, I have now been on it for about a year, still working, have not had a relapse and on mood stabilizers for depression and anxiety, but all in all, coping better with the fatigue etc.
Good Luck

I was on Rebif 2 different times. The 1st time I would get sick to my stomach & feel overall ache. A few years later I tried it again. I didn't get sick or achieve, just felt blame. I am now using Tecfidera & feel great!

Best of luck to you!

Hang in there Clouds. Are you in touch with your neuro? I feel blah often, but attribute it to my situation in life. The depression is nothing to mess around with, so do stay in touch with your doc!

Thanks everyone,
I'm going to be in touch with my doc next week. I don't mind taking the shot, but I usually wake up feeling tired and not very excited about things. If it helps prevent relapses that would be great - maybe I need other medication to help with the side effects.

i just started taking Aleve after i do my shot, and it helps a ton, ibuprofen didnt do much for me

i feel reallly depressed for the first few months on rebif (since i have a tendency to stop taking it, i know it happens every time), ive thought about an antidepressant, but just take turmeric & nothing else, the depression does pass for me

Hi, I have been on Rebif for 9 months now. Started off feeling horrible both physically and emotionally. But am much better now. It did settle for me. Was just perseverance. You should maybe try taking Biral. It is a mild tranquilizer of natural substances that you can buy off the shelf.

Depression can be a side effect of Rebif. MS in general can cause changes to neurochemistry that can make you feel depressed too.
Speak to your doctor about what is going on to find out if taking Wellbutrin and/or switching meds might be right for you.

Best wishes to you,
EP

I have been on Rebif since 2002 and it has caused anxiety for me. I take anti-anxiety drugs to help with that symptom. But Rebif definitely caused it and I didn't know why for many years until another patient mentioned it and made the connection for me. I did not know about MS Connections for many years and had no idea.

Anyway, yes Rebif can cause a lot of things but the fatigue problem is still a problem for me after all these years. Sometimes it is bad and other days it is not noticeable. But lately, the day after a shot, I tend to fall and I don't want to go out.

Makes me want to change drugs. Am thinking seriously about changing to Tecfidera. Won't miss the fatigue problems at all. But wondering if I am just changing from one problem to another.

I do not think that any of the side effects go away, just are better some weeks. Perhaps for you they might go away but for me they haven't. The anxiety is still just as bad and when I don't take Rebif, it goes away.

I take Rebif and am also on Xanax for panic attacks and anxiety. I take a R/X to get to sleep. Effexor for depression. Advil about a half an hour before the injection. I also have changed my diet and try to exercise as much as I can.

MS is such an unpredictable disease. I know of friends that have done just the diet and exercise, and friends who are on a list of meds. For me, I think the decision to stay on meds and changing my lifestyle has been helpful to hit MS from both directions.

(((HUGS)))

I get on the treadmill when I feel a bit blue. I always feel any kind of exercise is better than taking a so-called anti-depressant. I also quit taking Rebif a few years ago. Doesn't make sense to me to take something that suppresses the immune system like that. It also suppressed the hormones. I know everyone has different thoughts on this but just wanted to let you know that not everyone takes what they recommend. I'm fighting this thing in my own way, naturally. When my doc says that in his experience, he's seen people's cases progress over the years BUT, I would bet my life on the fact that over the years of those individuals, he did not witness any of them have a radical change in their lifestyle and diets in order to take this thing on. Just my thoughts.

Thank you all for the great input! Last week I felt a little better so hopefully my body is adjusting to the medication. I still get the Achiness but I wasn't feeling as tired or depressed :)