Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

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MsBabs 01/12/2014

My first shipment of Tecfidera is coming this week and I'm planning to take my first dose this Saturday a.m. What advice do any of you Tecfidera "pros" have for me? :-)

I'm planning to take time off work Mon thru Wed in anticipation of the side effects. I hope I'm being overly cautious!

My history: I was diagnosed with MS in 2007, delayed treatment until my daughter was born in 2009, then took Copaxone for over two years. The tissue damage on my arms really started to bum me out and I quit the injections about a year ago. Otherwise, I didn't have problems with Copaxone.

deleted_user 01/12/2014

my 2 cents, about 5 month on techfidora, once you go to pills you will never go back to injections....Good Luck...Realize i viewestartin a new med as a campaogn i had to win, so read down to punky's reply....

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Multiple_Sclerosis_MS/forum/17940739-starting-tecfidera

deleted_user 01/13/2014

IM NOT TAKING ANYTHING FOR MY MS WHICH I PROBABLY SHOULD BE....THE DRS WANTS ME TO BUT I HAVE HORRIBLE REACTIONS TO ALL TYPES OF MEDS. NOT JUST FOR MS, I MEAN ANTIBIOTICS, COLD MEDS. YOU NAME IT AND I HAVE A HORRIBLE TIME WITH EVERYTHING SO IM NOT TAKING ANYTHING. THATS PROBABLY WHY MY MS KEEPS GETTING WORSE. GOOD LUCK ON IT AND PLEASE KEEP US POSTED ON HOW YOUR DOING WITH IT. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW!!!

cloudsintheysky 01/13/2014

Hi MsBabs,
I just started Tecfidera Saturday night. nnyl1's advice has been so helpful!
I've been taking 1 pill after dinner. And 1/2 hour before, I take:

1 regular strength aspirin
1 Dramamine
1 gas-x
1 Zantac

So far, so good. It's probably overkill with all those extra pills, but I wanted to avoid any side effects. Let us know how it goes. good luck!

Summoning 01/13/2014

The lower dosage I had not problems at all with them, but when I started taking the higher dosage I got bad flushing and constant diarrhea. It was so bad that I stopped. I did not want to go back to shots so I just slowly weaned myself on the higher dosage and now have no problems. If I take a pill on a empty stomach I get the flushing, but I can deal with that.
I wish you luck

erica1000 01/14/2014

I don't have a lot of history with Tecfidera yet but I have just started my 2nd week and moved to the higher dose. I have had mild side effects but nothing that was not manageable.

My routine has been 1 baby aspirin and 1 Zantac 30 mins before eating. Mid way through the meal I take the Tecfidera so that will be food on my stomach already.

I had flushing the first day for about 30 mins but not since. I have had some stomach pain and if i eat something it goes away.

Good luck but I am sure you will be fine.

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