Off Copaxone, feel normal again

[Thinkimjob]

I've stopped taking Copaxone after 5 years.
The MS specialist said it wasn't working for me anymore. (She's a big Tysabri fan.)
Anyhoo, I know C is supposed to be pretty mild side-effect wise, but I feel sooooo much better. I can sleep and I don't feel so worried and depressed.
I can think clearly again.
Nothing else has changed. And technically I should feel worse because I don't much want to take Tysabri.
Anyone else felt mentally better after stopping Copaxone? Or am I imagining it?

[Sara Angela]

Think you are right!

I do think that these drugs can make you depressed! My neuro just put me on an AD. I haven't gotten it filled yet, but hope that will help.

When do start Tysabri?

Sara

[Cindarelly]

There seems to be an idea that C has less side effects than the other's.
I don't know where this idea has come from. I have had lasting damage from C.
I wish everyone would really sit through all the full prescribing info on these drugs.. then come back to the table..

[hunterd]

haven`t stopped C, just wanted to give a big WOO HOO for feeling better!

[AnneLouise]

I have been on copaxone for 3 years and I don't feel better. I'm actually worse than I was when I was diagnosed. Won't get a "woo hoo" from me. But then, I think I'm spms and so does my neuro. I have been debating going off it.

[Thinkimjob]

Start Tysabri in June, all being well (yes, ha, bloody ha). Maybe I'm just enjoying being dmd free after all these years. I certainly don't miss the daily injections, and I was quite brave and sensible about those.
I must have hated it more than I thought.

[Flug]

I think that sometimes there is a misunderstanding about this drug alot of people think its supposed to make you feel better and stop ongoing symptoms. Which is what I thought too until digging deeper. Its really only supposed to help you from having a flair as far as I understand it.

I also believe that drugs like this can have serious side effects that can make someone like the OP feel better once they stop taking it.

I have been on this C for about a month now and feel the same , I do have some sore spots on my legs from the injections but other than that I feel the same both physical and mentally.

[HereIam]

I was on Copaxone for years and it didn't stop progression in any manner, since I am in SPMS. And, I didn't realize that it had been making me feel flat out lousy until I stopped the injections.

About 14 days after stopping, all of a sudden I felt a little brighter. Nothing startling, because I do have a lot of MS symptoms, but a small layer of yuck was removed.

[apple19]

I was told by neuro to stop C because I had 5 IPIR within a month. March 4 was my last injection and my family noticed slowly but surely I had more energy, wasn't as irritable as when I was on C, and mentally feel much lighter. I am so glad I am injection-free for now. Neuro wants me to try A. I don't want anymore DMD's just symptom management.

[Sunshyne]

I went off C right after my last neuro appoint 6 months ago...I see the Doc in a few weeks...can't wait to tell him that one!

It's been almost five years and I have had it with the episodes of tachycardia and panic attacks. Things I didn't deal with before C. I was put on a beta blocker to help with the tach and palpitations and after an additional 20 pounds, I just said ENOUGH. The beta blocker only helped minimally and I found myself carrying Xanax everywhere I went. My side effects were not a part of an IPIR.

I have no more tachycardia, and my anxiety is limited to being afraid of the possibility of an attack.

I would have put up with the site reactions, but I will not put up with a racing heart and being chemically induced into panic.

I don't know what his reaction will be....I'm looking forward to BG 12...I will def give that a try.

[Alicious]

Sunshyne, I'm glad you are telling your neuro, and hopefully you can get onto something that is easier on your body. I realized after being off of Copaxone for a month that I hadn't been nauseated in that long either; I thought the nausea for a few hours every week or so was just my body. Nope. I'd have put up with it though, if it was working for me. Tachycardia, however? Not so much.