White cell count out of range...

[Tawanda]

Well, I have stopped Tecfidera since Shingles (2 weeks) but got my 6 month blood (and urine!?) test. As expected, my WBC dropped. It went from 4.44 pre-Tecfidera to 3.5. I have no idea what that means, except that anything in bold type and "out of range" on my lab report is reason for concern..

I will talk to my neuro in a week or so. We will have a chat if this is Tec, Shingles, or both and what the average Tec patient has been experiencing WBC-wise.

[HobbitHead]

Tawanda, I thought you were going off the tec? I think a wbc drop is pretty much expected, and yours doesn't seem very low (in that I have read about people's being really low and them staying on the drug).

[Tawanda]

Tawanda, I thought you were going off the tec? I think a wbc drop is pretty much expected, and yours doesn't seem very low (in that I have read about people's being really low and them staying on the drug).

Yes, pretty sure this is a done deal. I was originally going to finish my supply for financial reasons and then reevaluate and probably return to Avonex.

However, I already stopped Tec due to Shingles. Since I already had the blood work script, and was curious what it looked like, I went ahead and got my blood drawn. I figured people on TEC would have lowered WBC, but I didn't know I would go down enough to be out of the normal range altogether (and wondering if that was the norm). I wonder if the low WBC led to the Shingles virus.

I did not have any issue but flushing on the smaller dosage of TEC I started out with, and have heard of some people just stepping their dose back down. I am wondering if that would even help combat M.S. (or why else do you up your dosage?) so that would probably not be an option. So yeah, I am still not ready for any kind of treatment at the moment, but when I am, it is doubtful I would take Tec in any dosage. The only reason to even look back is that it really cleared my psoriasis and I was loving that!

I just wanted to report my WBC numbers since Tec. I would like to hear about others after they get their 6 month follow-ups. Been kind of radio silent here on this topic. Maybe it's too early for a lot of posters. I got on this drug almost as fast as it came out due to the psoriasis I suffer from.

[HobbitHead]

http://www.msworld.org/forum/showthr...ht=blood+count

[Tawanda]

http://www.msworld.org/forum/showthr...ht=blood+count

Thanks for showing me that thread. Now I just need to find out how long it takes to get this stuff completely out of my system and re-start my tried and true Avonex injections .

Tecfidera was a miserable failure for me (..except for clearing up my psoriasis-that was great!), but good luck to the rest of you "Tec"ies!

[bree2013]

Well, I have stopped Tecfidera since Shingles (2 weeks) but got my 6 month blood (and urine!?) test. As expected, my WBC dropped. It went from 4.44 pre-Tecfidera to 3.5. I have no idea what that means, except that anything in bold type and "out of range" on my lab report is reason for concern..

I will talk to my neuro in a week or so. We will have a chat if this is Tec, Shingles, or both and what the average Tec patient has been experiencing WBC-wise.

Tawanda,

I had my 6 month CBC done and all was still within normal range. Some counts were lower, but all within normal.

Maybe it is a result of the shingles and the Tec.

I hope you're starting to feel somewhat back to normal after your bout with shingles. Good luck with Avonex!

Bree

[Alicious]

My former neuro told me it is out of your system well before the next dose--you aspirate it out. So, in theory, it is already gone. Sorry it was a bust for you!