So as soon as Ocrevus got approved in Canada, I decided I wanted to give it a try. I've been just fine on Tecfidera for the past 4 years, but I wanted try something new. Tecfidera was great for keeping things stable for me. At the same time I did have small relapses and disease activity here and there, especially in the hot and humid summer months. So after a long process with my clinic, my insurance and Roche, the Ocrevus manufacturer, I got the drug funded.
I went in today for the first infusion. They gave me a small amount of steroids to start, as well as some Tylenol, Gravol and Benadryl. Then the infusion was next, which lasted about 2.5 hours. They started it a slow rate, then upped the infusion rate every half hour until I reached the max of 180.....I forger what that number refers to now, hahaha. I reached the maximum rate and then it was over before I knew it. I stayed an extra hour for observation after. I went in feeling fine and left feeling the exact same. The only strange thing that happened is that I didn't get drowsy at all from the Benadry and the Gravol. The nurse kept telling me that the drowsiness was just around the corner, that it was coming, that I would feel it soon. After about an hour she said, "Well I guess you're not going to get Drowsy!" It was funny.
All in all, very pleased. I go back for part two in two weeks, then just once every six months. I'll keep you guys posted on what's going on in the next two weeks.
I went in today for the first infusion. They gave me a small amount of steroids to start, as well as some Tylenol, Gravol and Benadryl. Then the infusion was next, which lasted about 2.5 hours. They started it a slow rate, then upped the infusion rate every half hour until I reached the max of 180.....I forger what that number refers to now, hahaha. I reached the maximum rate and then it was over before I knew it. I stayed an extra hour for observation after. I went in feeling fine and left feeling the exact same. The only strange thing that happened is that I didn't get drowsy at all from the Benadry and the Gravol. The nurse kept telling me that the drowsiness was just around the corner, that it was coming, that I would feel it soon. After about an hour she said, "Well I guess you're not going to get Drowsy!" It was funny.
All in all, very pleased. I go back for part two in two weeks, then just once every six months. I'll keep you guys posted on what's going on in the next two weeks.
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