Overcoming Tecfidera

[Marco]

You should consult with your neurologist about your specific situation, but there are a few things reported to help out.

Pre-medicating with aspirin has been beneficial for many people. Apparently, aspirin has been the most effective OTC pre-medication. Also taking your Tecfidera at the end of your meal so your stomach isn't empty. Ingesting fatty foods may also reduce your symptoms.

Since I routinely have problems with medications, my neurologist kept me at the 120 mg dose longer that normal. I think this really helped my body adjust and reduce my side effects.

[noemkat]

My new routine

So right now I'm just doing one 120 in the morning and have worked up to every morning rather than every other (today being the second consecutive day). Yesterday I had bad stomach pain but nothing else but it got me reading different websites and this is what I'm going to try.

I will eat a combination of protein, fats and carbs along with taking an asprin (entric coated) and a prilosec (generic) a bit before that. I will then eat and take Tec. I had my coffee when I got up 2 hours ago so now I'm just drinking water.

I have school today so I'll take tums and some almonds with me in case I need. Sprite seemed to work well for me as well yesterday so if needed I'll pick one of those up.

I'm really hoping this will work because at some point I'd like to go up to 2/day and then finally up to 240 but I really don't want the pain I had the last time I tried Tec.

Blessings,
Kristin

[somalee]

Flushing and itching

Hello
I just started Tec. What can I take for the flushing and itching side effects? Also get headaches.
Thanks so Much!
Stacey

[dlarson]

Well yesterday I started back on the low dose. Took 1/2 zofran half an hour before each pill. I ate a heavier breakfast. Still had bad stomach. Did not get sick but felt like I could at any moment. Will take a whole zofran this morning half an hour before tecfidera and see if that helps rather than the 1/2. Would love a happy ending to this story!

[dlarson]

You should consult with your neurologist about your specific situation, but there are a few things reported to help out.

Pre-medicating with aspirin has been beneficial for many people. Apparently, aspirin has been the most effective OTC pre-medication. Also taking your Tecfidera at the end of your meal so your stomach isn't empty. Ingesting fatty foods may also reduce your symptoms.

Since I routinely have problems with medications, my neurologist kept me at the 120 mg dose longer that normal. I think this really helped my body adjust and reduce my side effects.

What is the aspirin suppose to help with?

[Marco]

The aspirin is suppose to help with the flushing.

[dlarson]

Besides zofran what other prescription meds. have helped others with GI issues. I am taking zofran which has helped the nausea and vomiting but not diarrhea. I will call my neuro tomorrow and report how I am doing and get his advice but I wanted to hear from our group what is helping first.

[laurasari]

My new Neuro told me to take it with food and whenever possible include something fatty. I expect to start later this week

[ladybug162]

I'm only on day 2 of taking the 240 twice a day and I've been having the most horrible stomach cramps! I'm glad I started the 240 on the weekend because I don't think I could deal with this pain while at work.

I just hope it eases up by tomorrow since I have to go to work. The 120 was a piece of cake compared to the 240. I was starting to think I was one of the lucky ones who had very little issues.

I take a Zantac before each dose as I have awful heartburn anyway. I also take with food and usually a spoon full of peanut butter. I've had no issues until now.

I don't know how to describe the pain except it feels like the medicine is eating a hole through my stomach. Anyone know how to ease the pain or how long it will last? I'm wondering if I just have to get used to the higher dose or if I can expect this pain every time I take the 240 dose?

[dlarson]

I'm only on day 2 of taking the 240 twice a day and I've been having the most horrible stomach cramps! I'm glad I started the 240 on the weekend because I don't think I could deal with this pain while at work.

I just hope it eases up by tomorrow since I have to go to work. The 120 was a piece of cake compared to the 240. I was starting to think I was one of the lucky ones who had very little issues.

I take a Zantac before each dose as I have awful heartburn
anyway. I also take with food and usually a spoon full of peanut butter. I've had no issues until now.

I don't know how to describe the pain except it feels like the medicine is eating a hole through my stomach. Anyone know how to ease the pain or how long it will last? I'm wondering if I just have to get used to the higher dose or if I can expect this pain every time I take the 240 dose?

Call your neuro right away and see if he can prescribe something. I didn't get sick until I started the higher dose also. Keep us updated.

[ladybug162]

I ended up having to miss work today because the pain was so bad and was starting to make me feel nauseous. Called my neuro and he said to cut back on the dosage.

He recommended to either take a 240 and a 120 or just a 240 once a day for awhile. I think I'm going to stick with the 240 once a day for awhile because my stomach still hasn't recovered.

I kind of wish I hadn't of taken my morning dose this morning as it just made it worse. I'm not taking another dose until tomorrow night as I have to make it through work tomorrow.

Neuro also recommended Imodium, but it hasn't really helped all that much. Hopefully, these cramps will ease up after skipping my evening dose. I'm still determined to make this med work.

Hope you are doing ok!

[dlarson]

I ended up having to miss work today because the pain was so bad and was starting to make me feel nauseous. Called my neuro and he said to cut back on the dosage.

He recommended to either take a 240 and a 120 or just a 240 once a day for awhile. I think I'm going to stick with the 240 once a day for awhile because my stomach still hasn't recovered.

I kind of wish I hadn't of taken my morning dose this morning as it just made it worse. I'm not taking another dose until tomorrow night as I have to make it through work tomorrow.

Neuro also recommended Imodium, but it hasn't really helped all that much. Hopefully, these cramps will ease up after skipping my evening dose. I'm still determined to make this med work.

Hope you are doing ok!

I am taking zofran and 120 dose twice a day. I also have the cramping and diarrhea. Called my neuro yesterday and am still waiting to hear from him what I should take for these symptoms. The zofran really helped with the nausea and vomiting but not these symptoms. We were suppose to go away for the 4th for a weekend but I do not think my body will cooperate. I really have found that my appetite has really diminished on tec. Keep us posted as how things are going. I also really would like this medicine to work

[Finch]

New here and am going to start Tecfidera this week! I'm very nervous. Seeing reports about nausea, has anyone tried Emetrol as an over the counter treatment?

[momoffour]

Medicines

I have been one of the luckier ones with Tecfidera as far as side effect. I only had flushing during the first (low dose) week, but now I get stomach pains off and on, and some cramping. Sometimes it's worse than others, and one night was absolutely horrible, but thank goodness, it's only been one night like that.

I have found that what seems to help me is taking a probiotic every day, taking the tec with food (I usually have a yogurt or oatmeal), and I put a spoonful of Metamucil in my orange juice each morning. Maybe it's mind over matter, but I can tell a difference when I don't do all of that. I am starting my fifth week of the Tec. today.

My flushing usually doesn't last too long, but I have taken aspirin for it. The night my stomach was really upset I took Pepto Bismal. On my FB page that I'm on for Tec, they suggested buying Pepto, Gas X (which I also have used for the bloating) and some people are even getting prescriptions for any nausea. Mine hasn't been that bad, fortunately.

I'm just so tired of not knowing how I'm going to feel each day, although I have to say the past couple of days I have felt ok. I came off of Copaxone, which hadn't worked for me. I was originally on Avonex.

[Alphasig1514]

On my 3rd week of Tec. Started the meds on a Sunday.

1st week on the starter dose was smooth sailing! Got a little flushed with the first dose but then nothing.

2nd week was pretty good until Friday night. I was woken up in the middle of the night with some of the worst stomach cramps i've had in my entire life! Since then every day has been a battle between me and my stomach. 3-4 hrs after I take Tec I feel like I'm either going to vomit (which is explosive when it happens) or have diarrhea. I am not enjoying this one bit.

I have tried different things...no food with med, food with med nothing seems to work.

I ended up calling the specialist today and he recommended the following for me to try:
*1 hr prior to taking Tec take one enteric coated aspirin with a glass of milk
*eat a full meal(with fatty protein) and then take the Tec at the end
*also take a swig of Pepto with the Tec just as an added precaution

Gonna give this a try tomorrow and see if it makes any difference. I told him that if this keeps up into the 2nd month I may want to try Copaxone. I've had to miss a few days of work due to the severity of the stomach cramps and never knowing if i'll make it to the bathroom.

If anyone has any other suggestions or has tried the method the dr gave me please feel free to chime in.
Would much rather deal with flushing/itching then the stomach issues.