Quick poll for all those on Tecfidera

[sjpaddock]

South Carolina

Hope, where in SC are you located? I am in Spartanburg.

[Kinger]

Tec Issues

I have been on Tec for 3 months, just had a 3 day course of IV Steroids. Doc told me it takes 6 months to work. I am hoping he is right as only option is back to Ty and I am JC+ and had 30 infusions. I definitely felt better on Ty, no side affects.
Tec seems to give my joints pain and the other stuff is minimal. If Copaxone works stay on it.

[hope32]

Hope, where in SC are you located? I am in Spartanburg.

Columbia!

[premington]

I've been on Tecfidera for about 2 months. Common side effects for me are:

- Mild stomach/GI discomfort (chronic)
- Flushing (occasional)
- Fatigue (chronic)

-Paul

[catriles]

??

Hi, I've only been on Tec for a little more than 2 weeks, but no issues other than two instances of flushing. I take it with food and with one baby aspirin.

I'm very pleased as this is the very first DMD I've been on.

I have just started the starter kit for a week. No side effects for 2 full days, I was not told to take it with one baby aspirin ?? What is that for can someone tell me why or what it does ? I thank you.

[nosrepmodnar]

I started taking it to help with occasional flushing.
I will probably stop before my current bottle of aspirin runs out to see if I actually need to buy another bottle or not.

[premington]

I have just started the starter kit for a week. No side effects for 2 full days, I was not told to take it with one baby aspirin ?? What is that for can someone tell me why or what it does ? I thank you.

325mg of aspirin reduces the effects of flushing. It's actually recommended by the pharmaceutical company, Biogen. Sometimes internal discomfort can also be caused by flushing of your organs (my case with stomach and bowels). Aspirin cleared this up.

I'm not exactly sure why aspirin works. That's a question best posed to your doctor. But it does, for some of us. Without aspirin, I tend to get periodic flushing of the skin and intense, transient stomach/bowel pain. When I take aspirin, it almost totally removes these symptoms for me, at this stage in my taking Tecfidera (I've been on it for almost two months).

If you're having flushing issues, give it a try! If you're not sure, talk with your neurologist.

-Paul

[football-mom]

I had kinda moderate symptoms for awhile, but I'm near the end of month four now. Suddenly about two weeks ago I turned a corner and all of my symptoms settled down. Not gone completely, but I feel really good right now.

[livinms]

Been on Tec for 9 months

It's been working fine for the most part.
I have to wonder though if the chronic bronchitis I battled with for 4 months may have been a side effect. I've now been dx with adult asthma.

I've missed doses mainly in the evening. My legs do get weaker in the evenings but I think the Tec is working well for me. I'll have another MRI in June to see if there are any new leisons. I haven't had an MRI in 3 yrs. Was on Copax for 5 yrs prior. I just don't want anymore needles!

[emc1]

Tefidera

On week 2 with 240 mg. Side effects:
1.) 4 hours after taking flushing and some itching last about 30 minutes. Not so much after evening dose. Or I may be asleep already.
2.) Clear nasal drainage, constant (never been an allergy sufferer)

[cvms]

Emc1,

The clear nasal drainage has happened to several of us. Someone described it as a bloody nose type feeling, coming on all of a sudden. I still get it occasionally after almost a year on Tec. Not sure why it happens though.

[rsinger]

runny nose

Had the runny nose as well. Don't seem to have the problem any more. 3 months in at this point.

[kjmckenna]

Tec Symptoms

Thanks for starting this thread as it's good for newbies to hear the good, bad and ugly as whenever I would go to sites like this previously it was mostly ugly which is scary especially for individuals recently diagnosed.

I've been on Tec for 3 weeks - 1st week a little flushing, 2nd week slight GI issues, 3rd week more than slight GI issues. GI issues are worse when I skip meals so have found I need to change my eating habits. All have been tolerable but do hope the GI goes away because it's mostly at night and interrupting my sleep so although I do feel like my cognitive issues are better....I can't speak to my fatigue because of lack of sleep.

Overall, I'm glad to not be taking Rebif any longer as you don't realize how giving yourself a shot wears on you.

[kjmckenna]

New side effects

BTW, if you are having side effects that have not been communicated to date - I encourage you to call the Tecfidera hot line so Biogen can start to monitor and re-label if appropriate.

[angelrob]

Day 1, some heartburn, fixed with baking soda and water. 1.5 hours of flushing (head to toe except my front torso) and itching (arms) happened about 3.5 hours after the first pill. I did not take aspirin beforehand, but did take benadryl when I noticed the redness/itching. May try the aspirin tonight.

Some stomach ickiness, but am nibbling throughout the day and drinking lots of water so it's definitely tolerable.

Fingers crossed...
Robbin