It's been a few years since I've been active on this board - tried to avoid thinking about MS for a while. Anyways, I had been on Copaxone since diagnosis in 9/20808 (actually started in the CombiRX trial), and due to lack of motivation/complacency/denial, I haven't done the shots regularly in over 1 year.
Recently, I decided to find a new neuro, and she ordered a baseline MRI. It showed at least one new brain lesion (enhancing, which is new for me), so I've decided to go back on a med. We narrowed it down to either going back to Copaxone or trying Tecfidera. I am a little torn about which one to start, and I'd like to get comments, especially from those who considered a switch and did or did not make it.
Sticking myself with a needle never really bothered me, and I never got any bad side effects from the Copaxone. And I will say my MS was pretty stable while I was on it (I realize this and the new lesion being off it could be coincidence). But the needles are pretty inconvenient - having to keep them refrigerated, taking them when you travel, disposing of them (I have a bio-hazard container full of syringes that I need to dispose of somehow).
On the flip side, though the convenience of a pill is nice, I've been reading about the side effects of Tecfidera. And I'm not sure I want to have to deal with new side effects right now. Plus, there's the routine blood monitoring that you have to do.
Sorry for the long-winded rambling. As I said, I like to hear others thoughts.
Recently, I decided to find a new neuro, and she ordered a baseline MRI. It showed at least one new brain lesion (enhancing, which is new for me), so I've decided to go back on a med. We narrowed it down to either going back to Copaxone or trying Tecfidera. I am a little torn about which one to start, and I'd like to get comments, especially from those who considered a switch and did or did not make it.
Sticking myself with a needle never really bothered me, and I never got any bad side effects from the Copaxone. And I will say my MS was pretty stable while I was on it (I realize this and the new lesion being off it could be coincidence). But the needles are pretty inconvenient - having to keep them refrigerated, taking them when you travel, disposing of them (I have a bio-hazard container full of syringes that I need to dispose of somehow).
On the flip side, though the convenience of a pill is nice, I've been reading about the side effects of Tecfidera. And I'm not sure I want to have to deal with new side effects right now. Plus, there's the routine blood monitoring that you have to do.
Sorry for the long-winded rambling. As I said, I like to hear others thoughts.
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