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Symptoms have improved after starting Tecfidera

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    Symptoms have improved after starting Tecfidera

    Diagnosed with MS in January 2017. Dr. recommended Tecfidera and started taking in February 2017. Side effects are minimal in my opinion. Sometimes experience flushing, heartburn once or twice a week, get a little emotional now and again, but the worst side effect is body soreness (similar to flu aches) in the morning when waking up that usually lasts for 30-45 minutes but goes away. My MS symptoms were numbness in legs below the knees, numbness in my hands, numbness in my abdomen, and reduced balance/coordination. After being on Tec for about 4-6 months I realized that my symptoms were reducing. At 8 months most of my symptoms/numbness/coordination (approx 80%) were gone. Due to financial aid and $0 copay pharmacy program I had to switch pharmacy. Delay in paperwork caused a gap in my tecfidera prescription. After being off tec for 5 days my symptoms began to return. Once I was back on tec, numbness subsided again. BTW, also taking 4,000u per day of vitamin D.

    #2
    Originally posted by tcall View Post
    Diagnosed with MS in January 2017. Dr. recommended Tecfidera and started taking in February 2017. Side effects are minimal in my opinion. Sometimes experience flushing, heartburn once or twice a week, get a little emotional now and again, but the worst side effect is body soreness (similar to flu aches) in the morning when waking up that usually lasts for 30-45 minutes but goes away. My MS symptoms were numbness in legs below the knees, numbness in my hands, numbness in my abdomen, and reduced balance/coordination. After being on Tec for about 4-6 months I realized that my symptoms were reducing. At 8 months most of my symptoms/numbness/coordination (approx 80%) were gone. Due to financial aid and $0 copay pharmacy program I had to switch pharmacy. Delay in paperwork caused a gap in my tecfidera prescription. After being off tec for 5 days my symptoms began to return. Once I was back on tec, numbness subsided again. BTW, also taking 4,000u per day of vitamin D.
    Hello and welcome tcall

    Glad to know that Tecfidera is helping you!

    Wishing you continued success with it.:thumbs_up :

    I believe that Vitamin D is also beneficial. I noticed a big difference in fatigue levels/energy after I began taking Vitamin D.

    Take Care
    PPMS for 26 years (dx 1998)
    ~ Worrying will not take away tomorrow's troubles ~ But it will take away today's peace. ~

    Comment


      #3
      Hmmm. Tecfidera is designed to cut relapses in half, slow the development of brain lesions, and delay the progression of physical disability. It is likely doing those things. I'm not sure if your change in symptoms can be attributed to Tecfidera.

      I'm glad that the side effects are decreasing. I hope for continued good results for you.

      Vitamin D is a good addition to your strategies against MS. I also take other supplements. Omega3 fish oil is another one that I wouldn't be without.
      ~ Faith
      MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
      (now a Mimibug)

      Symptoms began in JAN02
      - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
      - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
      .

      - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
      - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

      Comment


        #4
        Tecfidera is not supposed to do that! You are correct!

        Thank you for your reply. That is correct, Tecfidera is not supposed to help with the symptoms. That is why I felt it needed to be shared. I have been looking for other reasons with my specialist for this fortunate situation but cannot attribute it to anything. Tecfidera is the only medicine that I am taking and is the first and only prescription that has been prescribed to me for my MS. The only supplements I take are Vitamin D and B complex. My symptoms are almost gone. I can even jog again (haven't been able to do that for two years).

        When insurance issues forced a gap in my Tecfidera dosage my symptoms started returning in 5 days of no pills (not happy about that). Once back on the Tecfidera my symptoms began to subside again. The neurologist says that it can't be the Tecfidera because it’s simply not designed to do that. Nonetheless.... I can't say for sure what has caused this nor that it will continue so I'm dusting off my snow skis this winter and enjoying it while I can!! :-) In the meantime the neurologist would like to put me back in the "tube" and get some more pics of the scarring to see if anything has changed.

        Comment


          #5
          Thank you

          Thank you for the reply. I would have never expected that from taking a Vitamin. Achiness and fatigue sort go hand-in-hand. Maybe it is the vitamin D that is causing it. :-)

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by tcall View Post
            Thank you for the reply. I would have never expected that from taking a Vitamin. Achiness and fatigue sort go hand-in-hand. Maybe it is the vitamin D that is causing it. :-)
            There are ongoing research studies and clinical trials investigating the influence of Vitamin D and MS.

            This is from the National MS Society:

            Research is increasingly pointing to a reduced level of vitamin D in the blood as a risk factor for developing MS, and studies are underway to determine if vitamin D levels influence MS disease activity. Recent research also points to a possible role for vitamin D in neuroprotection and myelin repair.

            https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Re...ress/Vitamin-D

            Take Care
            PPMS for 26 years (dx 1998)
            ~ Worrying will not take away tomorrow's troubles ~ But it will take away today's peace. ~

            Comment


              #7
              Wow! I spent half the night reading about vitamin D. Thank you for the info! I think I'm a good 'guinea pig' subject here because of the few medications I'm taking. And now since you mentioned it... when I ran out of Tecfidera and found my symptoms beginning to return, not only did I stop taking the Tec, I also stopped taking the vitamin D. I just never thought that a vitamin could have such an effect!!!!!


              Originally posted by KoKo View Post
              There are ongoing research studies and clinical trials investigating the influence of Vitamin D and MS.

              This is from the National MS Society:

              Research is increasingly pointing to a reduced level of vitamin D in the blood as a risk factor for developing MS, and studies are underway to determine if vitamin D levels influence MS disease activity. Recent research also points to a possible role for vitamin D in neuroprotection and myelin repair.

              https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Re...ress/Vitamin-D

              Take Care

              Comment

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