The Mystery Journey~Multiple Sclerosis
A Different Way~So You Will Know~So You Can Decide! Stay Strong! Stay Healthy!
Traditional Disease Modifying Drugs~
The different Disease Modifying Drugs are:
- Beta interferon 1a - known by the trade names AVONEX® and REBIF®
- Beta interferon 1b - known by the trade name BETASERON®
- Glatiramer acetate -known by the trade name COPAXONE®
- Natalizumab --------known by the trade name TYSABRI®
- Mitosantrone - know by the trade name NOVANTRONE(registered)
Possible Side Effects of Rebif~
Possible Side Effects
Injection-site reactions
Soreness, redness, pain, bruising, or swelling may occur at the place of the injection.
Flu-like symptoms
Most patients have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sweating, muscle aches, and fatigue).
Depression
If you are feeling noticeably sadder or helpless, or feel like hurting yourself or others, you should tell a family member or friend right away and call your doctor as soon as possible. Inform your doctor if you
have ever had any mental illness, including depression, and if you take any medications for depression.
Liver problems
Your liver may be affected by taking Rebif and a few patients have developed severe liver injury. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to make sure that your liver is working properly. If your skin or the whites of your eyes become yellow or if you are bruising easily you should call your doctor right away.
Blood abnormalities
Rebif may affect your blood cell counts, so you may be asked to have regular blood tests to make sure your blood cell levels have not dropped. If you have difficulty fighting an infection, feel tired or sluggish, or bruise or bleed easily, contact your doctor.
Depression
Some patients taking interferons have become very depressed and/or anxious. If this happens you should contact your doctor immediately.
Liver problems
Your liver may be affected by taking Rebif and a few patients have developed severe liver injury. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to make sure that your liver is working properly. If your skin or the whites of your eyes become yellow or if you are bruising easily you should call your doctor right away.
Risk to Pregnancy
If you become pregnant while taking Rebif you should stop using Rebif immediately and call your doctor. Rebif may cause you to lose your baby (miscarry) or may cause harm to your unborn child. You and your doctor will need to decide whether the potential benefit of taking Rebif is greater than the risks are to your unborn child.
A pregnancy registry has been established to monitor pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to Rebif while pregnant. Patients are encouraged to have their health care provider register them at rebifpregnancyregistry.com or by calling MS LifeLines at 1-877-447-3243 Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm ET.
Allergic reactions
Some patients taking Rebif have had severe allergic reactions, leading to difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness. If you think you are having an allergic reaction, you should stop therapy immediately and contact your doctor. Allergic reactions can happen after the first dose or after you have taken Rebif many times.
Injection-site problems
Rebif may cause redness, pain, or swelling at the site. A few patients have developed infections or areas of severe skin damage (necrosis). If one of your injection sites becomes swollen, painful, or infected and does not heal within a few days, contact your doctor.
Thyroid problems
Your thyroid function may change, and you may be asked to have regular blood tests to monitor your thyroid function. Symptoms of thyroid change include feeling cold or hot all the time and/or unexplained change in your weight. Contact your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
Less severe allergic reactions
Some patients have had hives, rash, skin bumps, or itching while they were taking Rebif. If you think you are having an allergic reaction, stop using Rebif immediately and contact your doctor.
For tips on dealing with the most common side effects, click here.
Talk to your doctor about these side effects or any other questions you may have about changing to the Rebif therapy.
Possible Side Effects of Copaxone~
The most common side effects of COPAXONE® are redness, pain, swelling, itching, or a lump at the site of injection, flushing, chest pain, weakness, infection, pain, nausea, joint pain, anxiety, and muscle stiffness. These reactions are usually mild and seldom require professional treatment. Be sure to tell your doctor about any side effects.
Some patients report a short-term reaction right after injecting COPAXONE®. This reaction can involve flushing (feeling of warmth and/or redness), chest tightness or pain with heart palpitations, anxiety, and trouble breathing. These symptoms generally appear within minutes of an injection, last about 15 minutes, and go away by themselves without further problems.
After you inject COPAXONE®, call your doctor right away if you develop hives, skin rash with irritation, dizziness, sweating, chest pain, trouble breathing, severe pain at the injection site or other uncomfortable changes in your general health. Do not give yourself any more injections until your doctor tells you to begin again.
Possible Side Effects of Tysabri~
Tysabri increases the chance of patients getting a rare brain infection that usually causes death or severe disability. This infection is called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML usually happens in people with weakened immune systems.
- No one can predict who will get PML.
- There is no known treatment, prevention, or cure for PML.
- A patient’s chance of getting PML may be higher if he or she is also being treated with other medicines that can weaken the immune system, including other MS treatments.
- Even if Tysabri is used alone to treat MS, it is not known if the chance of getting PML will be lower. It is also not known if treatment for a long period of time with Tysabri can increase the chance of getting PML.
- Other serious side effects include allergic reactions, which usually occur within 2 hours of the infusion, but can happen at any time after receiving Tysabri.
- Tysabri may also increase the chance of getting an unusual or serious infection
- Anaphylactic reaction
Possible Side Effects of LDN~
There are no known long term side effects of low dose naltrexone. However, some individuals experience vivid dreams, trouble sleeping, GI upset, spasticity and transient symptoms. These side affects ususally stop after 2 to 3 weeks. Take note it is a mere 3 mg. to 4.5 mg.
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