Tecfidera How to minimize or Eliminate Side Effects
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:22 am
Greetings,
I thought I would restate part of another post I have responded to some folks and give better detail so anyone considering taking Tecfidera or getting on it and having gastric issues might benefit by some suggestions that is working for me and several other folks that were in the first wave of getting on the new med. I received most of my tips from my MS Specialist at the MS Center of Atlanta and his Team and some I figured out in the timing of the meals and meds myself and reported my success to him this week. He is very pleased with these practical suggestions.
The initial recommendation was Tecfidera could be taken with or without meals. Most of us are having great success with making sure we are taking an enteric coated full Aspirin along with our Tecfidera and a "full meal". It needs to have protein, carbs, fat. Not a big meal, but we were told by those in clinical trials that toast and peanutbutter or a bowl of oatmeal won't do it. Example if you could eat a Sausage, egg with muffin along with your coffee or beverage, you would be giving yourself enough of what was needed to help absorb and minimize any gastric side effects.
Note: In the Frozen Food Section of your grocery store, check out the Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches. 4 to a box, already cooked, just needs 1 1/2 minutes on defrost then turn over (wrap in paper towel) and then cook on high for 45 seconds. There are many selections. Sausage egg & cheese on English muffin, My favorite is the Croissant with sausage and egg and cheese, you can get with Bacon, turkey sausage, etc. Easy to even take in car on way to work.
On the weekend, I cook breakfast.
Waffle or pancakes as long as you make with eggs and add bacon or ham or sausage on the side, juice, coffee...good to go.
Dinner, I have learned to not eat late (not to lay down for a couple hours to allow food to process). I have better success not eating spicy or acidic foods, but some type of meat/chicken/pork along with a salad and rice or potato is great. For a few of us (me and some friends with MS all on pill same time) we can't eat pasta with spaghetti sauce for dinner because too acidic, but ok for lunch. mac n cheese with meatballs, etc., good.
I am now in month 2, and am doing great and as long as I eat properly I am not having any more side-effects. Dropping off the 2nd Aspirin tonight (the one I have been taking with evening meal and pill).
My regimin which many people are doing is as follows:
Get up in the AM take all my regular meds PLUS a full 325mg (not heart strength of 81mg) coated aspirin. In my case this includes my medicine for GERD, prevacid.
1 hour later have breakfast (as outlined above) WITH the Tecfidera.
Lunch, have normal lunch.
5 pm which for me is 1 hour before dinner, take another 325mg enteric coated aspirin AND for me my evening Previcid for my GERD.
6pm eat Dinner AND take my Tecfidera.
Bedtime take the remainder of my evening pills.
Once I was finished with my first full month on Tecfidera I was able to DROP the evening aspirin.
DIETARY LESSONS LEARNED: Soup at dinner (supper) even if "chunky" soup was too much liquid for me. Many of us PASTA with RED Spaghetti sauce OK at lunch, too acidic at dinner (supper) time. OK with salad any time, While starting this med, I cut back on raw veggies beyond salad and stayed away from Broccoli or Cauliflower or Beans for Dinner time too gassy.
The few times in the afternoon when I got a little nausea after about day 3 or 4 of being on full strength at 240mg twice a day, eating a few crackers and of course while on a new med making sure I drink plenty of water. Coffee has not been a problem, I don't drink soda but I did get in trouble with acidic stomach after having yellow lemonaid at dinner, so won't do that again.
With this regimin I have not had any severe side effects they were mild and then totally gone.
Good Luck everyone. I am very HOPEFUL.
Blessings,
I thought I would restate part of another post I have responded to some folks and give better detail so anyone considering taking Tecfidera or getting on it and having gastric issues might benefit by some suggestions that is working for me and several other folks that were in the first wave of getting on the new med. I received most of my tips from my MS Specialist at the MS Center of Atlanta and his Team and some I figured out in the timing of the meals and meds myself and reported my success to him this week. He is very pleased with these practical suggestions.
The initial recommendation was Tecfidera could be taken with or without meals. Most of us are having great success with making sure we are taking an enteric coated full Aspirin along with our Tecfidera and a "full meal". It needs to have protein, carbs, fat. Not a big meal, but we were told by those in clinical trials that toast and peanutbutter or a bowl of oatmeal won't do it. Example if you could eat a Sausage, egg with muffin along with your coffee or beverage, you would be giving yourself enough of what was needed to help absorb and minimize any gastric side effects.
Note: In the Frozen Food Section of your grocery store, check out the Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches. 4 to a box, already cooked, just needs 1 1/2 minutes on defrost then turn over (wrap in paper towel) and then cook on high for 45 seconds. There are many selections. Sausage egg & cheese on English muffin, My favorite is the Croissant with sausage and egg and cheese, you can get with Bacon, turkey sausage, etc. Easy to even take in car on way to work.
On the weekend, I cook breakfast.
Waffle or pancakes as long as you make with eggs and add bacon or ham or sausage on the side, juice, coffee...good to go.
Dinner, I have learned to not eat late (not to lay down for a couple hours to allow food to process). I have better success not eating spicy or acidic foods, but some type of meat/chicken/pork along with a salad and rice or potato is great. For a few of us (me and some friends with MS all on pill same time) we can't eat pasta with spaghetti sauce for dinner because too acidic, but ok for lunch. mac n cheese with meatballs, etc., good.
I am now in month 2, and am doing great and as long as I eat properly I am not having any more side-effects. Dropping off the 2nd Aspirin tonight (the one I have been taking with evening meal and pill).
My regimin which many people are doing is as follows:
Get up in the AM take all my regular meds PLUS a full 325mg (not heart strength of 81mg) coated aspirin. In my case this includes my medicine for GERD, prevacid.
1 hour later have breakfast (as outlined above) WITH the Tecfidera.
Lunch, have normal lunch.
5 pm which for me is 1 hour before dinner, take another 325mg enteric coated aspirin AND for me my evening Previcid for my GERD.
6pm eat Dinner AND take my Tecfidera.
Bedtime take the remainder of my evening pills.
Once I was finished with my first full month on Tecfidera I was able to DROP the evening aspirin.
DIETARY LESSONS LEARNED: Soup at dinner (supper) even if "chunky" soup was too much liquid for me. Many of us PASTA with RED Spaghetti sauce OK at lunch, too acidic at dinner (supper) time. OK with salad any time, While starting this med, I cut back on raw veggies beyond salad and stayed away from Broccoli or Cauliflower or Beans for Dinner time too gassy.
The few times in the afternoon when I got a little nausea after about day 3 or 4 of being on full strength at 240mg twice a day, eating a few crackers and of course while on a new med making sure I drink plenty of water. Coffee has not been a problem, I don't drink soda but I did get in trouble with acidic stomach after having yellow lemonaid at dinner, so won't do that again.
With this regimin I have not had any severe side effects they were mild and then totally gone.
Good Luck everyone. I am very HOPEFUL.
Blessings,