Tecfiera - Dont be afraid!
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:46 pm
Thank you so much for visiting my post. I am sure you're reading this right now with some reservations and fears about taking Tecfidera. After reading all the horror stories online I was so insanely scared I was going to be on my bathroom floor rolling around in abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea for a month. However, I am actually quite surprised at how the last two months have turned out. I listened to LadyMac's advice and a number of other suggestions online, and I would love to share my experience in how "so far" I have taken Tecfidera with minimal to no side effects. Upon beginning the starter pack, I took 320mg of enteric coded aspirin one hour before I took my first pill. I also started my day with a full breakfast- sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. I take my pill between 8 and 9 am. I did feel some flushing and was red in the face and arms for about an hour....but it went away. There were times in the first week that i felt full and bloated right around lunch time, but that went away as well. Then after eating a healthy dinner, I take my 2nd pill between 8 and 9pm. I followed this regiment for the first week. During this time, after doing some considerable research, I decided to go gluten and dairy free as well. However, it hasn't adversely impacted the absorption of the medication...of which I am so thankful. Again, I was so extremely terrified to take the full dose of 240mg. I remember feeling slightly flushed around 12:30 pm...4 hours after I took the pill- and that was it. Since starting the full dose over three weeks ago, I have felt pretty normal. Before I started Tecfidera I was having an MS flare up- which included tingling, numbness, and weakness- and all of those symptoms have nearly disappeared. I still have great trepidation about the medication in general - like risk for PMI, high liver enzyme levels, proteinuria, and low white blood cell count...but for right now I hope it is reducing inflammation and stopping the progression of the disease. Please don't be afraid of Tecfidera and all that you read or hear about. Please let me know if you have any questions about my experience and hopefully you can and will have a positive experience too.