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Within a few minutes of injecting rebif, my symptoms (ie balance and weakness) are MUCH worse. does everyone get this same reaction?

I have been using rebif for the past 3.5 months.

I have never had that kind of reaction, and haven't heard of that before. My only thought is that if the injection makes you anxious, then you might feel woozy immediately afterwards. Maybe someone else can help...

carolsue

even though i HATE inections, it is definitely physical.

During the injection itself, i can already feel (see) my eyesight is effected in a hard to describe way. The "tingling" in my hands and feet changes also. It is definitely a physical change in my ability to balance, and strength.

To make the injection more bearable, I also use a product called "Emla" which takes any pain away (on the skin, not from the actual injection, ie buring if i inject to fast)

And the next day, I also get a general feeling of having a fever 24/7 (ie chills), and my skin can sometimes generally "hurt" mildly, and I have even had a headache three days in a row (just in the evening). and i never used to get headaches before i started rebif. I also feel tired fairly early in the day, even though i have had plenty of sleep.

This all sounds so wishy-washy, but if anyone is going through it, they would know what i am talking of.

Is this common? or should I be talking to my neurologist about changing my medication?

Try taking 2 Tylenol about half an hour BEFORE the shot. It really helps with the aches, pains, headache and other flu like symptoms.

Also, warm the Rebif for at least 10 minutes under your arm pit - it brings the serum up to your body temp. before injection. Seems to make it less iritating.

Lastly, I find lying still for 3 - 5 minutes after the shot also seems to help although I have no idea why. But if it works - who cares why!

oreo wrote:Try taking 2 Tylenol about half an hour BEFORE the shot. It really helps with the aches, pains, headache and other flu like symptoms.

yep, took two tablets, but found that anything with codine in it worked best for me.

oreo wrote: Also, warm the Rebif for at least 10 minutes under your arm pit - it brings the serum up to your body temp. before injection. Seems to make it less iritating.

I warmed it up for an hour at room temp, then held it in my hand for the last 5minutes.

oreo wrote:Lastly, I find lying still for 3 - 5 minutes after the shot also seems to help although I have no idea why. But if it works - who cares why!

Ok, this is new, but i usually took it within 30 minutes of going to bed. anyway, it was the next day that I also felt "less than average".

Its all acedemic now, as i have taken myself off of Rebif. The side effects for me were truly unbearable. Me and rebif were not getting along, and i have actually had a relapse (admittedly, it was only 2 months after starting rebif, and I read it takes some time for it to be fully effective).

I have decided i will try all the oral options (ie statins, LDN etc) before I go back to injections (and then probably something other than Rebif).

Ironically, i am just starting to give Aimspro (goat serum via injections) a try.

thanks.