Fever and wheezing on Tec **Update**

[Punchy]

I'm on day 3 of taking three 120mg per day (two in the am, one in the pm).

I'm titrating very slowly because it's killing my stomach.

Anyway about 2 hours after the morning dose I started wheezing, bad enough that I can't lie down. I also have a dry cough.

I thought it could be reflux so I took some Gaviscon, which helped the tummy but not the breathing.

Now I have a headache, fever of 101.5 and annoying side pain. I've read about people feeling feverish but I've never seen an actual elevated temp.

I know if I got to a walk-in they'll be completely useless as they won't be familiar with the drug.

I should also mention that I had a viral bronchial infection about two weeks ago, but thought I had recovered.

Thoughts?

[NHE]

Thoughts?

Call your neurologist's office. Perhaps the doctor's nurse can offer some help and advice.

[Punchy]

An update: turned out I had a pulmonary embolism with pneumonia on top of it. Have been in hospital all week.

Coincidentally, the clot likely migrated the day after I upped my Tecfidera to 3/day. The docs don't think there's a connection, however they aren't familiar with the drug and they have no idea why this happened given that I have low risk factors.

Should I report to BioGen anyway?

[californiadreamin]

glad to hear you are ok. That sounded really serious. My wife is on Tecfidera and from everything i know it doesnt seem to be related. She got shingles after being on it a few months but probably not a connection either. One thing to keep in mind especially when starting Tec and having issues, is all the other changes you are making while you are trying to get used to it (other drugs, eating, exercise or lack of those things).

totally understand how you feel about going to a walk in though. I would surely report to biogen. That will likely note it. In our case the shingles wasnt noted as connected (though it is for Gilyena) but enough people note it, they may consider it a related item in the future.

[euphoniaa]

An update: turned out I had a pulmonary embolism with pneumonia on top of it. Have been in hospital all week.

Coincidentally, the clot likely migrated the day after I upped my Tecfidera to 3/day. The docs don't think there's a connection, however they aren't familiar with the drug and they have no idea why this happened given that I have low risk factors.

Should I report to BioGen anyway?

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that and I wish you a speedy, healthy recovery!

As for your question, yes, you should absolutely report that event to BioGen, and also to the FDA. If people hesitate to report, assuming it's not likely to be from their med, it will take much longer for them to discover whether there is a real connection.

Here's a link to the FDA's reporting procedure: https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch/how ... 053074.htm

[SeanReynolds]

Chlamydophila pneumoniae (CPn) starts as a lung infection by the way. May be a large factor in your pneumonia, as well as causing your MS. Your Tec treatment may well just be messing with it, possibly killing it somewhat with sequelae as you've experienced.

One of my MS patients who had pneumonia many years ago who was recently diagnosed with MS says they've had a strong 'pneumonia' type feeling the whole time in recent months and years as well.

[Punchy]

Well, I had a pulmonary embolism. Lots of trauma to lung tissue, so no surprise that pneumonia took hold.

I'm titrating back up to 3x120mg today. Scared as heck, but I'm gonna give it one more try.