I was diagnosed in June, and started Rebif 4 weeks ago. I have just finished my last 22 mcg, and tuesday is my first 44 mcg injection. When I began Rebif, my symptoms, which are primarily sensory, had been stable for about 3 months. Two days after my first dose of Rebif, my sensory symptoms (originally mostly in one arm and hand) worsened, spreading to my foot, and then both feet, and both legs over the course of about 2 weeks. The other side effects I have experienced have been mostly minimal, headaches, hot flashes.
Anyone else have this experience?
Rebif causing increase in sensory symptoms?
Re: Rebif causing increase in sensory symptoms?
Welcome to the ThisIsMS forum. Your symptoms are not something that I'm familiar with respect to Ifn-B's side effects. The increase in symptoms could have occurred coincidentally with your start of Rebif. However, in case you haven't already, then it sounds like something important that you should discuss with your doctor.lemstar wrote:I was diagnosed in June, and started Rebif 4 weeks ago. I have just finished my last 22 mcg, and tuesday is my first 44 mcg injection. When I began Rebif, my symptoms, which are primarily sensory, had been stable for about 3 months. Two days after my first dose of Rebif, my sensory symptoms (originally mostly in one arm and hand) worsened, spreading to my foot, and then both feet, and both legs over the course of about 2 weeks. The other side effects I have experienced have been mostly minimal, headaches, hot flashes.
Anyone else have this experience?
NHE
lemstar, a few things...first, welcome to TIMS.
Second, though interferon begins working right away, the effect builds up over the first few months, so it is possible that something was flaring up with your MS.
Third, one of the side effects of IFN is flu-like symptoms, which include fever. Fever/heat can exacerbate existing symptoms, so it could have been heat related.
But I agree with NHE, it may be something you want to discuss with your doctor.
Second, though interferon begins working right away, the effect builds up over the first few months, so it is possible that something was flaring up with your MS.
Third, one of the side effects of IFN is flu-like symptoms, which include fever. Fever/heat can exacerbate existing symptoms, so it could have been heat related.
But I agree with NHE, it may be something you want to discuss with your doctor.