yes, this is true. I usually have a lot of side effects from drugs, and in fact had to go off copaxone because it made me too sick. But I have virtually no side effects from my tysabri infusions - i'm a bit woozy afterwards (in part because they give me benadryl right before the infusion) for a day or two, and sometimes a little digestive weirdness for a few days but often not. And that's it.

To me, the scariest parts are that it is strongly immunosuppressive and you are more likely to get infections - for example I've had several UTIs since starting 8-9 months ago - AND there's the possibility (which increases a lot around 2 years of treatment) of a very bad disease called PML. So I'm hoping to get off after about a year .

JD

I went to the dr today. He is putting me on Gilenya. I must be off Ty for 3 months. My dr is more concerned about the washout time. Says i must do Copaxone for 2 months then go on Gilenya. A dr in his practice took someone off Tty and di not put him on anything else and said it was the worst mistake he ever made.

Sheesh, from the frying pan into the fire. There are side effects with G, too. And why Copaxone, in between? I think I'd get a second opinion. JMHO.

I am not sure y Copaxone but i read on another site that someone else did the same thing. My Dr consulted an MS specialist because he was unsure what to do. I was on Copaxone for 4 years when i was first diagnosed. Later went to rebif before Tysabri. It may be that here is no washout period for Copaxone.
I am not excited about going on Gilenya and my husband does not understand y. Dr not excited either because so new but no other good options. They wont let me stay on the Tysabri which has been wonderful. By the way he never loved Tysabri either last month he put his second patient on it in the 2 1/2 years i have been on it he was leary but i did so well he offered it to someone else.
Take care
laurie f

Hi -- I may be going off Tysabri soon and switching to Gilenya. If I do I will be off it for 60 days (which I do anyhow since I get it every other month). Then on day 60 I will have 1,000 mg. of steroids IV and on day 90 I will start Gilenya. The steroidS are a safety measure to prevent relapse or the rebound effect. I always thought that copaxone took several months to kick in and work. Good luck! Keep us posted.

Natalie

I also thought that when i went on Copaxone originally 10 years ago they told me it takes a few months to syart working..

You mentioned you do Ty every other month, do you have any problems in between?

Thanks and good luck
laurie f