[MSbelle]

I just took my first dose... it was hardly anything, .25mL. Now I'm having bad chills and I think a fever is coming on. I feel like total crap. I knew this could be a side effect but the nurse made it seem like it was pretty uncommon. Anyone else taking interferons have similar side effects when starting? I'm scared this is going to be what it's like after every injection!

[SallyC]

Yep!!! For some, the side effects diminish over time and for some, NOT!! I gave
Avonex (an interferon) 7 months and had to get off of it, because of the sides...
..couldn't function.

I felt so much better after I stopped it, that I thought it did a good job.

[KittyLady]

When I took beta many years ago, I had to take Tylenol before the injection to combat those side effects. Do they have you doing that?

[Lynn]

Yep, yep and yep

Eight years of Beta, eight years of fever, chills, feeling like I had sunburn and then got rubbed down with sandpaper, and been hit by a truck every second day.

What time of day do you inject? I found early evening/late afternoon best so that I could take paracetamol at the time of the injection, and again four hours later. Then I would go to bed and try to sleep it off - often (especially if I was really tired) it worked and I was able to sleep through.

For lots of people I know, the side effects diminish and then stop after six months or so. I know a couple like me who never stopped the side effect marathon, and still others who did not experience any negative sides at all.

As far as my MS goes though, it stopped it in its tracks - so I feel it was worth it.

Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon.

[MSbelle]

Well the last two injections were super successful!! I did them before bed, and took a Naproxen (Aleve) an hour before (lasts longer than Tylenol/Advil). I didn't wake up at all or have any symptoms that I know of. Granted I was only taking 0.25mLs... I go up to 0.5mL tonight so that might change things up a bit. I have to make my way up to the whole vial which is over 1mL so I imagine the symptoms will come back as the dosages increase.

[MSbelle]

Update:

I increased my dosage last night up to 0.5mL. My daughter woke me up earlier to come in to our bed than usual (around midnight) and I was right in the middle of feeling real flu-y again. Couldn't get warm. I could have slept through it but because she woke me I had to deal with it. I did fall back to sleep thanks to having her warmth next to me.

Now today I am EXHAUSTED. Not normally so. I do take Baclofen which I know makes me tired, but not like this! I drove my kids to their appropriate places and instead of going to get groceries I just came home and slept. I am awake now but I still don't think I should drive, I am gong to go back to bed.

Is it common to feel like you have been hit by a sleep train the next day from Beta?

ETA- I also have a headache, which isn't normal for me.

[SallyC]

Probably the increase in beta dosage, brought on all the
symptoms you had. In time, I hope the side effects lessen.

[MSbelle]

Thanks for the reply, Sally. I am sure it is. This is very unusual for me. I'm normally very go go go.

I took a caffeine pill and an Advil, am having a snack and am going to go get those groceries. My mission for the day lol.