Interesting point, Cherie - but then I think - lots of drugs have side effects - and sometimes the benefit of the med is worth the side effect. Sometimes it isn't. It's an individual choice.

Also - interesting choice of words - about our bodies fighting the drug - right now, my body is fighting itself....or that is the current belief - MS is an auto-immune disease. My body is already at war...and is not even agreeing with itself! How can I expect it to agree with anything?

Most drugs have side effects. For instance, anti-depressants cause dry mouth in some people or affect sex drive. Some people need iron supplements - but side effect is constipation, etc. There's a slew of examples, but I can't think of any at moment... darn holes in brain!

Anyhow....a drug/medication is a chemical we are putting into our bodies.... that in itself isn't natural. Some people react and have side effects, some don't. But either way - the med is doing something to our systems.

The interferon treatments give many people flu-like symptoms....that's the body reacting to it. Neurontin makes some people gain weight. etc. Chemotherapy does all sorts of bad stuff to people - but it's a major weapon in the fight against cancer.

It's a personal choice - to weigh out costs and benefits, I guess.

I think we all have our limits as to what we will put up with.

I'm still waiting for my stuff to be approved by the Tys people. I hope to start next Friday - and the closer I get to it - the more afraid I get. It was once thing when the PML was the big warning...but now there's a lot more on the list....lots to think about...

~Keri

ps/my favorite is when the list of side effects includes the actual problem you are taking the drug for - ie: sleeping pill bottle that says "may cause drowsiness" - uhhh....yeah! lol

A drug allergy is not a "side-effect", it is an adverse event.

The first recommended course of action, in the event of an allergic reaction, is to AVOID the allergen.

If the allergic reaction is not serious, and exposure is absolutely necessary, then we can work on de-sensitizing ourselves by being exposed to minute amounts of the allergen to work our way up to a therapeutic level/tolerable response. This is the standard approach to managing allergic reaction, at least as I've been taught.

I have never heard it recommended that we just immediately mask any/all allergic responses by pre-medicating everyone with antihistimines, not for any other drug, ever. I feel this approach defies logic.

I hope it does not prove to have a snowball effect, leading to other health problems in the longer run.

JMHO.

Cherie

Cherie I totally agree with you on this. Has no-one heard of anaphylaxis (as in cardiac arrest) from drug reactions?

All I can say is listen to your body. It's best to take heed now while adverse symptoms are not severe, rather than have them build up to a full blown anaphylactic reaction.

Please don't become a statistic barb. Please listen to what your body and your doctor have to say.

I'm sorry that what I'm saying is probably not what you want to hear, but some-one has to be the big bad wolf and tell it like it is.

I'm not a horrid person barb. I'm saying this because I care!

Thanks all, I'm calling MSActiveSource, let's see if I gat the same run around as red. ~Sheena~

"I am already a statistic" I do not think you are a horrid person. But I also plan to listen to my doctor rather than pay any attention to advice from individuals who perhaps do not have any experience with tysabri. I am not taking this drug blindly. I am aware of the possible problems and continuously weigh the pros and cons. I may have to quit taking it. Based on the research I have done, it is not that unusual for individuals to experience some side effects or reactions particularly in the first 6 months. Or it may be a sign that I have developed antibodies to the med. I have also had experienced an allergic reaction to interferons and had too many IPIR's while on copaxone. I would rather have a reaction in the doctor's office then at home alone. That being said, I would obviously rather have no problems at all. If I have to stop taking tysabri I am out of options other than the possiblity of getting into a study where I may be taking a placebo.