tysabri therapy

It is being recommended that I switch from Copaxone (or any shot) to Tysabri, Tecfidera or Gilenya. What are you guys using?

Over the last 12 years he has been on Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone drugs. Now he is completing the 2 year mark of using Tysabri. Dr Appointment in 2 weeks assume he will stop infusions. I wonder what is next???? How are others doing after all these treatment and now what do they take???

Until recently, I had both traditional medicare, and a full secondary in a full secondary insurance that was provided through my husband's employer. Then, my husband and I found out how much his employer (a small business) was paying to have me on the plan... We were paying a portion of it, but his employer was paying close to $1200 per month- just for me. Our consciences just couldn't let it go on anymore, so we decided that I would get onto a MedAdvantage plan instead.

CAN I STOP TAKING TYSABRI. IT IS GETTING TOO EXPENSIVE. I HAVE A $4,OOO OUT OF POCKET BEFORE MY INSURANCE WILL PAY 100%.

Okay, I've had MS for 13 years. I was just taken off Tysabri in July, I was on that for almost 5 years. I now have to go on Gylena in January, but before I start the new drug...I have to do 6 months of iv steroids. 3 days every month with NO taper! I have just finished my second round...and I'm ready to through in the towel. The side affects of the steroids are at this point almost not worth doing. They are trying to prevent a relapse since I am not on any MS therapy.

Then there are the monoclonal antibodies. Tysabri (natalizumab) is one of these. Rituxan and Campath, which is showing promising results for RRMS, are also being used.

He feels that Tysabri is the way to go. I know that there are others here on it or used to be. I would love some insight on what to expect, how long it takes, etc... Thanks!

Which disease modifying drug therapy are you currently taking? With the recent addition of several new treatments, and as I ponder making a change, I'm curious as to how many here are on the various DMDs available. Also interested in those taking something not on the list (eg Novantrone), and whether you have been on more than one DMD and if so, why?

I finally figured out that the Copaxone was causing me to have severe migraines so we had to change our plan of action. They wanted me to decide which way to go, but sort of led the discussion towards Tysabri. My original neurologist wanted to start with that as well, but after appealing to the insurance several times they wouldn't approve it. This doctor actually took the time to talk and write down facts about my situation to back up the need.

Good to hear from you I take lyrica, diazapam, baclofen, tysabri, cymbalta and evoxax(for dry eyes and mouth) I am soo hoping to be able to get off several of these meds soon. I just started a therapy called foot zone therapy last week and it is amazing. the therapists' daughter has MS and so she learned it for her. Hoping this therapy will help reduce my meds. I am actually going to post about the therapy after a few more sessions.

My MS doc always gives a small dose of Solumedrol, which is much larger than a usual prednisone dose, to his new Tysabri patients. They get the IVSM in the first hour. Then they get the Tysabri in the next hour. His experience says that the mini-dose of IVSM helps the Tysabri get to work faster by cutting any inflammation in our system. He does that for the first three Tysabri doses when just beginning this therapy. I hope you are less itchy today and can reach your doctor in the morning.

I took Tysabri as my first drug, and was + from the beginning. I've been on it for almost 3 yrs and I think it has helped prevent future permanent flares. I have not heard that Tysabri can lead to more, its job is to help prevent more. It will not, however, reverse anything that has already happened or take away the pesky symptoms we often get. You can always go off of it but it sure is nice to only worry about it every 28 days!

I was scheduled to have my first Tysabri infusion tomorrow morning at 8:30. The infusion nurse called me Friday at 5:00 and told me we needed to reschedule because they needed one more thing from insurance. This is the same thing that happened with my first insurance approval and then it was denied. I'm worried the same thing is going to happen this time. They had me reschedule for May 30th. I'm afraid to get my hopes up. I guess time will tell.

I was on tysabri for 9 months till my liver decided it didnt like it anymore but I loved the drug went from using a cane to nothing. I just started gilenya yesterday so jury still out on that. Its been 7 months since being off therapy and feel like crap the fatigue is overwhelming and my balance is bad dragging foot again so should be using cane again just not mentally ready for it. if your jc neg I would go for the tysabri as long as insurance covers it 1 hr a month and done so easy.

Hey all, We have our handy go-to DMD User lists that gets bumped from time-to-time, but I've been thinking us regular users haven't discussed our therapy with each other lately. As regulars we typically provide input to new users, and don't discuss what we go through after years of using. Have you come across any new obstacles physically? If so, how did you overcome? Mental obstacles? Are your MRIs stable? And, what of your relapses? Any trends?

OK guys I need info..... anybody here on Tysabri? Anybody been on it previously? Any first hand input is helpful, as well as any info in general. My neuro tossed it out at the appt today - COMPLETELY blew me out of the water. Never saw it coming. The Rebif makes me sick and he's concerned that things keep advancing and I've never really had the elusive remission... :) He explained alot about Tysabri - truth vs hype.

I wanted to let all my new friends know that I had my first MRI today since I started taking the Tysabri 6 months ago. I was diagnosed in 1995 and in 1996 I started Avonex- which made me sick everyday for years. I changed to Copaxon in 2000 and I hated it, so I decided to quit all MS medications, except for muscle relaxers, anti-depressants, etc. In 2007, my new neurologist asked me to try Rebif, but my insurance would not pay for it.

t do a lengthy washout period after stopping tysabri and I understand that patient had also been on tysabri for a longer period of time. How will they ever untangle is it was the Gilenya, the Tysabri or both that opened the door for PML to enter? Argh! Why aren't answers these days just clearly marked? I hate having all these unanswered questions about therapy that is so critical.

I’ve held off on making this news public to you wonderful folks because honestly I felt like I didn’t need the distractions of lots of conversation about my choices and did not want any outside influences on my decision. In November, my neuro and I discussed changing my therapy – my body had decided it didn’t like the copaxone (I was back to egg shaped lumps at all the injection sites, and I had developed discomfort with each shot.

I was offered Gilenya when I had problems with Tysabri (which turned out to be something other than Tysabri that caused it) and after reading the cardiac warnings and other side effects, chose not to take it. Tysabri has a wonderful financial support program. They fully donated my first 4 months of Tysabri until I could get an insurance program in place. Tysabri is considered an "outpatient" procedure and under my insurance, is paid for now at 100%.

Tysabri therapy

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