rebif and liver damage

It's not really at what level is serious, Now if your levels to start out with were 4x the high limit, then your doctor would have order additional test immediately. You have an elevated level and it keeps rising and not leveling off or dropping. If this continues your doctor will do a CT scan and/or an ultrasound of your liver. There are a number of conditions that cause elevation of ALT enzymes. As simply as eating fatty foods, to all types of hepatitis.

s attractive being a pill, but still having to monitor and test for liver damage with rebif just the same - if the stats are not reducing relapse rate better than rebif why switch. The hair thinning is a bit of a vanity that I might consider compromising if there were a benefit, but ... Well, I'm just not understanding the point. Maybe there are some who are allergic to the injections that could benefit from the pill instead?

Hi beeama! I don't know what the instances of anemia and interferons are, but if you've not taken any supplements, and then go off the rebif for a week or two, then re-run the labs and they check out good you very well could be affected. It is the docs responsibility to order the labs, but have found too I have to remember to ask for the script for labs. Since it was 6 months ago - they should be run again for good measure.

I just started Rebif again this week on a very gradual titration schedule, and my liver will be monitored closely via weekly labs. If my liver enzymes elevate again, I will need to go off of it. My neuro has described my early MS as 'very active.' Last Sept, my MRI showed 1 brainstem lesion and 1 C-spine lesion. 8 months later my MRI still shows the same brainstem lesion; it does not show the previous C-spine lesion, but does show 3 new lesions on C-spine.

Zoe, I understand the inital uneasiness of taking an injectable DMD. I say 'initial' because I'm pretty sure this will lessen in time, as it has for so many of us. It seems strange and foreign and weird to be putting something into your body that initially may have you feeling worse than without it. Yes, it isn't 100% effective but it's not 0% effective either. When you think about it, how many meds out there in all of medicine are 100% effective? There are a few.

After starting Aubagio, blood tests to detect liver enzymes should be done at least monthly for the first six months, and then patients should be monitored for signs of liver damage. Patients should also be monitored for signs of infection, and blood pressure should be checked periodically. Here is the link if you've not seen it already. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?

I think I can handle flu-like symptoms, but I what about possible liver damage (I only have one liver!), heart problems, skin damage, drop in white blood cells (I'm pretty sure that I need those!), throat constriction, etc. It seems like a majority of people are on Copaxone, but I hate the idea of DAILY injections. Some of the meds are only once a week or three-times a day which sounds more manageable. Is anyone on here on Gilenya? Any feed back that you could share?

Ive not had liver problems on Rebif but did have low WBC counts once - took a break from it and then all returned to normal after re-starting.

Restarted Rebif and only Rebif, stayed off the other meds, alcohol, etc, and liver enzymes shot up again after only a weeek or two. So I stopped and immediately started Copaxone. This was nearly 5 years ago. I've had no side effects other than the inital site reactions and one minor IPIR episode. On Copaxone my attacks went from 4 in a little over a year to 1 every 2-3 years on average.

I recall my neuro saying it took just a few days. Rebif if was my first DMD and it elevated my liver enzymes. I started and stopped it twice, and both times I stopped my shots, my liver enzymes returned to normal within a few days. I ceased treatment and immediately started Copaxone, no waiting period for the purpose of starting a different DMD.

My husband has MS, was diagnosed four years ago, and is on Rebif. He tolerates the medication very well. It was helping him in the very beginning. But he is starting to progressively get worse. Does smoking have anything to do with MS and Progression?

s good about Rebif (and the other interferons) is that risks will be monitored. i.e., liver enzymes, thyroid and blood counts. A simple blood draw before you start and then 3 months in usually does the trick. For precaution, your neuro may run them yearly after that if all seems clear. I'm on Rebif, and I'd recommend it for anyone suffering with MS. I rarely relapse and only had to pause meds once for low wbc. I've been good since then and the side affects minimize over time.

Figured I have the SQ injection down and so rebif is not such a jump. I am alittle worried about the flu like symptoms and liver damage. Hopefully with plenty of liquids and ibuprofin I'll be ok. I think the Doc will also order blood work to check on my liver. If he forgets, I'll remind him at the next check-up. Also I remembered you were on rebif shell and I remembered you saying it was working and you had no issues with it! So I thought, hey maybe this can be me too!!

Hi there, Sorry for your diagnosis. The side affects mentioned in the literature can and do happen. I'm a Rebif user for 3 years now and do very well. My site reactions are just a warm (to touch) pink about the size of a silver dollar. I inject straight up without the autoinjector but I many people use the auto and it works very well for them. Like all meds it's important to weigh out the benefits and risks.

I have read about Rebif and and its side effects and starting to get really nervous. Any comments, pro or cons?

I have been on both Rebif and Copaxone. I was on Rebif for about 5 years, and I have been on Copaxone for two. I didn't have any problems with the Rebif except for the high liver functions. That is why I am on Copaxone. I think there is no difference in the injection pain. They both were very minimal. My worst pain was in my arms for some reason. The daily injections aren't bad, especially since you don't get sick.

I chose Copaxone and I've been on it for almost 6 months. I think that it's too soon to tell if it's working. They say maybe after about 7 months of taking it, it will be at it's full power (I think). Copaxone is very expensive, but my insurance pays just about all of it, and Shared Solutions pays the rest. It works out to about $3700/month. I don't know what the cost of the other DMDs are. My neuro wanted me to try Copaxone first.

Is there anyone on here who is or has breastfed while taking interferons. I was diagnosed with ms last week and my dr. has prescribed Rebif. If the diagnoses wasn't bad enough, I found out that I will no longer be able to breastfeed my son due to the medicine. Through online research it looks like the interferon molecule is too big to get into the milk and would be destroyed in his digestive track anyway. It also looks like interferons are naturally occuring in the milk.

Some of you may recall my post in the last week or so regarding my recent neuro appt and my problems with Rebif and liver enzymes. I sought your advice on Novantrone, as my neuro had stated that this would be the next course of action, if Rebif is unsuccessful for me after a further period of labs and re-introduction to the med.

I know if you're on Rebif they can try to readjust your depression meds. If that doesn't work, they can try keeping you on the 22mcg instead of the 44mcg because there are less side effects at the lower dose. The only bad thing is you're on getting the full dose, so it might not be as effective. Right now I am not on anything. The reason being is I'm having major surgery at the end of the month. Once I'm 100% healed I will go on something. What, I don't know.

Rebif and liver damage

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