The following information is NOT intended to endorse drugs or recommend therapy. While these reviews might be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care.
I was 41 when I was diagnosed in 4/98 and took Copaxone until 9/99. I was one of the lab rats in the original Tysabri trials. Then the FDA approved it and removed from the market due to PML. My MS came with a back with a vengeance & I was still on Copaxone. I got back on Tysabri in 4/07. I am almost 56 now and still working full time. I still go to the gym relatively regularly and lead a good life. If your immune system is okay other than MS, have not taken any nasty immune suppressing medicines and if they test you and you do not have the JC virus its a no brainer. If you have the JC virus its more complicated. My MS is still not easy but its my best option. Look at the stats vs. other options. Good Luck!
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007, 5 days after my 23rd birthday. For the first year I took Copaxone, and it did absolutely nothing for me. Then, since my MS was so aggressive, my doctors chose Tysabri for me. I have loved every minute of being on the medication. Not only have I been stable for 4 years, but my old lesions have shrunk in size. Unfortunately, due to being on the mediation for so long and coming back with a positive JC Virus test I am being taken off the medication which scares me to death. My advice to anyone considering the wonderful medication is that you have a serious conversation about the possibility of PML while on the medication. It's a choice of life or death. 1 in 250 people on Tysabri with a positive test are at risk.
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My husband has been on Tysabri for a year now. The first six months were great. He liked that he was had no nausea and could control bowels compared to Copaxone and Rebif. Fatigue improved. He had very slight improvements to his walking gait and balance. Mental attitude was improved. Lately, balance is poor, walking is dragging/carrying his leg forward, twitch and jerks are back. Strangers call him spider man in public (he laughs). Depression is setting in again. Hearing ringing sounds.
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Tysabri has changed my life. I have had 20 infusions now. At first I could feel a major "up" and then could slowly feel the medicine wearing off towards the end of the 28-day cycle. Now I don't feel much of an up or a down, but I feel consistent and "normal" again. I feel more level-headed, have consistent energy levels, and am able to work out at the gym two hours a day! The only side effect I've ever had was a bad headache on the evening of my infusion for the first 2 or 3 months. At my 6-month MRI/follow-up we found out that the Tysabri was actually causing a significant reduction in my lesions. I haven't had a relapse and only a handful of flare-ups (that last maybe an hour tops).
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I have had multiple sclerosis for 12 years. Been on every medicine, steroids and the list goes on. 1 dose of tysabri. I'm walking 50% of the time without my walker (which I was using 100% of the time for the last 2 years). My mental and my balance have made a great recovery. I can't wait for my second dose!
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I have received 36 infusions and from the 1st one, my progression stopped. My major side effect is extreme confusion. I feel as if I am going insane and taking my husband of 28 years with me. He is my biggest supporter, my hero, etc. I do not know how I would have made it the past 3 years without him. He is my translator because I get so confused I tell stories totally wrong, I talk backwards. I skip every other sentence but the thing I must keep remembering is that my MRI's have not changed from the day I started Tysabri. I am staying with it for 12 more months and hopefully my wonderful husband, doctor and I will survive this.
Have been on Tysabri for 39 months. For me, it has been life changing. I have been on it all in the last 11 yrs and nothing has worked for me like Tysabri I also experience post treatment headaches and prescription MIDRIN works great for the headache pain.
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My wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 2 months after I asked her to marry me, at age 19. Her symptoms were pretty bad. She was on Copaxone for over a year. It really didn't do anything for her. Then she went to a few more doctors who all said she had a aggressive case of MS. Her new doctor put in on Tysabri. She did very well after a couple months. She never had a serious set back. Then when we found out she was pregnant she went off of her infusions. After our baby was born 7 weeks later she had the most aggressive set back with her MS. She couldn't even hold our son. She decided to stop breastfeeding and to go back on Tysabri infusions. 3 weeks later she was able to hold him and is doing a little better each week.
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I failed Copaxone and then Avonex therapy. I started Tysabri in March of 2010. Some improvement in my disability. The only side effect that I get is a two day migraine post infusion. Otherwise, I do NOT miss the shots and flu symptoms. I actually look forward to the 2 hour nap during and after infusion! I recommend this medicine to those that fail on the other ABCs!
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I've been on this medication for 4 months, and it's effectiveness is unrivaled to Copaxone and/or Rebif previously taken. I have returned mentally and physically to state prior to diagnosis.
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I sometimes get a headache and some fatigue the day of and after the infusion, but this has done wonders in keeping my MS symptoms at bay. My lesions haven't been active for about a year now, which I believe is because of the Tysabri.
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I was on Tysabri for about 18 months and after that I was on drug holiday for about one year. I restarted my infusion in March 2010 before drug holiday. I never experienced any side effects with Tysabri, however this time around I had muscle ache, fever and daily migraine headaches for 10 days so far, because I still have the headache. I hope I can tolerate this drug again because during my 1st trial I experienced all the positives i.e, balance, walking, thinking, fatigue improvement. I will give it another 2 infusions and wait to see if the side effects stop. Otherwise I may stop the treatment.
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I've only had 2 infusions of Tysabri so far. My Dr. is planning on keeping me on the drug for 12 months. So far, the side effects are min. a migraine headache and extremly tired. BUT those I can certainely live with. Within 1 day after infusion they are gone. This drug so far is much better. I seem to be feeling better both mentally and physically. I wish this drug was the first drug that I would have been given 13 yrs ago -- maybe then I would not have been classified disabled and still be able to work.
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I have had 8 infusions. They help...I have mild headaches after each one, but a nap fixes that. No issues. I DO know that you have to stay in close contact with your doctor, monitor liver function and take care of yourself.
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I love Tysabri! Having been on it a year and a half it's a lot better than Avonex. No more flu-like symptoms! I just hate having to sit for an extra hour or so to be monitored. I recommend this when all else fails.
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I have used this medicine for two years and by far the best treatment for my multiple sclerosis. No side effects, and I don't have to take daily shots. I would recommend this to anyone who has multiple sclerosis.
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Have had 12 treatments so far for MS. Have experienced sometimes extreme tiredness following treatments. Have gained about 40lbs in the past year since starting the treatment with no significant changes in diet or exercise. On the good side am glad to not be taking daily injections anymore.
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XenoPort, Inc. (Nasdaq: XNPT) announced today top-line results from its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of arbaclofen placarbil (AP) for the treatment of...
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