Ocrelizumab and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2020

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "I have had the second Ocrevus infusion, will NOT be getting another. Ocrevus gave me depression, anxiety, worsening/weakening of my arms (that were fine before taking this poison), feet blowing up (never had this problem before), etc. - I thought these things were part of my body adjusting to this drug. All started about one month after the first infusion, and went away three weeks before the second infusion. So I thought the drug was starting to work. Now a couple of weeks after the second infusion, all the side effects are returning. Hopefully this damage isn't permanent."

• Yor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2020

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "I have been on Ocrevus for a total of four infusions! Tysabri prior kept me going until JVC test. My health has declined drastically. Diagnosed at 37, now 60. My vision is blurred. Dizziness is overwhelming. Balance shot. But, my cognition has plummeted! More weakness and pain also. Feeling weaker. Constant infections, shortness of breath. Anxiety! Went from fairly clear-minded to isolating idiot!"

• Eri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2022

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "I have been on Ocrevus nearly 2 years. Just had brain MRI. Shows new and larger lesions. It never helped with any of my MS symptoms (fatigue, pain, horrible insomnia, twitching, poor balance, anxiety, trouble with concentration, bad memory). If anything, these symptoms have gotten worse. And now it shows my MS has only progressed since taking Ocrevus. Extremely disappointed with this treatment."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 11, 2022

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "Started March 2020. Did great on Tysabri with severe weight gain, hair loss, gum pain, dental issues, edema, thyroid nodules growing like crazy, extreme fatigue, had to take medical leave from work, can’t sleep, rashes, hard red flaky spots on skin, sweating, rib pain under breast unbearable. They injected me with cortisone. I can’t work out, heavy breathing, legs feel heavy with little activity. Liver enlarged, trace blood in urine, kidney stones for the 1st time with 2 surgeries. 5 months later, more stones. No one recognizes me, skin is dry, nails brittle, red itchy eyes, joint pain, severe anxiety, headaches, heart palpitations, abdomen distention, random bruising especially on feet. Feet very hot and swollen, hands swell, constipated, nose bleeds, dizzy. I have lost my entire quality of life, I was so active. Tests come back “normal” but drastically not normal compared to before I started. Poison."

• Ron...
• May 23, 2019

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "Been a year, falling more, have anxiety, nerve pain in legs, burning in calves and feet. Numb area in rectum. Gone from cane to walker. Upsetting, doctor wants another year. May be much worse. Only doing one more, and if no change, done. Feel upset and sad. Gilenya pill was better..."

• One...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2019

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "I only had one Ocrevus infusion so far, and in my opinion, it is not going well. Several months later, I am still battling extreme fatigue, weight increase, blurry vision, a strange skin rash, and more anxiety than when I was on Gilenya. The first therapy I was on was Betaseron, and it was the absolute worst. Even with the MRI, more lesions were found on my brain and, believe it or not, on the nerves leading to my ears. I resolve to stay positive throughout the entire ordeal. This is something I must do daily. One day at a time :)!!"

• DTT...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 10, 2019

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "I just took my 4th dose of Ocrevus. I have had PPMS for 20 years now. I have done chemo/steroid treatments (those worked best for me) and many of the injections. I also used CellCept for a number of years but was prone to infection while on it. The first three infusions did nothing, but they didn't hurt either. Having PPMS and nothing happening is a good thing. However, this last infusion, anxiety and depression hit me like a ton of bricks. I hope it wears off because I take enough meds without adding antidepressants to it."

• Tru...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2018

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with MS in very early 2002, almost 7 years after my one (and thus far only) MS episode, which for me was optic neuritis. Nevertheless, brain MRIs show numerous lesions, and my quality of life has taken a substantial hit, resulting from severe fatigue, sexual dysfunction, an episode of severe depression and anxiety, which took almost a year to get under control and for which I'm still receiving treatment, etc. In a sense, I can say that the three MS therapies that I've been on have been equally effective because I have yet to experience a relapse while on any of them. I switched to Ocrevus based on my conclusion that MS continues to damage your CNS whether or not you are aware of symptomatic changes. And I thought that it was time to switch to a therapy that is believed to be more powerful than many. I have been very pleasantly surprised by the minimal side effects that I've experienced thus far. So, I am able to report that I'm happy with my Ocrevus experience."

• Mic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2020

Ocrelizumab for Multiple Sclerosis "I had optic neuritis as my first and only real symptom. I got more headaches and some orbital pain periodically after that - there was a little bit of burning sometimes in localized areas in my head that I am not sure how to explain. They said I have tumefactive MS. After taking Ocrevus, the headaches and eye orbital pain went away. I think I had a couple of muscle twitches, but I don't know if that was anxiety from taking the medication and being worried about getting an infusion reaction. So overall, this was a very good experience, and I had no issues taking it, no reaction to the infusion, and my headaches mostly went away :)"

• Per...
• December 27, 2019

For Multiple Sclerosis "Well, from my experience with treatment with ocrelizumab, I would prefer to have my relapses because at least in between them I had a bit of relief from symptoms. Now I don't get any relief. It makes me constantly fatigued, it's given me extreme lower back pain and hip burning, my body feels like I've run a marathon when I walk, so I'm on crutches. My right leg feels like it has an elastic band around my groin, so the numbness is persistent. I have extreme confusion about everything, and dizziness takes over, so I must sit. It's changed my personality in a bad way; I'm constantly angry and frustrated. I go from being extremely depressed, anxious, and crying about having to leave the house out of fear to the complete opposite, which is laughing about anything and everything. It makes me feel out of control of my body, and I'm constantly in pain and I'm constantly exhausted. This is just everything I've experienced since starting this treatment. It could be different for you."