MS Medication is SCARY FUCKING SHIT

Reviewing Meds

Wow.

MS Medication is some seriously scary shit. My doctor initially wanted me to try Rebif. Then we got to discussing in broad strokes some of the side effects, which, one of the major ones is depression. I mentioned that I have a tendency (a tendency HA!) to be slightly (SLIGHTLY?!?!?!?!) bi-polar. Then I expanded that for her.

After that enlightening discussion, she changed her recommendation to a drug called Copaxone, which I would have to inject every day.

Now, there are a myriad of MS medication options open and available to me. I asked for information about a bunch of them so that I could compare my options.

I can’t say this enough: MS Medication is some SCARY FUCKING SHIT

What side effects can this medication cause?

Glatiramer may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• pain, redness, swelling, itching, or lump in the place where you injected glatiramer
• weakness
• flushing
• depression
• abnormal dreams
• pain in the back, neck, or any other part of the body
• severe headache
• loss of appetite
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• weight gain
• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• purple patches on skin
• joint pain
• confusion
• nervousness
• crossed eyes
• difficulty speaking
• shaking hands that you cannot control
• sweating
• ear pain
• painful or changed menstrual periods
• vaginal itching and discharge
• urgent need to urinate or defecate
• tightness in muscles
• white patches in the mouth

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately. In some cases, your doctor may tell you to stop using glatiramer:

• dizziness
• excessive sweating
• chest pain
• sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection
• runny nose
• coughing
• fast heartbeat
• fainting
• skin rash
• hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• very severe pain at the injection site

Glatiramer affects your immune system, so it may increase your risk of developing cancer or a serious infection. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication.

Glatiramer may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

((Glatiramer is the base name for Copaxone))

Now, the above is the side effect list for Copaxone as listed from  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000225/  Oh wait: That’s the drug I am probably going to be put on. Go on, re-read the list. I’ll wait.

Some of the other drugs are worse. Like the one where at the top of the list they warn of the risk of a brain infection that can result in death or severe disability, and then goes down the list. As far as I am concerned, I am perfectly happy never going on that fucking drug.

MS Medication is Scary Fucking Shit.

There are also drugs that I could go on later that are also Chemo drugs. Whee!

Not.

Fucking fuckity fuck fuck!!!!

/rant… for now