Depression Learning

CP, Avonex, heavy legs and depression. HELP!

Question:

April 27, 1997 About Avonex: I also had a bad reaction to the Avonex.  My doctor wasn’t sure if it was just an exacerbation or a reaction so we tested it out.  After being off it for awhile, I started the same pattern after an injection.  I think that whatever Avonex is cut with may be the problem for me…just a hunch.  My legs (especially my right) and my right arm was very heavy and felt useless to me.  Also, my Lhermittes Sign came back full blast. I hope you fare better!  Good Luck to you. Regards, JoRee Murphy

Response:

kamatth…@aol.com (KaMatthews) wrote: >With interferons and their side effects I thinkthe treatment (not even a >cure) is worse than the disease – and for30% reduction in attacks..maybe.

Kathi, 1.  The side effects of the interferons go away in a couple of months. 2.  Whether the treatment is worse than the disease depends upon how frequent your attacks are — I think the 30% figure is not 30% for everyone, but a big reduction for some and none for others.  In my case my attacks are severe (complete loss of function of some number of body parts — one the whole left side of my body), and the reduction has been dramatic (9 in the first year that I had MS, 2 in the next 3 after starting the Betaseron). You have to weigh the pros and cons just like anything else (i.e. if you don’t have frequent or severe attacks, then it’s probably not worth it, but if you’re like I was, then it’s worth a try). Z http://www.mindspring.com/~cczimmer/ +————————————————————————+ + Carolyn C. Zimmer       | "I’ve been warped by the rain,               | + Duluth, GA              |  driven by the snow, I’m drunk and dirty,    | + cczim…@mindspring.com |  don’t you know, But I’m still…willin’"    | + STANDARD DISCLAIMER     |                               Lowell George  | +————————————————————————+

Response:

I also had a bad reaction to the Avonex.  I’ve been off of it for 2 months now with NO MS symptoms, while I was on it every symptom in the book was hitting me.  I missed more then 1 month of work in a 2 month period.  Since being off of it I haven’t had any problems at all. Kelly murphy6 <murp…@wolfenet.com> wrote in article <33642A52.3…@wolfenet.com>… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> April 27, 1997 > About Avonex: > I also had a bad reaction to the Avonex.  My doctor wasn’t sure if it > was just an exacerbation or a reaction so we tested it out.  

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -kellyd wrote: > I also had a bad reaction to the Avonex.  I’ve been off of it for 2 months > now with NO MS symptoms, while I was on it every symptom in the book was > hitting me.  I missed more then 1 month of work in a 2 month period.  Since > being off of it I haven’t had any problems at all. > Kelly > murphy6 <murp…@wolfenet.com> wrote in article > <33642A52.3…@wolfenet.com>… > > April 27, 1997 > > About Avonex: > > I also had a bad reaction to the Avonex.  My doctor wasn’t sure if it > > was just an exacerbation or a reaction so we tested it out.Hi Kelly;

Sorry about your bad reaction to Avonex.  Its too bad this drug hurts the people it preports to help.  Those drug companies must need the money.  Received a letter from Denmark talking about how useless drugs like Beta and Avonex.  I believe you you may help many from the bad Avonex reaction. Bertie )

Response:

I have been on AVONEX for 6 months and its really slowed down the severity of my attacks. Some can handle drugs better than others. Fk

Response:

My wife is 39, has CP MS, and the last few years have been pretty rough.  She is in a study at Scripps for 2CDA and was unblinded a little early and treated with the drug because she was getting worse.  It’s hard to say what the effect has been since she finished treatment in October, and so she has now gone on Avonex now for 2/12 months.  In my opinion the 2CDa may have stabilized her to a degree. Since taking the Avonex, her legs are very heavy now.  She is also depressed. She feels like she is getting worse.  At the same time she changed from Prozac to Effexor (which makes it tough to know what is doing what). Has anyone had the same side effects from Avonex and had them subside?  I think she is tempted to go off of it.  I think she is concerned because now she is at a point that it’s tougher to be self sufficient as far as daily activities.  We’re clutching at straws… She tried Betaserone some time ago and the side effects were pretty nasty…..including hair falling out… Thanks for the help.   Kevin  

Response:

Dear Kevin, Thank you so much for writing.  The second week I was on Avonex, the next day I experienced heaviness in my legs.  The chills weren’t so bad; they dissapated.  However, my legs have been ranging from tingly to heavy to numb.  Actually, it is the same for my arms and hands.  I too feel frustrated.  I have an appointment with my neuro in a couple weeks.  He didn’t seem to think it was the Avonex … just another episode.  Up until I started taking avonex did I experience this many problems for so long.  I have been on Avonex for 2 months. FYI, I was offically DX RRMS 2.5 months ago and am 41. This disease is a real pain… literally and figuratively.  The self sufficiency issue is I think the scariest.  I keep thinking, I think I can deal with the eventual loss of the use of my legs and bladder (the areas where I continue to have problems) — but the arms — that one seems to be too big of a loss. <SNIP> >Since taking the Avonex, her legs are very heavy now.  She is also depressed. >She feels like she is getting worse.  At the same time she changed from Prozac >to Effexor (which makes it tough to know what is doing what).

Also, I had problems with depression for a long time (pre-dx) and have been on Zoloft.  I tend to think that the drug has helped me to keep going and not be exausted >Has anyone had the same side effects from Avonex and had them subside?

I can say that the heaviness subsided…. > I think she is tempted to go off of it.  I think she is concerned because now >she is at a point that it’s tougher to be self sufficient as far as daily >activities.  We’re clutching at straws… >She tried Betaserone some time ago and the side effects were pretty >nasty…..including hair falling out…

I wish you and your wife all the luck.  From experience, I know it is difficult.  It is difficult to figure what is the drug and what is the disease and would I be better off off of it?  I don’t know — hopefully the doc will help me to figure this out! Take care & hang in there, Cheryl  [hanging out in Michigan]

Response:

In article <3.0.1.32.19970425172203.0077c…@sun.science.wayne.edu>, "Cheryl A. Franz" <cfr…@GOPHER.CHEM.WAYNE.EDU> writes: >I wish you and your wife all the luck.  From experience, I know it is >difficult.  It is difficult to figure what is the drug and what is the >disease and would I be better off off of it?  I don’t know — hopefully the >doc will help me to figure this out!

With interferons and their side effects I thinkthe treatment (not even a cure) is worse than the disease – and for30% reduction in attacks..maybe. Kathi

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Dear Kevin, >Thank you so much for writing.  The second week I was on Avonex, the next >day I experienced heaviness in my legs.  The chills weren’t so bad; they >dissapated.  However, my legs have been ranging from tingly to heavy to >numb.  Actually, it is the same for my arms and hands.  I too feel >frustrated.  I have an appointment with my neuro in a couple weeks.  He >didn’t seem to think it was the Avonex … just another episode.  Up until >I started taking avonex did I experience this many problems for so long.  I >have been on Avonex for 2 months. >FYI, I was offically DX RRMS 2.5 months ago and am 41. >This disease is a real pain… literally and figuratively.  The self >sufficiency issue is I think the scariest.  I keep thinking, I think I can >deal with the eventual loss of the use of my legs and bladder (the areas >where I continue to have problems) — but the arms — that one seems to >be too big of a loss. ><SNIP> >>Since taking the Avonex, her legs are very heavy now.  She is also depressed. >>She feels like she is getting worse.  At the same time she changed from >Prozac >>to Effexor (which makes it tough to know what is doing what). >Also, I had problems with depression for a long time (pre-dx) and have been >on Zoloft.  I tend to think that the drug has helped me to keep going and >not be exausted >>Has anyone had the same side effects from Avonex and had them subside? >I can say that the heaviness subsided…. >> I think she is tempted to go off of it.  I think she is concerned because >now >>she is at a point that it’s tougher to be self sufficient as far as daily >>activities.  We’re clutching at straws… >>She tried Betaserone some time ago and the side effects were pretty >>nasty…..including hair falling out… >I wish you and your wife all the luck.  From experience, I know it is >difficult.  It is difficult to figure what is the drug and what is the >disease and would I be better off off of it?  I don’t know — hopefully the >doc will help me to figure this out! >Take care & hang in there, >Cheryl  [hanging out in Michigan]

Response:

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