Now for the Betaseron-that's what I'm on-and for me the flu
like mess was only the night I took the shot-and I took it at
bedtime with a Tylenol or Advil---Ibuprofen is good too-I just
can't use it...allergic...-beforehand and had one ready at bed
side in case I woke up with any problems which only
happened 2 or 3 times in a 4 month period...I only had them 4
mos anyway...after that I didn't even need the Tylenol
anymore...Ice pack for any skin site reaction-and Benadryl
(sp) cream on the shot site....I was told by my Beta nurse to
take an antihistamine before too but I'm on Antivert which is the same as
Dramamine (antihistamine) so I timed my dose of it to coincide with shot time...it
wasn't fun but it wasn't "awful"....and with time it leveled out and became "old
hat"...no big deal to me....Beta comes with access to MS Pathways-and your own
personal Beta nurse who will help you out with things ya want to know-and 24/7
access to a Beta nurse that is happy to give support-answer things at 4 in the
morning if you need 'em....
You'll be ok...As for whether it works-it's like all CRAB drugs-some work for
some and not others-much the same as ANY med.... Shame you didn't know
about the program that the Beta company has for those that can't afford Beta-or
PPA so you could have already been on something....just remember when the
shots get worrisome after a while of every other day-every time you take one
your telling this monster MS "Take THAT you won't get me" More hugs and the
best of luck-Beta has helped soooo many and you are doing the right thing to
start that fight back at it... Posted by Anne
I used Beta-and I had no major problems-I took it about 6 in the
evening-went to bed around 9 or 10-and had no reactions till
about midnight-I took Tylenol extra strength...or Aleve-before
the shot-and kept one by the bed and a glass of water in case I
needed it...and I did need it for about 4 mos-then no more flu---I
had three or 4 major shot site reactions but the Beta nurse with Pathways told
me how to stop that-in squeezing air out make sure NO medicine gets on the
outside of the needle...a tiny bit of air in the fatty tissue hurts nothing but med on
the needle can cause necrosis (skin rotting basically) and I had one like that on
my stomach for months......she was right too as soon as I stopped letting med
getontheoutsideoftheneedleIstoppedgettingsitereactions- icedthespot
before injection and rubbed it down a min or two after-the Beta nurse
called it rubbing the medicine down- anyway...and used Benadryl creme
on the site if it itched afterwards...Beta nurse also told me take a
Benadryl before it but I'm on Antivert which is an antihistamine so that
worked great...Posted by Anne
Labels: Betaseron (Interferon beta-1b)
