Depression with ms or is it my tecfidera?
Hi everyone, I am completely new to this.. so bare with me š
! I have a family history of MS and I have also been diagnosed with RRMS. I wonāt go into my symptoms too much the main ones are, numbness, optic neuritis (permanent vision loss) weakness in my legs and arms and extreme fatigue.
I have been on tecfidera for one year and Iām wondering if anyone else has been on it or is currently on tecfidera has experienced a seriously depressed mood, the feeling or not wanting to talk to anyone, getting very upset a lot, No interested in anything. I have spoken to my neurologist about this multiple times and he still says it is me ā accepting my diagnosis ā now before I started tecfidera I was still obviously diagnosed, I knew I had ms for a long time before being officially diagnosed and I did not feel like this.. I was always a happy person Iāve never had a depressed mood ever.. maybe Iām wrong and it is a coincidence that this only started on tecfidera.. I donāt know I would just like to hear other peoples experiences and opinions before I go back to my neurologist.. Iām at the stage where I donāt feel mentally okay and i have made the decision to tell my neurologist I donāt want to continue taking tecfidera at my next appointment.
Also my first post && itās Christmas Day here in Ireland! Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas šš
-Oonagh
I think this is super interesting to hear and Iām glad you shared! I havenāt been on Tecfidera very long at all, and Iāve had a history with depression over the years too so with my diagnosis and starting a treatment, Iāve just lumped how I feel into one big āthatās lifeā category. I guess because I havenāt had a big shift like you experienced, where you were never previously depressed, always happy etc, I really have just accepted and felt it a normal part of life to push everyone away and have these moods and outbursts. Which now that Iām writing that out, it sucks that Iāve gotten to a point where thatās normal. Prior to starting Tecfidera, I did talk to someone who sounds similar to you, where they never really had bad moods, until MS and Tecfidera came along. They told me to expect MS to be the main contributor to a lot of mental health battles, but also expect Tecfidera to be the cherry on top of the cake. I think even if you accept life with MS, it still looms this huge unknownness over us all, and that subconsciously can cause anxiety and panic and depressive moods, and being on a medication that is supposed to suppress anything, will also be a factor. How do you find being on Tecfidera otherwise? If youāve found it super effective for reducing relapses, then I would be more inclined to suggest talking to your GP about other options for depression, instead of coming off a DMT thatās essentially doing itās job. Would you be worried about coming off it and trying a different one thatās potentially going to be the same mentally, or even worse? It seems weird giving advice on mental health, when I really donāt look after my own, but I guess itās easier from the outside right? always welcome to message me if you want to talk more! Merry Christmas! xx
Hi I was diagnosed with rr ms in 2002 had loads of relapses each year since had copaxone been able to maintain life style before was on betainterferon while on this I was still having around 5 bad relapses each Year. Positive side of ms is I have disability car since I get enhanced rate. Only prob I have is disability badge expired so don't get to park nearest to asda doors