Hi everyone, I was recently diagnosed with MS at the beginning of September and my consultant has suggested that I begin taking Cladribine. I was wondering what other people’s experiences were with taking this?
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Hi @Kat.P 
I started taking Cladribine at the end of August (week 1), and have today started week 5 - for me personally it has been good; a little bit of tiredness and a few aches in week 1, but nothing concerning.
My MS nurse has said that I may get a little more fatigued this week, but I may not - not everyone gets side effects apparently.
On a positive note, I am feeling more ‘clear headed’ after taking the meds - which is something I haven’t felt in a long long time - I’m used to feeling really overanxious and not being able to make decisions easily, but I’ve noticed a change for the better.
Hope that helps a bit, and good luck with the meds, I’m sure you’ll be fine x
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That is good to hear. I am not on that drug myself (I’m on natalizumab) but have heard only good reports, and it is one of the big-hitters that really can stop aggressive MS in its tracks, which is just what the doctor ordered!
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Hey @laurenm thank you so much for sharing this! I’m due to start the medication on 12th Jan so I have been feeling nervous. How has it been for you since you started? It sounds like it was working well for you which is good 
wishing you all the best with your treatment
Hi @Kat.P ,
Good luck with Mavenclad on I’m starting my week 2 (year 1) on Monday, got the drugs at home already. I had week 1 at the beginning of December. I was scared but felt fine with no side effects so far (at least I didn’t notice anything worse, perhaps a tad better, just the odd day fatigue but I guess that’s new normal anyway). All the best and keep us posted on how you get on. 
Paulina x
Hi @mozajka
Thank you I will keep you updated once I start it 
that’s good you haven’t noticed any side effects hopefully it stays that way for you! From what I’ve heard fatigue seems to be a common side effect for people. What symptoms were you having before you started it?
Good luck with the rest of your treatment also x
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Prior to June 2025, I thought I was ‘fine’, I only had some weird sensations in my left leg (thought it was related to knee injury while cycling) and the odd ‘tired day’ out of nowhere, mainly after commuting. In June I had a relapse and ended up in hospital (and then got finally diagnosed after some back and forth for a few years with some weird ‘episodes’, MRIs and lumbar puncture), since the recent hospital visit I had trouble walking in straight line for a good few weeks but that is now mainly gone thankfully, I only start feeling my left leg weaken after a long walk of 30mins+. I was fatigued a lot then as well, a short 10min walk would make me breathless, I’d walk like I was drunk and had constant brain fog and headaches. Most have calmed down. I was prescribed Amitriptyline to help with headaches and sleep. Nowadays, I still get various sensations, crawling, pins & needles etc but not severe. I’m just aware of them but try to ignore. Fatigue and brain fog are less frequent atm thankfully too, will see what happens this round and once I’m back to work after the break:crossed_fingers:I’ll keep you posted.
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Hey @mozajka
so sorry to hear that those were the symptoms you were experiencing 
I’m glad that they have seemed to have calmed down abit more than before. How did your second week of treatment go?
I finished week 1 (year 1) on 16th January and all I have seemed to notice is issues with my sleep. During the week of taking the medication, I experienced really bad insomnia and a skin rash on one patch on my however. The rash has cleared but I am still having issues with my sleep. Other than that, I have felt okay 
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Hey, glad the rash went away, did you tell your MS team or gp about issues with sleep and rash? If not, worth asking if they can help somehow. For sleep I got prescribed Amitriptyline as used to get daily headaches plus restless legs even before mavenclad. I think it did improve my sleep, although it took me a few weeks to get used to it as at the beginning getting up was hard (as it makes you drowsy so best to take before sleep but not too late) so i’d take mavenclad at 4pm then Amitriptyline at 7-8pm (you need 3 hr gap in between). Overall, I didn’t seem to have any side effects during my 2nd week (and glad it’s now over until December) as now work is getting busy and I had to travel to London a few times. I had one day last week day when my fatigue kicked in particularly bad and I was wiped plus I caught a cold same week (but it’s not too bad now, just annoying). Got neurology appointment next week and also waiting for my blood tests in Feb to see any changed in the bloods, will keep you posted. All the best for 2nd round and hope your sleep improves soon.
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Just a quick update, I had a meeting with the OH Dr on Wednesday. She was very nice and just took me through a lot of questions about my work, how I’ve been feeling, what job I do, what i struggle with, how it changed since diagnosis, what has got worse or what has improved. She explained that essentially she needs to ensure I am fit to the type of work I have (so if i have to stand or walk a lot but i am unable to, then perhaps that would need to change) but also to make sure I am not overloaded and can ‘recover’ whil I am in treatment stage. And I guess as most of what I do can be done at a desk (a lot of my job involves client calls and emails but as they’re worldwide, I don’t necessarily need to travel constantly or I’d never be home 
) but I also want to be able to be with my colleagues. She suggested reducing hours temporarily, perhaps for 2 months (depending on my employer, as I said I wouldn’t want to sacrifice pay and have same workload for less income). She suggested reducing frequency of travel to office - I live far so it takes 3-4 hrs out of a day for me and takes a lot of energy atm. Also, she asked about my office setup (hot desking) so perhaps having a permanent desk might not be feasible f I’m there once a week, which I understand. It was positive as I didn’t make those suggestions myself, but rather she did. Now waiting for her report and see if work approve it. 
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That sounds really positive and sensible - good for you.
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