I recently have been diagnosed and i started copaxone this year but ended up stopping after a month because it was awful. So many months have gone by and I finally got my prescription for tecfidera. Im scared because I don’t know what’s going to happen.
Does anyone else chew the tablets and what foods are best to eat with it this way? (My nurse said I can chew them just don’t open the capsule)
Am I going to get fat? I love food but I only eat two meals a day
I’m 30 years old and female. I’m all new to this and I finally did this step.
Can anyone give me any advice please. I feel like I’ve been putting it of ever since I found out I have MS.
The capsules are not small but need to be intact to deliver the medication to the correct part of the digestive tract.
Not sure what you or nurse mean by chewing in this context.
The first couple of weeks are half doses so come in smaller capsules.
Advice is to take with food spaced well through the day. If you have your meals spaced by at least 4 hours it obeys the rules but the nearer you get to 12 the better. I probably take mine at 0900 and 1800.
To start with you may be advised to go for something like yogurt/cheese as part of the meal, but once you have adapted to your medication you should be able to return to your normal diet.
I found I was fine with the 500kcal days on the 5:2 diet so no excuse for any wait gain long term.
Your MS nurse should take you through all of this before you start. The capsules are delivered from specialist pharmacies once a month.
I’ve never been able to swallow tablets whole, not even hay fever tablets so that why I chose copaxone but then I had bad reactions which were awful. My neurologist said I can chew them like I do with any other tablets I have. I called the nurse to confirm this week and she said I should make sure I chew it whole and not empty out contents. I’ve got tablets for this month starting the first week 120mg then 240mg. I received them on Friday but I’m going to start tomorrow.
Is Greek yogurt a good choice ? I’m thinking I’ll eat some toast and an orange first then I’ll have it with Greek yogurt in my mouth together with the capsule.
I don’t have appetite in the mornings so this is going to be a big adjustment.
Thank you for your reply
Yogurt worked for me added to my normal breakfast of cereal with banana. As a complete omnivore with a healthy appetite, it was easy for me.
Other tip that worked for me, if you missed my capsule at tea perfect excuse for cheese and biscuits for supper!
Hi, I’ve been on Tec for nearly 4 years. Week 1 was 120mg x2 per day then 240 from week 2 onwards. I had some flushing to start but nothing major and it cleared up in a few weeks.
For convenience in the morning i tend to take the tablet with a thick fruit smoothy, that works just fine for me. That said, i have taken them on an empty stomach on many occasions with no issues at all. Timings i fit around normal breakfast and dinner times. Some folks swear by high carbs with their Tec, others not so much. Either way, good luck, it is a great medication in my experience. I’ve been relapse free in 4 years.
Honestly I gave up on adjusting what I ate to try and manage side effects very early on. I found it made little difference and just made me feel worse in myself to eat things and quantities I didn’t want.
I have one slice of toast in the morning. That seems to be fine. Sometimes I’ll have a flush mid morning but nothing major and better than having to change my eating habits of a lifetime.
Second tablet with dinner or just before bed if I had wine with dinner.
Good luck, it honestly won’t take as much thought/planning as it seems at the beginning. Will soon just be a normal part of your routine and not something you think about xxx