How strong is Tecfidera really?

Hi, !

I am glad Tecfidera has been working pretty well for you, overall. I think it's smart that you are planning ahead for cold and flu season and yes, Tecfidera is an immunosuppressant and can make you more susceptible to viruses. So, vigilance is a great idea. Taking vitamins should not cause any problems with your medication and should not have any impact on its efficacy, but you can always check with your doctor or pharmacist, just to be safe.

I am not your doctor and I cannot provide medical advice, for your safety, but some of our members practice the tips we all learned during covid to stay healthy over the winter months. Wear a high quality mask indoor public spaces (like an N 95 mask), wash your hands frequently, and maybe avoid public transportation and public spaces when they will be especially crowded or when cold/flu numbers are especially high in your area. I see plenty of folks wearing masks in stores in the winter and I think many of us don't think anything about it at this point. It may not be ideal, but if you would like to stay healthy, it's something to consider. And, I will often wear a mask in the waiting room of my doctor's office or any medical spaces because you are almost guaranteed that someone in that space is actively sick, so that just makes sense to me.

You can also ask your doctor about getting a flu shot for this season, if you think that might help.

I know I make it sound a bit like you have to go into lockdown all over again, but I think it really isn't as bad as that. Just keep taking good care of yourself and practice good hygiene and you can avoid many of the viruses that float around in the winter months.

Best, Erin, Team Member.

I was on Tecfidera for 2 years. After your body gets used to the drug, was okay. Then, I hit my ankle bone stumbling around and got an ulcerated wound that would not heal. I was in wound care for three months. Wound care tried several different medical treatments. It was a terrible MS time. My immune system was so suppressed, critical lab values of CD4 and CD8 and crazy lab test to rule out other opportunistic viruses. All negative. Had to be monitored for quite some time. For me, Tecfidera totally changed how I felt about being a MS drug test subject. I fear many of them after really studying what they are.

Hi,53 year old male from the uk. Diagnosed in 2015, been on tech for a couple of years now , not had a ‘proper’ relapse since I’ve been on it. The first couple of months , the 120mg, was a bit interesting, was quite sick and felt awful for a few weeks but slowly my body got use to it. Once on the 240mg it all settled down. The only noticeable side effects I get is hot flushing if I’ve not eaten enough fatty food before taking it. I hope it all works out for you. Keep smiling everyone