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Yet another chapter begins in my MS history of trying to keep this disease at bay. Yesterday I was infused with Rituxan, my seventh attempt at therapy. I've tried interferons (Rebif), Copaxone, and Tysabri. I failed to get on a clinical trial for Lemtrada. After five years of relative bliss following my stem cell transplant, the creep returned and I moved on to Aubagio, which only steadied the ship somewhat.
So now it is Rituxan, a slightly modified form of which is expected to be approved late this year by the FDA (Ocrevus, aka ocrelizumab). Ocrevus is soon to be the only recognized therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis, so Rituxan is a logical choice for me. Why?
In the months prior to my stem cell transplant, I began a precipitous slide with and without relapses, perhaps a precursor to secondary progressive MS. The transplant stopped that dramatically, but only for so long. I have not had a relapse, but the familiar un-ebbing slide restarted. Aubagio helped nip that, but I felt I needed to get more aggressive. And with Ocrevus still months away, I took a shot at getting Rituxan off-label. I was initially denied by my insurance company, but my MS specialist doc talked them around.
The first transfusion went pretty well, although I did have a slight allergic reaction a couple hours in (redness on face and itchiness). A little extra Benadryl and prednisone cleared that up and things went smoothly from there, although I was pretty dopey (insert joke here). Took about six hours, as AMF Adventures predicted. Next infusion is in two weeks, and then six months (ish).
I'll keep folks abreast here about my progress, although maybe that's a bad word to use. How about "successes" and lack of progression! That sounds more like it.
So now it is Rituxan, a slightly modified form of which is expected to be approved late this year by the FDA (Ocrevus, aka ocrelizumab). Ocrevus is soon to be the only recognized therapy for progressive multiple sclerosis, so Rituxan is a logical choice for me. Why?
In the months prior to my stem cell transplant, I began a precipitous slide with and without relapses, perhaps a precursor to secondary progressive MS. The transplant stopped that dramatically, but only for so long. I have not had a relapse, but the familiar un-ebbing slide restarted. Aubagio helped nip that, but I felt I needed to get more aggressive. And with Ocrevus still months away, I took a shot at getting Rituxan off-label. I was initially denied by my insurance company, but my MS specialist doc talked them around.
The first transfusion went pretty well, although I did have a slight allergic reaction a couple hours in (redness on face and itchiness). A little extra Benadryl and prednisone cleared that up and things went smoothly from there, although I was pretty dopey (insert joke here). Took about six hours, as AMF Adventures predicted. Next infusion is in two weeks, and then six months (ish).
I'll keep folks abreast here about my progress, although maybe that's a bad word to use. How about "successes" and lack of progression! That sounds more like it.
...hope for the best and it will get there for you ...i know this disease is really the pits but ha we are still breathing ...ahhahahah...take care and be safe....i have had it since october of 2004
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