Avonex to tysabri

[Tbamc]

Hi, I have been taking Avonex for 6 yrs on and off. I stopped for 2 yrs when I had my third child and have been back on it for the past 2 1/2 yrs straight. I was diagnosed in 2005 and have been fortunate to have little to no changes in my MRIs. That is until I recently experienced vertigo which triggered an order for some MRIs. I have a new active lesion in my brain and one in my spine. My doctor thinks tysabri would be a great next choice. What confuses me is that all the research I have done seems to insinuate that tysabri is a good choice when nothing else works. I am in great shape and live with little to no daily symptoms. My main Symptom is my left leg dragging after about 20 min of walking  for exercise and I haven't been able to run for ten yrs now. Please give me your insight as to why you think I should or should not switch to Tysabri. Thank you!

[Tbamc]

Thank you for spelling it out Kyle. It's so hard to think straight and digest all this information. And Sarah I agree that biogen is great they have helped me pay for my Avonex through their copay assist program. Hoping they will do the same if I switch.
So glad I found this board!!

[SarahL2491]

Tysabri was my first drug and I've been on it at least 3 yrs now.  I have had no new relapses that were permanent.  I wear a foot brace because no one diagnosed it previously.  I was also JC+ from the beginning.  I have the usual "bumps in the road" that don't last long, but that's MS, it hits us all differently.  It is wonderful to only worry about drugs every 28 days!  Biogen is wonderful and has a super support system.  Go for it!

[HVAC]

Kyle hit the nail on the head.

Alex

[kwarendorf]

Hi - Welcome to the group.

Tysabri is positioned as a 'next step'. If first line meds, like Avonex, are no longer working, Tysabri brings a new dimentsion to the fight. It sounds like your doc believes that the new lesion indicaes Avonex is no longer working.

As with most things, it's better to try and stay ahead of MS than it is to try and chase it. Tysabri is a good choice for that.

My first DMD was Tysabri. I was on it for 20 months and had no ill effects. There was also no progression of my MS. just before the 20th infusion my doc was able to determine that it was no longer working. In keeping with the philosophy stated above I switched to Rituxan and things remain all quiet on the MS front!

Kyle