Make it easier to take your MS medication

If you have MS, you likely want to do everything you can to stay in your prime. That may include taking medication. Adding medication to your lifestyle can come with its own challenges. Fortunately, there are many ways you can make your medication easier to take.

Today there are more options than ever for treating multiple sclerosis and its symptoms. And research is showing that many of these treatments can be highly effective.(1) So if, like many others with MS, you are committed to staying healthy and active, these tips can help you stick to your goals.

Lifestyle interruptions

Sometimes it may seem inconvenient to add medication therapy to your lifestyle. Or you may avoid medication because you don't like being reminded that you have MS. Here are ways you can keep the interruptions to a minimum:

  • If your medication is supposed to be taken three times a week, consider choosing Monday, Wednesday and Friday as your injection days. This keeps your weekends free of injections.
  • Try a medication that comes in pre-filled injectors. The doses are already measured out and syringes don't need to be prepared. It leaves less for you to have to worry about.
  • Medications vary in how frequently they need to be taken and whether or not they need refrigeration for storage.(2) Talk to your doctor about the medication that best suits your lifestyle.
  • Remind yourself that with every injection you are trying to slow down disability and maintain your ability. This may help you think of the medication as a help, not a hassle.

Lack of support

Support from those around us can sometimes make the difference between feeling alone and feeling motivated to take medication.(3) Here are some sources of support to turn to that may help you:

  • Family members
  • Your healthcare provider
  • An agency serving people with MS
  • Online support or brochures offered by the manufacturer of your medication
  • A nurse or peer mentor program

Side effects

Like all medications, drugs designed to slow down your MS can have side effects. Some of these side effects can be uncomfortable. But there are ways to ease the discomfort:

  • If you're experiencing fatigue, fever and chills after taking an injection, take heart in knowing that this reaction usually eases up once your body gets used to the medication.(4)
  • In the meantime, your doctor may suggest you take acetaminophen and ibuprofen before and after the injection to control pain and fever.(5)
  • You can also try taking the medication before bed, so you're sleeping instead of experiencing side effects.(6)

Injection pain

If you're taking your medication by injection, you may experience swelling, redness and irritation at the injection site.(7) These strategies may help:

  • Make sure you're always cleaning your skin properly beforehand, and wash your hands well before giving yourself an injection.(8) Always wait a week before using the same injection site.(9)
  • Massage the area gently for a couple of minutes after the injection. This may help reduce irritation.(10)
  • Some people report that covering the area with a warm cloth afterwards helps with the discomfort. If this doesn't work for you, try applying an ice pack right before and after the injection.(11)
  • Check with your healthcare provider to make sure you're using the right injection technique. The manufacturer of your medication may offer brochures, training sessions, or training videos to provide more information.(12)

Injection anxiety

Some people just don't feel comfortable giving themselves injections. A lot of people don't like to see or think about needles, and others say they're bothered by the length and thickness of needles.(13) A variety of autoinjector products on the market offer features that can lessen injection anxiety and make it easier for you to take medication. Autoinjectors can provide the following features:

  • Automatic injection just by pressing a button (14) so you don't have the sense of giving yourself a needle
  • A needle that's hidden before, during and after the injection process (15) so you never have to see a needle
  • Thinner needles, which cause less pain and bruising (16)
  • Adjustable needle depth to make injections more comfortable according to people's needs and preferences (17),(18)
  • No need to mix or carry multiple doses when traveling.
  • A memory log to help you keep track of the date and time of your injections (19)
  • Easy-to-understand on-screen instructions to help guide you through the injection (20)

Talk to your doctor about the medication, products and injection techniques that are right for you. It may be just what you need to get on with the rest of your life.

 

1. MS Society of Canada. The treatment question: Should I start an MS medication? http://www.mssociety.ca/en/pdf/pub_treatmentquestion.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
2. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. Significant barriers prevent people with MS from fully committing to treatment regimen, new survey reveals. http://www.betaseron.com/patients/pdfs/Significant%20Barriers%20Prevent%20People%20with%20MS.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
3. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals.Addressing barriers to MS treatment commitment. http://www.betaseron.com/patients/pdfs/Tips%20Book.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
4. MS Society of Canada. Living well with MS: Managing fatigue. http://www.mssociety.ca/en/pdf/living-well-fatigue.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
5. MS Society of Canada. Living well with MS: Managing fatigue. http://www.mssociety.ca/en/pdf/living-well-fatigue.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
6. EMD Serono, Inc. Understanding possible side effects.
http://www.mslifelines.com/rebif/guide/side-effects.jsp, accessed 14 October 2009.
7. EMD Serono, Inc. Understanding possible side effects.
http://www.mslifelines.com/rebif/guide/side-effects.jsp, accessed 14 October 2009.
8. EMD Serono, Inc. Medication guide: Rebif. http://www.emdserono.com/cmg.emdserono_us/en/images/rebif_med_guide_tcm115_19766.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
9. EMD Serono, Inc. Understanding possible side effects.
http://www.mslifelines.com/rebif/guide/side-effects.jsp, accessed 14 October 2009.
10. EMD Serono, Inc. Understanding possible side effects.
http://www.mslifelines.com/rebif/guide/side-effects.jsp, accessed 14 October 2009.
11. EMD Serono, Inc. Understanding possible side effects.
http://www.mslifelines.com/rebif/guide/side-effects.jsp, accessed 14 October 2009.
12. EMD Serono, Inc. Understanding possible side effects.
http://www.mslifelines.com/rebif/guide/side-effects.jsp, accessed 14 October 2009.
13. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. BETASERON to offer the thinnest needles in multiple sclerosis. http://www.betaseron.com/patients/pdfs/Press_Rel_FAQ_020409.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
14. EMD Serono, Inc. MS therapy injection devices. http://www.rebismart.ca/Userfiles/File/Device%20chart_ENG.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
15. EMD Serono, Inc. MS therapy injection devices. http://www.rebismart.ca/Userfiles/File/Device%20chart_ENG.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
16. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. BETASERON to offer the thinnest needles in multiple sclerosis. http://www.betaseron.com/patients/pdfs/Press_Rel_FAQ_020409.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
17. EMD Serono, Inc. MS therapy injection devices. http://www.rebismart.ca/Userfiles/File/Device%20chart_ENG.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
18. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. Betaferon user guide: Questions and answers. http://www.betaferon.com/betaferonreg-user-guide/questions-and-answers-226.htm#q140, accessed 14 October 2009.
19. EMD Serono, Inc. MS therapy injection devices. http://www.rebismart.ca/Userfiles/File/Device%20chart_ENG.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.
20. EMD Serono, Inc. MS therapy injection devices. http://www.rebismart.ca/Userfiles/File/Device%20chart_ENG.pdf, accessed 14 October 2009.

 

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Brand names of drugs are prohibited:

At MS Village, we encourage conversation and social interaction with your friends, peers and the site itself. However, due to Canadian healthcare regulations, MS Village is not able to provide or facilitate any dialogue or statement relating to a claim that uses the brand name of a drug, treatment or medication.

Thus, we kindly ask that within the MS Village Facebook fan page, Forum, Twitter feed or YouTube channel that names of drugs, treatments or medications not be mentioned by their brand name. We reserve the right to remove any post that falls under this category.

As always, MS Village thanks you for your continued support.