Previously on Tysabri, stopped, want to start back up. Question.

So I was previously on Tysabri, almost 2 years. It turned out to be my wonder drug. Within the first month I felt 99% like myself prior to Crohn's. Flash forward about 2 years after starting it my previous employer changed insurance company's and the new one no longer covered it so I had to stop. My new employer does! So my question is have there been any study's done or has anyone had personal experience with being on it, stopping , then trying to take it again? I've been off it for 2 or 3 years now and want to ask my GI to put me back on it.

Thanks for any help!

Tysabri is a biological medicine like remecade. it's given by infusion every 30 days. It's gotten a bad reputation due in part to people who are on multiple immuno suppressant medications and are severely immuno compromised, to date I believe 31 patients have died from PML all of which were taking it for MS and one or two taking it for Crohns and MS. My crohns is bet described as moderate to severe. I was put on imuran, 6mp, entocrt and humira. All of which fail for me. The only relief I ever got was from prednisone prior to Tysabri. But that in itself has side effects that go on forever. I was nervous about starting up Tysabri but like I said it gave me almost immediate relief, I was more worried when I had to stop because I was afraid everything would start back up. Ultimately my previous GI and I decided the was the best choice, to hit it hard and it turned out it was the best option, I only hope I can go back on it.

Well thanks for the teaching. I hope you can get back on! I'd call your doctor asap! Goodluck!

Fingers crossed for you.

I gave you some information about my experiences at Ohio Gastro and I told you about a friend we have with Crohn's who could not get positive results there and was desperate. We gave him the name of the doctor an ER doctor at OSU Hospital with Crohn's had given us of a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Aaron Brzezinski. The first thing Dr. Brzezinski did was put our friend on Tysabri and he has had very good results from it. Our friend was close to some drastic surgery to remove parts of his GI tract and now he is doing well. The ER doctor at OSU confirmed with us our opinion of the doctor we had at Cleveland Clinic and said he could not recommend him. If we ever have to go again, we will try Brzezinski. A good doctor makes all the difference. I wish you luck.