MS meds and other Rx meds

I am currently on Coumadin and Betapace for A-fib and Cardiac Syndrome X along w/other BP meds.  I am suppose to start my MS meds in a week.  Has anyone had an interaction when taking MS meds w/other Rx'd meds?  By looking at me, you would never know that I have any health problems ... watch what I eat, stay at 125 lbs (perfect weight to keep my arrythmias in check), and used to speed walk ... impossible now with MS.  The side effects of the MS meds sound scarry since I can't take Ibuprofin because of the coumadin.  Looking forward to starting meds to hopefully control disruptive cognitive thinking, imbalance, and numbness to my left leg and arm.  Could certainly use some reassurance!  Thanks!

pegleg said...
I am currently on Coumadin and Betapace for A-fib and Cardiac Syndrome X along w/other BP meds.  I am suppose to start my MS meds in a week.  Has anyone had an interaction when taking MS meds w/other Rx'd meds?  By looking at me, you would never know that I have any health problems ... watch what I eat, stay at 125 lbs (perfect weight to keep my arrythmias in check), and used to speed walk ... impossible now with MS.  The side effects of the MS meds sound scarry since I can't take Ibuprofin because of the coumadin.  Looking forward to starting meds to hopefully control disruptive cognitive thinking, imbalance, and numbness to my left leg and arm.  Could certainly use some reassurance!  Thanks!

Given your other very serious health problems, it is crucial that you meet with your doctor(s) and go over all the meds you are now taking, or intend to take,

and include anything that you're taking that are considered "over the counter", like "natural" medicines, or those bought at the health food store, , even vitamins supplements -- anything that is not food that one ordinarily eats or drinks.

Please don't expect that the MS meds will reduce or eliminate or "control" symptoms you're experiencing (the disruptive cognitive thinking, imbalance, numbness, etc.)  While those symptoms might lessen over time,

the MS meds aren't going to specifically treat those (I'm assuming here you're going to start Avonex or Betaseron or Rebif or Copaxone...not something specific to treating cognitive difficulties, or MS-related pain).

What the MS meds will do is reduce the length, severity and intensity of future exacerbations, or reduce the number of exacerbations you might have experienced had you not gone on one of the meds.

When you know for sure which med you decide to take (and you might ask about the Copaxone in particular, as it might interfer less with your other meds), come back and ask questions. Folks here are on one or the other of the meds, and can offer their experiences.

Thanks for all the info on the meds.  I don't know which med the neurologist is going to start me on, but I'm glad for your input.  I was under the impression that the meds would help control my imbalance and cognitive thinking problems.  At least now I know they won't and will not be disappointed.  All these years I have had slight exacerbations, but the doctors were chalking it up to heart arrythmias, etc.  Old MRIs that were taken in 1997 and again in 2004 showed lesions, but were never followed up.  I found this out when I pulled my old MRIs for my neurologist.  My exacerbation hit in September, right after Hurricane Katrina.  I guess seeing my home in pieces and pulling long hours at the hospital (I'm a respiratory therapist) were more than my body could take.  Because of the devastation here, I wasn't able to see a neurologist until November.  He specialized in sleep study, informed me that he didn't know what was wrong, advised that I purchase a cane and learn to "deal with it."  I'm not the kind to "deal with it" unless I know what I'm dealing with!  My primary MD was able to make an appt with a neurologist in another state away from the devastation and started me on the right road.  I received IV steroids followed by several weeks of oral steroids in hopes that it would put me back into remission.  Before the IV, I had to use the cane or "wall walk".  It helped, but not to the point of remission.  I learned a valuable lesson, though.  Check out your MD BEFORE you have your appt to make certain he/she is informed of all aspects and new txs on MS.  I would hate to see someone go through what I endured.  Again, thanks for your input!