Hey everyone...Well I finally was able to receive my Betaseron last week...I only had an order for it since the last of August, but have been arguing with the insurance company again! I work for the County Government, and my part after the insurance pays their part is $306.79 a month...How is that?? Anyway, I was suppose to have a Nurse come by my house and show me how to mix, and inject the Betaseron...but due to the runaround, I ended up going with family to the Dr.'s office so the Nurse could show me there..Long story short, we did 2 training kits, and then I injected myself for the first time...Later that day (about 2 hrs) I started freezing and my whole body ached...so as I was lying down on the couch at my parent's, I started burning up...I'm talking sweat drenching me and my t-shirt...I was that way for at least 8 hours...I ended up starting to feel a little better, and drove myself back home, took a shower and fell into bed...not feeling too great the next day..anyway, I talk with my Beta Nurse that day, to tell her how I felt, and asked.."Is this how I am gonna feel for the next 6 weeks??" She asked me about the measuring dose, etc....come to find out the Nurse accidently gave me the full dose that day!! That is why I felt like I was dying!! I was suppose to be at the lowest dosage and then gradually go up until I reached the full dosage at about 6 weeks...Just wondering if I am the only one out there who has "drama" everytime they turn around since finding out they have MS??? :rolleyes: But on the good side...I learned how to measure the correct dosage, and have not gotten sick the past 2 times I injected!! For those on Betaseron...once you reach the full dosage, do you still get the "flu-like" symptoms after all that time?? Thanks for listening to me "vent"..Good Luck to all of you.. :wave:

Yikes, Moussie. First the sticker shock and then the OD. You sure are starting off on a bad note.

Unfortunately, I can't give you an answer to your question, re: Beta side effects. I'm sure that now you're on the right track as per your dosage, you'll not be effected to such a drastic degree. Just wanted to send along a ((((((hug)))))).

We're an "average" income family but I sure couldn't afford over $300 going out each month for meds...that's on top of all the other meds DH and I take. So far I'm undx and hopefully it'll stay that way. I have heard that the pharmacutical company's that manufacture the drugs do have plans for those that are under-insured and/or can't afford to pay. Maybe this is something you can look into?

Blessings ~ Lisa

Hi Moussie21, I was on Beta for 5 years and had the same dosage from day one till I switched to Copax in 99. I only had the flu like symptoms the first injection so hopefully that will hold true for you. as for the cost thank God I had good ins and only had to pay 35 per month. Now copax is 40 per month. I can't complain. Good luck to you. Hope the Beta is a good thing for you! lucybelle

did u take tylenol before ur shot??? i did for 6 months,, and then they told me to wean off it i have been on it for 13 months now,,and i still have to take one bfore my shot,,,when i take a shot without the tylenol,, i get the chills,, and i hurt so bad i can barely stand up and i hurt and ache,,, so i suggest u take tylenol before hand.

Yeah nobody warned me about the chills and sweats either. After my first shot I had similiar experiences. Next time I took 3 advill(200mg) and two tylenol (500mg) and repeated (6 hours on advil and 4 on tylenol). I had no side effects. It seems like a lot of meds so I checked it out with my doc he said it was ok.

I'm now down to 1 tablet each with same 4 and 6 hour repeat. Something about the combination works well for me.

Hope this helps.

Take care.

Bruce

revlcb...thanks for the hug...I needed that...On a good note, I just found out I was accepted to the Betaseron Foundation, and through them my meds will now cost me $30 a month!!! Hope everything works out well with you...*Alexis*

lucybelle...Thanks for the "luck"...I hope it works for me. I just found out I was accepted through the Betaseron Foundation, and my meds will now cost me $30 a month!! I'm extremely thankful for that. Hope your doing well. *Alexis*

Natatude...Thanks for the advice..Yes, I did take Tylenol before the shot..I guess because I was given too much, that is why my body went into "overdrive" trying to get rid of what was thrown into my system..I work midnights, so I take Tylenol PM, and then take my shot...Works so far! Thanks again..*Alexis*

TBruce..Thanks for the advice!!..I took some Tylenol before the shot, but ended up taking some more a few hours later to try and reduce the fever..I work midnights so I now take Tylenol PM before the shot...works well so far!! Thanks again...*Alexis*

also i forgot to mention,,,,, are u building up on it????? for the first 2 weeks i only took .25 of the syringe,, then week 3 i started 2 weeks,, of .50 then in 2 more weeks started 2 weeks of .75,,, and then 2 weeks of that do the whole1.0 syringe full,,, u have to build up on it,, if u started out with the whole 1.0 full syringe that is probably why ur got so sick,,,, next shot start with .25 and throw the rest of the vial away. do u understand what i mean?? if not gimme a holler back and i will try to explain it bettrer.

Natatude...Hi...yes, I know what you mean by the 0.25..and then moving up to higher doses...That is what I was supposed to have done the first time, but the Nurse made a mistake...I am taking the 0.25 for 7 shots, and then moving up to the next dosage for 7 shots until I reach the full dose in mid- November...Thanks for the help...Take Care...*Alexis*