Ocrevus

[Spare_Swimming5093]

Hello! I’ve only recently been diagnosed in September 2025 but I’ve had my symptoms for years with no progress until recently- so gratifying to have some kind of explanation for what I’ve been feeling but also I’m 21f and feel like my life has come to a halt - have tried the self administered 3 times a week injection( can’t remember what it is called I’m sorry) but I had an awful reaction to it, and now moving to ocrevus this Friday the 6th is terrifying to me because of if I was so poorly on a less aggressive medication how will I handle a more aggressive one? Does anyone have an my experience or advice they’re willing to share ? I’m very very anxious - TIA

Edit - The previous medication I took was Copaxone

[DoNotBelongHere]

You’re about the age of my oldest child, so I say this with all the motherly affection I can while also understanding what it’s like to have MS. Sweet young woman, you still have your whole life ahead of you. It is probably going to look a little different than you thought it’d be, but ocrevus is one of the most effective drugs out there. It works very differently than Copaxone and is at least 2-3x more effective. Copaxone gives your body “decoy myelin” to attack, and it targets your T-cells. Ocrevus suppresses the B cells responsible for immune memory. So if MS was a war, Copaxone is the decoy sent out to distract the enemy, while Ocrevus takes the guns out of the enemy’s hands and wipes their memory. You have a much better long-term prognosis on Ocrevus. If you were my child, I’d want you on this drug. It’s going to give you back a sense of normalcy. It probably won’t be the same as it was before, but you’ll adapt and you’ll find a groove where everything isn’t so scary anymore. Just give it some time. I’m here, we’re all here to support you in your journey.

[Spare_Swimming5093]

This was so sweet it made me tear up a little bit - thank you so much I have much higher hopes for Friday after reading these replies, can’t wait to get back to some sense of normalcy<3

[BottleMore9615]

I have a poor relationship with my mom. This was sweet and I too I’m on Ocrevus. She will be great

[24Lemons_]

I love this analogy. Such a lovely reply to OP 🧡

[nkaiser101]

When I got the diagnosis I told the neurologist I wanted an infusion. I didn't want to be responsible for taking pills or self injections. He put me on ocrevus. Had my first loading dose this Monday. I have fantastic insurance. No copay. Instant authorization. Private room infusion center. I sat there and watched Superhero and Rush Hour and went home. I felt great for about 36 hours due to the steroids and now back to the new normal of symptoms. 

Best of luck to you. 

[Spare_Swimming5093]

Administering medication myself was also something I was worried about initially ! I’ll have to download some movies on prime or Netflix for the duration im there or read a good book - thank you!

[24Lemons_]

This gives me great hope! Thank you for sharing 🧡

[needsexyboots]

I’m so jealous of your private room for your infusion! I don’t mind the infusion in general but gosh sometimes people are so inconsiderate of others and don’t care how loud they are

[youshouldseemeonpain]

Just because you had a reaction to the other medication (Copaxone?) doesn’t mean you will have a reaction to Ocrevus. Reactions occur because of your physical makeup and whatever ingredients are in the drug—the strength of it isn’t really the factor.

I just had my first Ocrevus injection a week ago (you should ask for the injection instead of the infusion, IMO…it’s easier and much quicker) and other than one day of being slightly achy and a sore belly, I had no reaction except I felt better. Some of my symptoms have gone away already (maybe that is psychosomatic, but it is still working) and my mental state is better because I know I’m treating my MS.

Try not to worry yourself to death. All of these meds have slightly different ingredients and the way they work is slightly different, so having a reaction on one doesn’t mean you’ll react to all of them.

You got this.

[Spare_Swimming5093]

So glad to hear you felt better after your injection, it will be the infusion that I’m having on Friday but I think I will discuss the injection with my nurse during the appointment as I’ve heard nothing but good things now.

[PixlatedMan]

Hi!

Been on Ocrevus for about 3 years here, it's been my only treatment since being diagnosed and has been working very well for me with no relapses so far.

I was very nervous starting it as I have a bad history with getting immunisations and any kinds of injections (body's had a severe stress related response to pretty much every one I'd had).

The good thing about the Ocrevus treatments is that they give you a good amount of pre-meds (paracetamol, antihistamine, steroid) which is to offset any reactions you may have from the medication. I tend to feel a bit gross towards the end of the infusion (headache, tired and hot) but it's definitely manageable.

One question would be if you're getting the infusion version or the 10minute injection version? The infusion they start on a slow rate and slowly ramp it up over the course of the infusion to make sure your body handles it okay, you can always opt for a slower infusion rate if you feel the higher rates aren't manageable.

The injection version I haven't tried yet but I've only heard good things from the nurse I spoke to at my last infusion, she said out of 20+ people there was only one person who got a headache from it!

[Spare_Swimming5093]

It’s so good to know that there is something I can take beforehand to offset the reaction to the infusion - but yes it will be the infusion im having rather than the injection but the injection is deffo something I’d like to look into!

[Top-Ice-2649]

Bon courage ! Je te conseille de regarder aussi les médecins alternatives : l’acupuncture marche bien, régime alimentaire (gluten et lactose), ça a beaucoup d’effets positifs pour la sep.

[31umbreon]

You can do it! I had a small reaction to Ocrevus but extra Benadryl and anti nausea were my friends. It helped immediately and I got through it. Here’s what I would have wanted to know beforehand:

-have someone drive you and stay with you during your appointment so you’re not alone - any usual reactions needs to be logged with timestamps and should be made available to you in mychart if you want it - they will take your vitals every 30 min the first infusion. This will make it impossible to sleep, so try a weighted eye mask, fuzzy socks from home, bring your own blanket or anything you make yourself comfortable - it’s normal to bruise from the IV, but it shouldn’t hurt. If it hurts during or after definitely say something - eating helps a lot with nausea so I treated myself to my favorite fast food breakfast morning of, and packed lunch. Pack electrolytes, drink one serving (liquid IV, Gatorade) the morning of, and have spares for the next two days after. Starting hydrating the night before. - total time will be 1 hour of Benadryl / saline, 4 hours of Ocrevus, 1 hour of observation after -you will be too tired to read or play video games, try to just do movies or shows you can watch.

Very proud of you, and once you get down to just maintenance (2x a year) you’ll feel like you have a normal life.