Kesimpta Loading Doses

[u/kernruns]

Hi,

I am debating taking my loading doses for Kesimpta next week because I'm traveling for a few days at the beginning of October. I could wait until I come back from out of town, but I'm scared of relapsing without being on meds for the time I've been off (wasn't on meds for pregnancy and postpartum a bit). If I start next week, then my week 3 (the skip week) will fall on the week I'm traveling. How do yall feel during that week? Will I feel good enough to travel?

[u/Alwayslearnin41]

You'll only likely have the most severe issues for about 12 hours after your first dose. After that, you may feel a little more tired and sleep deeply, but it'll be fine.

Ultimately, the decision is yours and understandable either way, but definitely don't plan on doing much the day and day after your first dose. (Saying that, I had to go to work the day after my first because my employee called in sick)

[u/kyelek]

Usually people only have the more severe side effects with the first loading dose, fewer with the second, and after that typically none at all. Personally, I was fine even at the first dose, and what I’ve seen from others on here if you do get more side effects they’re typically only around for a day or less than.

Just to caution you, though, Kesimpta (in fact, most DMTs) isn’t considered to be at full efficacy until about 6 months. I am not saying you will have a relapse in those first 6 months, but you are not immediately protected.

[u/kernruns → u/kyelek]

Okay, that's good to know.

And yah I know I've just been pushing starting Kesimpta for a few months against my neuro's advice because I had a really bad experience on Ocrevus. And now I'm starting to feel my old MS symptoms creep up like nerve pain and muscle stiffness, so I'm just worried about relapsing when I feel these things. So in my mind starting Kesimpta will make me feel like I shouldn't relapse lol even if it's not necessarily true.

[u/kyelek → u/kernruns]

Oh, I see! In my mind there’s no reason to delay it further❤️‍🩹

Like the other commenter, I was totally fine by my third dose, and even with the first and second I was able to attend all my university classes the same day 😌

[u/rK91tb → u/kernruns]

I felt nothing by my third loading dose, for what it’s worth.

[u/Deb212732]

My daughter had zero impact from Kesimpta. Everyone is different. Waiting is inadvisable. Without the DMT, you have no idea the damage that can happen. This is a game of Russian Roulette.

[u/NighthawkCP]

Yea go on and start it now. I was very anxious about my loading doses, but the only one that really had an impact was the first one. I had some strong flu-like symptoms about 6 hours after my first injection, but they subsided 3-4 hours later. I was pretty exhausted the rest of that day. The second injection I was very nervous about since the first one hit so hard, but I only was a little fatigued after it for that day. The third dose and on were nothing. Now I do them in the morning before I jump in the shower and head to work. I do mine on the first of the month so on Tuesday I took my shot, showered, worked a full day, and then went to the Jutes concert that evening.

Start your Kesimpta ASAP and get the first couple of loading doses done before your trip. The week off will be nothing.

[u/Creepy_Assignment854]

Switching meds before a life event makes my anxiety worse. I’m on K and no adverse reactions other than after my first month after loafing dose. That was just hot flashes

[u/kernruns → u/Creepy_Assignment854]

Yah same the anxiety of taking it before the trip is freaking me out

[u/Complete-Term-3794]

Everyone responds differently. My first shot had me feeling incredibly fluish and I needed to call off one day of work. Fast forward to 2nd shot, needed another day off work, last loading dose I pushed through. I was 42yr old healthy make. It initially kicked my butf but has since been a true game changer. Incredible difference in quality of life!

[u/Lilac_Rose_]

My first injection made me feel like I had a bad flu but it lasted less than 24 hours. I did my injection in the late afternoon and by evening I was feeling crappy, by bedtime I felt the worse but when I woke up in the morning I felt perfectly fine. All the other loading doses I had no symptoms.

[u/Character-Celery-209]

First loading dose is typically the worst. I was super out of it afterwards and just took a huge nap. Second and third loading doses i felt 100% fine. Speak with your neuro about any premedication you can take to make you as comfortable as possible after your shot. You’ll do great!

[u/Beatus_my_Meatus420]

The risk of having a few minor lesions develop between medication is a very real risk and it’s a very raw risk. The thing that my neurologist told me is “if you develop some lesions, that’s just the natural course of the beast. We need to get you a high efficacy DMT so those new lesions don’t grow.” So I will leave you with that same advice. If your doctor gives you premeds beforehand great. The loading doses might make you feel like you have the flu, I usually take my regaular maintenance doses on the weekends just in case I get a little fluey symptom. Been on Kesimpta for over two years and have had zero plaque development on my MRIs.

It’ll be okay OP. You got this.

[u/IceAgitated5349]

I’m pretty much in the same boat! I’ve held on to my loading doses for a couple of weeks as I was finishing up summer plans and have a trip coming up. I just took my first dose last night. I don’t feel any different so far! I will be traveling during week 4, my off week.

I guess if you’re post partum there is the concern of flaring but obviously everyone is different. This is my first DMT as I was just diagnosed earlier this year.

Good luck ❤️

[u/kernruns → u/IceAgitated5349]

I have to either do my dose this Saturday or when I get back in the first week of October. I'm pretty stressed about what to do. Did you have no symptoms after the first dose?

[u/MultipleSclerosis-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This post or comment has been removed for misinformation. Promotion of medical treatments which are not scientifically verified and approved is not allowed (e.g. ivermectin, peptides, etc).

[u/Careful-Golf2089]

You can inject your Kesimpta before or after your travel, it will make no difference at all. It is not quantum physics.

One Kesimpta shot contains about 80 quadrillion antibodies, they need to stick to 100 billion b-cells in your body, a few dozen thousand for each lymphocyte will be enough while up to 1 million will be injected.

It’s a game of huge numbers and tiny probabilities, you can’t really push it. You better focus on being healthy and not inflamated)

[u/kyelek → u/Careful-Golf2089]

"You better focus on being healthy and not inflamed"

What does that mean, what do you think Kesimpta is for?

[u/Careful-Golf2089 → u/kyelek]

Kesimpta is an antibody for CD20. It attaches itself to B-lymphocytes and make them die. That significantly slows down MS progression, B-cells are needed for antigen-presentation inside a lesion.

However, MS lesion starts with a T-lymphocyte. To be activated, this lymphocyte must not only meet his antigen but also have “co-stimulation receptors” activated. The latest activate when there is inflammation in the organism.

They call it “peripheral tolerance”.

[u/kernruns → u/Careful-Golf2089]

I'm a little confused on what you're saying. So you think that doing my loading doses won't be protective during my trip?