✅ What to do before Mavenclad - Year One Checklist

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I want to talk about my experience with Mavenclad and how I prepared for it. Because the fact is that when I started year one, I didn’t know anything about Mavenclad, including the steps I needed to take. So, I’m covering it for you now. 

 ✅ What to do before Mavenclad - Year One Checklist

Today I’ll cover all the steps you need to take to be approved for Mavenclad and how to prepare.

I want to talk about my experience with Mavenclad and how I prepared for it. Because the fact is that when I started year one, I didn’t know anything about Mavenclad, including the steps I needed to take. So, I’m covering it for you now.

Maybe you're feeling a little anxious, it's okay because I'm going to explain the details to you.

Shingles is a derivative of herpes zoster (the same virus that causes chickenpox) and it can happen when you take Mavenclad. It happens because the drug can activate herpes in your body. In order to prevent shingles, your neurologist should recommend you take your shingle shots.

I took my shingle shots in 2018, so the year before I started Mavenclad, I took my Shingrix shots two months apart. You need to space your shots out. Now I've gone online and it says six months apart. Talk to your doctor or your pharmacist about this.

Often you have to pay for your shingles shots, Shingrix. So that's something to consider. But honestly, when I went onto the Mavenclad for MS Facebook group, and I noticed that some women and men were experiencing shingles because of Mavenclad, even though the percentage is supposedly very small, I was grateful I took mine.

Shingles can cause all kinds of side effects. It can be painful and often stays with you once you have it. Google shingles and look up the details.

If you can’t afford to pay for the shingles vaccine, find out how to get them covered by the medical system if possible. I paid for mine and they are pricey.

The other vaccine I had no idea about was Hepatitis B. You can't go on Mavenclad if you have hepatitis. I was told I would need to have three shots for Hepatitis B, I'd never had this vaccine before. The shots need to be spaced out quite a bit.

The next on your checklist is getting a tuberculosis test. Now, when I had my tuberculosis test, originally they were only available as a skin test. Then I was told that a new technology had come out, so I could get a blood test instead. I went and got the blood test, the sample requires refrigeration and it has to be sent off the same day.

I guess the nurse doing this blood test for the first time didn't really know how,
which is understandable. I had to go back and be retested.

If you live with MS, you're probably having annual MRIs and that's what I have every year. The purpose is to check your baseline. Is there any progression? Are there any new lesions? Have any lesions disappeared or shrunk? Have any lesions gotten bigger?

Getting an MRI prior to taking Mavenclad gives you a baseline. Then when you have an MRI one year later, your neurologist can compare to determine any changes, whether you are stable or if there is progression.

Mavenclad is not a cure. Its purpose is to prevent any progression of MS.

If you want to know more about the medical side of Mavenclad for MS, you can Google all the doctors on YouTube that talk about Mavenclad to find out even more details. I'm sharing my experience from the patient’s perspective and as a recipient of Mavenclad.

Blood tests are the next step. Be sure to have your blood test within a window of three months or less of starting Mavenclad. This is very interesting because you will have a very extensive battery of blood tests that will determine whether you can go on Mavenclad or not.

These blood test check for things like HIV to make sure that's not in your system and malignancy (any type of cancer that might be in your body). Also, the blood test gives you a base line for your lymphocyte counts. Your lymphocytes, the T and B cells drop as you're taking this medication. The purpose of that is the drug kills off white blood cells, (the Bs and Ts) with the hope that when the cells grow back, they no longer attack the myelin sheath in the brain.

Lastly, financing. Financing for Mavenclad depends on what country you are from and will depend on whether the government is going to finance it. Alternately, if you have a drug plan, how much they will cover and how much the drug company might finance.

This MS drug, like others is super expensive so even if you get approved for the drug by your neurologist, financing is the final factor as to whether you will be able to take Mavenclad or not.

Note: At the time that I'm shooting this video and writing this blog, we are still somewhat in the pandemic for covid. It is recommended that you take a covid vaccination at least 30 days before going on Mavenclad.

Wishing you the best as you embark on getting set up to take Mavenclad.

About Jen

I'm Jen DeTracey and I'm the founder of Women Thriving with MS. I helps women go from Surviving with MS, to Striving with MS to Thriving with MS. I do that through coaching our, online programs the YouTube channel, Facebook group that's free and membership and so much more.

Jen's been living with multiple sclerosis for over 12 years. She went through this process of surviving with MS to striving MS to thriving MS. She is a guide, coach and teacher who helps you move forward on your journey from surviving to thriving with MS.