User Reviews for Avonex intramuscular

I have been taking Avonex for 9yrs. I was diagnosed in 1990 & went on AVONEX 2002. I have not had a major exasserbation since being on avonex, but it seems side affects are getting really worse over time, has anyone else had this prob? I really do not want to have to stop.

I HAVE USED IMURAN DAILY FOR OVER 15 YEARS. I BELIEVE THIS MEDICATION TO BE A MAJOR REASON I REMAINED INCREASED EXACERBATION FREE FOR AT LEAST 14 OF THESE YEARS.

I am back up on my feet and walking again.

I was very lucky to have had a great nurse to show me how to inject myself. She gave me great advice about dealing with flu like symptoms. On the day of my shot I drink lots of water throughout the day (about 3 sports bottles full) I refer to it as "water boarding" that one day. I take the AVONEX out of the fridge 2-3 hours before injection. I make sure I have food in my stomach, then take 2 aleves 1 hour before shot, use ice in a ziplock bag on my thigh for about 20-30 minutes. Now that I use the shorter needle it is much less scary to give myself the shot. It is important to do this routine similarly each week. The ultra hydration helps tremendously as does the aleve. Now I only experience a little tiredness for half the next day, the flu-like aches and pains are virtually gone; I believe because of the water. Don't get me wrong I still freak out a bit everytime I have the needle in my hand but I just tell myself this is no big deal and I get through it. A positive attitude certainly makes all of this easier. Read More Read Less

Well I was diagnosed in 2007 due to numbness by my gums on left side of my face, felt as if I put oral gel on my gums. I was admitted to the hospital after MRI showed three lesions. I was given methyprednisolone 1000mg for five days which had me walking like I was 90 years old. Nurse came out to show me how to inject myself with avonex. I used it one time in 2007 but was too difficult to give injections so I stopped. Now the guilt o being crippled has been haunting me for 4yrs. I have decided to start the taking the Meds 4yrs later. Have not had an "attack" since 2007. I'm scared and confused because I have no problems so I think so I don't want to take Meds if I don't need it but my doctors says it's best to take it for prevention of relapse. So far I have been getting bad chills, headache, weakness, and one eye will swell at the lower lid. I think I may be allergic but the doctor tells me to keep taking the Meds. I'm confused an worried! Any suggestions? Read More Read Less

Avonex made me feel really, really bad for first 2 months. Fever, nauseous, dizzy and aches all over by body. But after that, I felt fine. Everything ended. The shots use to bother me a lot because I wasn't use to the long needle. But now it's a piece of cake. I like taking it once a week instead of everyday like Copaxone. No bumps are bruises from Avonex.

BEEN USING AVONEX SINCE INITIAL DIAGNOSES 8 YRS. AGO. STARTED WITH MIXING NOW USING PREFILLED SYRINGES. SIDE EFFECTS MINIMAL AND ONLY OCCURRED DURING INITIAL START OF MEDICATION AND WHEN BIOGEN SWITCHED TO PREFILLED. NO PROBLEM WITH INJECTION CONSIDER WAY OF LIFE. AT 50 YEARS OLD HAVE BEEN WORKING OUT AND MAINTAINED HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR 15+YEARS. RELASPING RECURRING WITH NO SIGNIFICANT PROGRESSION SAYS IT ALL ABOUT EFFECTIVNESS OF DRUG. WOULD NOT CONSDER SWITCHING TO ORAL AT THIS TIME, SIDE EFFECTS SOUND MORE SEVERE.Read More Read Less

Have been on Avonex for 3 months.Side effects have subsided gradually.Have not had dibilitating attack since taking meds.Over all I am satisfied with this medication.

since i am verry young,this expearince has been ok with the shot. the things i dont like is the pain and the side effects, those really bug me. i cant wait to get the pill so the injection wont hurt.

I have been on Avonex for fourteen years. Had previously tried Betaseron but had to quit after a few doses due to side effects. Since on Avonex I have remained stable with no attacks. This was confirmed by a recent MRI to check for progression. The MRI came back negative with no active lesions. I no longer have side effects at all, don't even premedicate. Had some side effects, mainly fatigue, when I first started therapy. They dwindled over time and soon went away. I should add that I did get some side effects when going to the prefilled syringe, so I quickly went back to the original powdered form which I remain on to this day. In summary, I am very satisfied with Avonex. It has kept my MS at bay. Self -injecting has become little more than a minor inconvenience with virtually no side effectsRead More Read Less

have used avonex since 2000. used the tablets that had to be mixed. y husband put together and I gave myself the shot. Had my first relapse feb, 2010. Avonex has been the pre-filled so I just attached the needle. Was told maybe ido not work with avonex but now they are now "pre-packaged" and not prefilled, Now I have to take the pre-packaged and put together. odd that a had a relapse using the prefilled. Makes me wonder but now it is good.Otherwise I am walking with a cane yo insure I have my balance nut every day is better. Best of luck to others. Read More Read Less

I was diagnosed in June '08. Steroids only til Jan. '10, when I had my second attack. Now, I have been on Avonex for about 5 months. I just had my first MRI since starting the medication. I have no major changes since Jan. '10. I even had one legion healing according to my doctor. The self-injection is a piece of cake for me, it does hurt a bit, but its better than being in wheel chair. I take 800mg advil prior to my shot. Stay positive and do what your doctors says. This is not the end of the world, for any of us. Read More Read Less

I am just coming up to 5 years on Avonex. I have been fortunate in that the two company's I have worked for during this time have a medical centre so I have a nurse administer the injection. I still can not get my head around doing it myself. This is an issue because I feel dependent on someone else and often makes me wonder what I will eventually have to do when this facility is not there for me. Still have side effects, mostly muscle ache, which tends to vary week-to-week. 3 tylenol about an hour before and for the next day tends to help a great deal. I have not had a flare up as bad as the one I had shortly before being diagnosed. That said, I can't tell you it is because of Avonex. In the last few months I have felt more lethargic and fatigued. Again, I don't know if this is due to Avonex or the fact I stopped smoking pot and started Lexapro, which I am also starting to ween myself off of. I am currently considering stopping Avonex as well to see if I can live/cope with no medication what so ever. Overall, I cant say it is not helping so would suggest you go with your doctors advice. What ever you decide I wish you luck and, remember, you are not alone.Read More Read Less

I started Avonex within 30 days of the first attack (optic nerve) with taking steroids for 3 days and then staring the Avonex I thought I was going to loose my mind!! I have been 8 months without a relapse yes my muscles ache in my back and neck but at least i can function and I feel healthy and happy. I am loking into CCSVI but will continue with Avonex as it has been a great success!

Diagnosed in 2008. Started out on Copaxon - had 4 flare ups and no changes to lesions. Started Avonex 1 year ago, lesions are smaller and no new ones! Injections hurt - but my husband gives to me so we can rotate sites. Flu like symptoms are lessening but not gone yet. Fevers/Chills - take tylenol. Headache (pretty bad) take darvon due to many allergies. Drink lots of water, take at 8:30 p.m. and crawl into bed for about 12 hours. Would recommend Avonex. Reactions to steriods are worse!

Due to the severity of my MS I can only inject in my legs and I numb my legs with ice prior to injection. I rotate my injection site every week to let my legs recover from previous week. I let the prefilled syringe set out in room temp for at least an hour prior to injecting per instructions. To decrease some of the side effects the next day, I usually inject on Sunday night and then take two advils. Ask your doctor if you can also receive the smaller gauge, which is a smaller needle(25 inch rather than the 23 1/4 inch)it is alot nicer. This medications has only helped to decrease my major attacks, but I still continue to have alot of pain. These techniques I have described does help with using this medication and I hope it works for you. I wish you the best! Read More Read Less

I was diagnosed in 2007, when my doctor reviewed my MRI scans and informed me that my lesions were so bad that I had MS for over 10 years. I then started on Avonex immediatly that same year. All my doctors informed me that the side effects would pass through time, but unfortunatly time has passed for three years + and I still experience the PAIN, ACHES, fevers, chills, confusions, headaches, fatigae, etc. I wish I could say I didn't, but I have tried everything possible to releive the injection site and my body still throbs. It is a great medication for someone with a busy schedule, since you only need to inject once a week rather than the other regimans and that was the main reason why I chose this medication over the others. Avonex also comes in a prefilled syringe that does prevent errors and mistakes which is great when needles are not your thing. MS is a complicated disease that is different for everyone, and I am glad that many people are successful with this medication. Hopefully, one day they will find a cure!!! God Bless!!Read More Read Less