User Reviews for Avonex intramuscular

First dose: up all night, teeth chattering, EVERYTHING hurt (even my hair!). Has improved significantly over the 6 years I've been on it. Beware the intital depression this may cause and seek treatment if needed. (Was scary!) Was told to stay away from acetaminophen (tylenol) to treat symptoms (enough insult to your liver already); I take ibuprofen instead (three 1-1/2 hours after injection to ward off "feeling like death" and headache from hell that hit like clockwork 2 hours after injecting). I also take ibuprofen during the night and next day (morning and night). So far, so good. Good luck and god bless to all!Read More Read Less

WHEN I TAKE MY SHOT 2HR. LATER I BECOME COLD AND START SHAKING UNTIL I FALL ASLEEP. THE NEXT MORNING I WAKEUP HEAD HURTING AND BODY IN SO MUCH PAIN . SOME TIMES I THINK IS THIS ONCE A WEEK INJECTION REALLY WORTH IT.

I started on avonex in 2004. I took the med till 2007. the hole time i was on it my side effects were really bad pretend that you got in a really bad car wreck and your whole body is hurting and a fever of 102for 24 to 48 hours every shot so I took it on friday night. oh dont foget the nice migrane that came along to. I was told that the symtoms would go a was after a few months that was CRAP. YES, it did take away all of my symtoms. The side effects SUCKED.I have stopped using the Avonex for 2 years some tingling has came back so im now taking copaxone it is so much better i can give it to my self and it dosent hurt. Read More Read Less

Hello all - So, I have been on Avonex for 2.5 years now and it is working well for me but the reaction following injection is awful. I was diagnosed when I was 12 years old I am now 32 - My father is also my doctor so I have been in a unique position to try different rx's to combat the pain and flu-like symptoms; I have tried them ALL, stuff no one else would give me, but my dad did and with everything I tried, all of the prescriptions I tried for me 2 Aleve, Naproxen Sodium taken 1 hour before inj. works very well, also stronger things work even better in combination but some docs will not do it, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin etc. I take 1 Lortab also when I get my shot, it works great and I am hardly effected. I tried tylenol, motrin, all of the antipyretics (fever lowering meds)and none of them work as well or as long as the Aleve, be careful with your stomach - buffer it with some milk or ice cream or a couple of tums or prilosec etc. Also- I don't know if anyone has this but I ALWAYS have an elevated temp now that I am on the Avonex. If I get off it, discontinue therapy for a time, which I have, the temp goes away, does this occur with anyone else? Thank you all. Read More Read Less

i started this medication since 2005, am taking it at the end of the week and at the evening time sometimes it is difficult to handle the symptoms but i got adapt to this medication cz i should take it.

I've been taking Avonex for 2 years now & MRI's show no new lesions! Prior to taking Avonex, lesion load had increased. Cold/Flu symptoms lesson over time & I find taking Tylenol with the shot helps minimize symptoms. Exercise really seems to help too, even if walking I'm thankful that the medical community is focused on treatment for MS!

I was dx in 1990 before Avonex was even around & have been using Avonex since when it was first inroduced and you could only get it on a 'lottery' system. origianlly I had the tablets & you had to mix it but now I use the prefilled syringes with the smaller needles. I do not want to change it!! The hardest part is actually getting the shot...I can't do it!! luckily my husband(or sometones else in my family) does it for me. yes, I do get slight flu-like symptoms but I take Motrin and usually do it at night to sleep through most of it. I have also found that if I let the medication get to room temperature it isn't as bad either. I have had a few minor relapses over the years but I am greatful for Avonex!! Read More Read Less

The Avonex has helped with my physical symptoms but my depression, short memory, and I Q SUCK. Also now whatever I eat immediately goes straight through me, further I can see the silly word in my head but I can't get it out this is just a bit mistake. sorry. Janice.

After a particularly violent divorce in 1998, I was diagnosed with MS. When my Doctor suggested Avonex, I said, "No, I'm ready, just let nature take its course." Fortunately for my, my Doctor refused, and started a treatemt of Wellbutrin, Lorazepam, Avonex, and Ambien. I'm still 90% functional, I still play music regularly, and I'm the mist greatful for my new wife, with whom we'll share our 8th anniversary inabouta week. I credit my survival to the Avonex, both to the medicine itself and to the support provided by Biogen, its maker. My olny complaint is that slepp in nearly impossible now without the Ambien, and even that is rapidly becoming ineffective.Read More Read Less

was dx in january 09.the longer needles were scary but changed to shorter ones and have no problems.i have to take 3 tylenol to ward off flu like symptoms,works,but i hate taking so many.have had no follow up mri yet,so can't say how effective this medication is.leaves me feeling groggy and down the next day.frankly ,i am hard to live with!hope this gets better.

Didn't slow anything for me with avonex being my first medication tried after being dx'ed, switched to tysabri

i have been encouraged to start using prednisone 10 mg with each in injection...i am wondering if anyone else has done this.

I was on Avonex for about eight months and I would hate every friday because i had to give myself the injection. I would get really sick for about three days and it was just not worthit for me. I changed to Tysabri because I could not take the pain anymore. I been on Tysabri for eight months now and it is great. I go to the infusion center once a month and they give me the medication through my veins. all it takes is about an hour of one of my fridays and no side effects. anyone that has trouble with Avonex, just like I did, I recomend switching to another medicine. It is really worthit.Read More Read Less

I was diagnosed with MS in Oct 2008 and choose Avonex because of the once a week injection (Extremely fearful of needles). After 6 months of taking Avonex my doctor has informed me to stop taking it as it was affecting my blood count levels and showing signs of affecting my liver. I am skeptical on the other medications as they are more frequent injections. I will admit the needle is quite large, however, rarely was painful and rarely had any injection site irritation. I endured flu-like symptoms for the first 3 months, sometimes severe but mainly moderate in pain/discomfort, and then side effects completely went away. I wish I could remain on this medicine as I was just beginning to get quite comfortable with it...yes, i was getting used to needle itself. If your fearful of needles, as I assume most of us are, you will eventually get over it and it will be sooner than you think. I hope this has been helpful!Read More Read Less

I have been on Avonex for 3 months. I still get VERY ill every time after the injection. It puts me down for about 3-4 days of the week. I don't want to switch to go on one which has to be injected every day. So, I'm waiting it out a few more months. Also, I have a history of depression (which has been a long time since it needed to be treated), and this makes it so bad I don't want to get out of bed. Started taking Paxil right after the Avonex to "head off" the side effect of depression. Still hopeful!!! Good luck!Read More Read Less

I have been taking this drug for 2 years after being mismedicated with Betaserone. This drug is doing very well for me . Tired with a headache day after injection but no other side affects. Easy to use and no bruising.

I was diagnosed in June of 2008 have been on Avonex Since 09/2008. I have had 2 lapses but my fatigue has almost completely gone away and some of my neuropathic pain has gotten much better.

i have been taking for almost 6 years first year was bad chills. learn to stay warm before an after shot. i drive truck an have good an bad days just learn to pace yourself but do not baby yourself you have to push harder to keep going learn not give up are lose faith.i give my shot in the leg rotating every week,i do beleive it helps but i keep my faith an dont stop working keep pushing myself,i am 50 years of age,please i repeat dont give up keep pushing

If you can get past the size of the needle and give yourself the shot you are doing better than me. First several months I had the chills and muscle soreness, felt like I have the flu but have learned to take my shot at bedtime so I sleep thru the symptoms. I seem to do better if I am well hydrated and get alot of rest and stay positive.

I have been on Avonex since 4/1998. I am now on the prefilled syringes,but have been approved by my Dr. for the 25Gauge (1 inch) needle which makes the injections more torelable. This is due to the fact that I have a smaller frame. The 23Gauge (1 1/4 Inch)that comes in the prefilled honestly hurt too much when I injected. I have not had any exasberations since 1998, thank God and my lesions have lessoned with no new ones appearing. This Avonex had been wonderful in keeping my MS under control. Never had Flu-like symptoms until I started having problems with my old pharmacy. I changed pharmacies and have not had any since. I believe they didn't refrigate it properly. Also started giving it early in the a.m. like at 9:00 and that really helped. Read that in MS Focus Magazine. I hope this info helps everyone & good luck to all.Read More Read Less