anotherOne's Avonex Prefilled Syringe History

anotherOne: Sex: F; Data Quality: 1 star; MS: 7 yrs; Type: Relapsing-Remitting; Sensation: None; Overall: None; Cognition: mild; Vision: mild; Speech: none; Swallowing: none; Upper limb: none; Walking: none

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anotherOne's Avonex Prefilled Syringe is for:

anotherOne's Avonex Prefilled Syringe History (Stopped)
Avonex Prefilled Syringe (interferon beta-1a im injection)
30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly Mar 01, 2008 - Jun 01, 2010
Stopped Doctor's advice and Other Jun 01, 2010

Evaluations
Date	Dosage	MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Efficacy
Jun 01, 2010	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Oct 20, 2009	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Feb 25, 2009	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly	?
Jan 11, 2009	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly	?
Jan 07, 2009	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly	?

Date: Jun 01, 2010
Advice & Tips: My husband gave me my injections as my fear of needles would never allow me to inject myself. The side effects were manageable for me with the use of Tylenol or Advil. I had one mild flare up during my time on Avonex, but there were new lesions discovered on my most recent MRI (May 2010). I quit taking Avonex in June when we decided to get pregnant. We were successful and expect our baby boy in early May 2011. After the birth of the baby, I will begin a new MS therapy. The docs think Tysabri is the way to go, but we have not finalized a new path yet.
Cost: $50-99 monthly

Date: Oct 20, 2009
Advice & Tips: I did have a mild flare up a few months ago - Optic neuritis strikes again! It was mild and more of an annoyance than anything. Didn't have to do the steroid treatment because is wasn't extremely disruptive to my day-to-day activities. When I met with my doc a couple of weeks ago she expressed that it was a good thing I was sticking with the Avonex. In spite of the flare up, after reviewing the most recent MRI results and talking with me she feels that the Avonex IS working.
Cost: $50-99 monthly

Date: Feb 25, 2009
Advice & Tips: Eating a meal right after the injection has helped minimize my side effects. Also taking the max dosage of Tylenol or Advil right before the injection and often 3-4 hours later have helped to manage the side effects. I schedule my injections for a time when there is the least amount of other activity planned. This way, if I do have a crappy reaction I can veg out, have a lazy day and just relax. After a year and half using Avonex the times when I experience side effects are very infrequent.
Cost: $50-99 monthly

Date: Jan 11, 2009
Advice & Tips: I take my shot on Fridays between 5:30pm and 7:30pm. Then I stay home and have a lazy evening and Saturday morning. Usually by Saturday afternoon I feel normal again and still have a weekend. I take 3 extra strength Tylenol 30 mins. before injection and again 3 hours later. I have found that a solid meal after the injection is necessary for controlling my side effects. A few times I had uncontrollable chills - the heating pad was the only thing that helped ease them. I don't know if it's really working or not but I haven't had any flare ups since I started the treatment so I feel optimistic about the treatment.
Cost: $25-49 monthly

Date: Jan 07, 2009
Advice & Tips: Since beginning with Avonex about 9 mos. ago I haven't had any relapse. I assume that means the meds are doing their job. I control the side effects easily by staying well hydrated, taking Tylenol before the injection and have a meal shortly after the injection. After first few months side effects are less frequent.
Cost: $25-49 monthly