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Brand Names: Avonex, Avonex Prefilled Syringe
Generic Name: Interferon beta 1a IM Injection

What is Interferon beta 1a IM Injection? Interferon beta-1a is a drug in the interferon family used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It is produced by mammalian cells while Interferon beta-1b is produced in modified E. coli. Interferons have been shown to have about a 30–35% reduction in the rate of MS relapses, and to slow the progression of disability in MS patients.

See more information, including instructions, precautions, side effects, and interactions.


Reasons Taken

1158 patients in the community are taking or have taken Interferon beta 1a IM Injection.

Dosages

Based on the patients currently taking Interferon beta 1a IM Injection.

Top 10 (Show all)

All (Show Top 10)

  0 - Weekly 0 mcg Weekly 0 mg Weekly 0 Weekly 0.05 mcg Weekly 0.25 mg Weekly 0.3 mcg Weekly 0.325 mcg Weekly 0.5 mcg Weekly 0.5 mg Weekly 0.5 mL Weekly 0.5 Weekly 1 mcg Weekly 1 mg Weekly 1 mL Weekly 1 Weekly 1.5 mcg Weekly 1.5 mg Weekly 4 Weekly 5 mcg Weekly 10 mg Weekly 13.2 mg Weekly 2 mcg Daily 15 mcg Weekly 15 mg Weekly 30 mcg Every Other Week 20 mcg Weekly 22 mcg Weekly 24 mcg Weekly 30 mcg Weekly 30 mg Weekly 30 Weekly 33 mcg Weekly 35 mcg Weekly 35 mg Weekly 37 mcg Weekly 44 mg Weekly 50 mcg Weekly 60 mcg Weekly 66 mcg Weekly 80 mg Weekly 100 mcg Weekly 125 mcg Weekly 132 mcg Weekly 200 mcg Weekly 30 mcg Daily 30 mcg Weekly 250 mcg Weekly 44 mcg Daily 360 mg Weekly
  3 Number of Patients: 3 118 Number of Patients: 118 36 Number of Patients: 36 27 Number of Patients: 27 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 6 Number of Patients: 6 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 18 Number of Patients: 18 12 Number of Patients: 12 1 Number of Patients: 1 10 Number of Patients: 10 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 366 Number of Patients: 366 24 Number of Patients: 24 10 Number of Patients: 10 5 Number of Patients: 5 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 3 Number of Patients: 3 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 7 Number of Patients: 7 13 Number of Patients: 13 6 Number of Patients: 6 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1  

Duration

How long current patients have been taking Interferon beta 1a IM Injection or how long patients were taking Interferon beta 1a IM Injection before stopping.

Currently taking Interferon beta 1a IM Injection

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
10
35
39
47
68
188

Stopped taking Interferon beta 1a IM Injection

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
10
24
36
85
73
182
Why Patients Stopped Taking Interferon beta 1a IM Injection (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Side effects too severe 196 46% Side effects too severe: 46%
Did not seem to work 149 35% Did not seem to work: 35%
Doctor's advice 113 26% Doctor's advice: 26%
Other 86 20% Other: 20%
Expense 19 4% Expense: 4%
Personal research 13 3% Personal research: 3%
Not indicated 10 2% Not indicated: 2%
Course of treatment ended 1 0% Course of treatment ended: 0%

Patient Reported Evaluations

Results from 109 patient evaluations. See the overall results and all individual evaluations.

Efficacy (Effect based on reason taken)

Major 20% 20
Moderate 16% 16
Slight 8% 8
None 11% 11
Can't tell 46% 47

Slow my MS progress

Side-effects (as an overall problem)

Severe 26% 28
Moderate 35% 38
Mild 32% 35
None 7% 8

Top reported side-effects include: Muscle ache, whole body, Chills/fever, Body Aches

Summary results are based on 109 individual responses. For more information, see overall results for Adherence, Burden and Cost.

Individual Patient Reported Evaluations (2 of 109)

  • JesswithMS
    Sex: F
    Sensation: Moderate
    Overall: Moderate
    Cognition: moderate
    Vision: moderate
    Speech: moderate
    Swallowing: moderate
    Upper limb: moderate
    Walking: moderate
  • JesswithMS
  • by JesswithMS
    Aug 18, 2008
  • EfficacyMajor
  • Side-effectsModerate
  • Slow my MS progress
Advice/Tips
Make sure to drink plenty of fluids and take the prescribed dosage of ibuprofin or tylenol.

  • msladyinca
    Sex: F
    Sensation: Moderate
    Overall: Mild
    Cognition: none
    Vision: none
    Speech: none
    Swallowing: none
    Upper limb: moderate
    Walking: severe
  • msladyinca
  • by msladyinca
    Jun 01, 2004
  • EfficacyNone
  • Side-effectsSevere
  • Slow my MS progress
Advice/Tips
Take a couple of liquid Advil approximately 20 minutes before you inject medication. Make sure that you take the medication out of the refrigerator in plenty of time (approximately 3 hours) so that it is at room temperature before you inject. Also, ice the injection site for approximately 5 minutes before you inject (place an ice cube inside a washcloth and hold it on your skin to numb the injection site as this will help reduce the pain. Lastly, try to inject your medication just before bedtime so that you can try to sleep off many of the flulike side effects.

See all evaluation results for Interferon beta 1a IM Injection



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