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Home > Community Treatment Reports > Avonex (interferon beta-1a im injection) Treatment Report
What is Avonex?

Avonex® is a brand name for the drug interferon beta-1a, used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). It is taken as an intramuscular injection and is available in pre-filled syringes. There is no generic for Avonex® currently available.

Side Effects

Side effects as an overall problem

Severe
42 24%
Moderate
63 35%
Mild
61 34%
None
12 7%

Most commonly reported side effects

Muscle ache, whole body
114 64%
Flu-like symptoms
96 54%
Chills/fever
95 53%
Body Aches
86 48%
Lethargy
63 35%
Headaches
62 35%
  • Mild
  • Moderate
  • Severe

Dosages

Top 10 dosages based on patients currently taking Avonex. See all 45 dosages ►

  weekly 0.05 mcg weekly 0.25 mg weekly 0.325 mcg weekly 0.5 mcg weekly 0.5 mg weekly 0.5 ml weekly 0.5 mL weekly 0.5 weekly 1 mcg weekly 1 mg weekly 1 mL weekly 1 other weekly 1 weekly 1.5 mcg weekly 1.5 mg weekly 4 weekly 5 mcg weekly 30 mcg monthly 10 mg weekly 2 mcg daily 15 mcg weekly 15 mg weekly 33 mcg every other week 20 mcg weekly 24 mcg weekly 30 mcg/0.5 mL weekly 30 mcg weekly 30 mg weekly 30 mmol/L weekly 30 weekly 33 mcg weekly 35 mcg weekly 37 mcg weekly 50 mcg weekly 50 mg weekly 60 mcg weekly 3 x 22 mcg/0.5 mL weekly 80 mg weekly 100 mcg weekly 125 mcg weekly 200 mcg weekly 30 mcg daily 30.1 mcg daily 360 mg weekly
  159 Number of Patients: 159 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 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 18 Number of Patients: 18 8 Number of Patients: 8 3 Number of Patients: 3 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 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 372 Number of Patients: 372 24 Number of Patients: 24 1 Number of Patients: 1 10 Number of Patients: 10 3 Number of Patients: 3 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 7 Number of Patients: 7 17 Number of Patients: 17 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1  

Stop Reasons

Why Patients Stopped Taking Avonex (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Side effects too severe
226 41% Side effects too severe: 41%
Did not seem to work
196 36% Did not seem to work: 36%
Doctor's advice
164 30% Doctor's advice: 30%
Other
103 19% Other: 19%
Expense
24 4% Expense: 4%
Personal research
17 3% Personal research: 3%
Not indicated
8 1% Not indicated: 1%
Course of treatment ended
5 1% Course of treatment ended: 1%

See all 530 patients who’ve stopped taking Avonex

Duration See details about how long patients take this treatment ▼

Currently Taking Avonex

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
3
5
7
22
44
106

Stopped Taking Avonex

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
17
28
42
108
95
234

Adherence, Burden & Cost See details from patient evaluations ▼

Adherence

Taking treatment as prescribed

Always
150 84%
Usually
26 15%
Sometimes
1 1%
Never
1 1%

Burden

Difficulty being on treatment

Very
26 15%
Somewhat
53 30%
A little
68 38%
Not at all
31 17%

Cost

Paid out of pocket

$200+
17 10%
$100-199
9 5%
$50-99
22 12%
$25-49
26 15%
< $25
58 33%

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

Report created on November 21, 2009.