Avonex Prefilled Syringe Treatment Evaluations : PatientsLikeMe

Home > Avonex Prefilled Syringe Treatment Evaluations

You appear to have JavaScript disabled in your browser. PatientsLikeMe relies on JavaScript and Cookies to deliver the best possible experience to you. How do I enable JavaScript?

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
by anotherOne
See anotherOne's full Interferon beta-1a IM Injection history

**Purpose:** MS (Multiple Sclerosis) *(Started Mar 01, 2008)*
Date	Dosage	Efficacy	Side Effects	Adherence	Burden
Oct 20, 2009	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly	Moderate	Mild	Always	A little
Feb 25, 2009	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly	?Can't tell	Mild	Usually	A little
Jan 11, 2009	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly	?Can't tell	Mild	Always	A little
Jan 07, 2009	30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly	?Can't tell	Mild	Always	Not at all

Side effects:: Tiredness, Chills/fever, Body Aches

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

2 helpful marks