129 patient evaluations for Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

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Jan 17, 2009 (Started Jan 08, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: slow progression of ms
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 5, 2010 (Started Jan 06, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: If this is the treatment plan selected never miss a dose
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Aug 23, 2007 (Started Oct 03, 2002)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg Weekly
  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 2, 2009 (Started Jan 01, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Advice & Tips: to much side effects
Cost: $25-49 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 27, 2010 (Started Jun 17, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (whole body ache, cold chills, muscle pain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: Side effects diminish with time
Side effects: muscle pain, cold chills, whole body ache

Jun 27, 2010 (Started Jun 17, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (whole body ache, cold chills, muscle pain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: I've only had 2 injections so far. The side effects are pretty brutal, however subside with time. Feels like labor pains all over the body. First injection they subsided after 24 hrs. Second injection much easier.
Side effects: muscle pain, cold chills, whole body ache
  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 18, 2010 (Started Mar 17, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (fatigue, fever/chills, fever, lethargy, whole body ache, flu like symptoms, muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: Weight gain is a side effect...although not documented. Flu like symptoms after 4 years still remain a major obstacle Injections; need to fluctuate due to activities, not recommended but life goes on. Insurance costs are always a burden with this disease
Cost: $100-199 monthly
Side effects: lethargy, whole body ache, flu like symptoms, fever/chills, fever, muscle aches, fatigue

Jan 5, 2010 (Started Mar 17, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (fatigue, fever/chills, whole body ache, muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: side effects don't go away neurologist isn't of much support, does not recommend mri's. no noticable benefit, must plan injection around activities for 3 hrs after injection and following day because of fatigue
Cost: $100-199 monthly
Side effects: lethargy, whole body ache, flu like symptoms, fever/chills, fever, muscle aches, fatigue
  • 1 helpful mark

Oct 1, 2010 (Started Aug 24, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (whole body joint ache)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg/0.5 mL Monthly
Advice & Tips: THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE HORRIBLE BUT IT ONLY LAST ONE DAY..
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: whole body joint ache
  • 0 helpful marks

Sep 14, 2010 (Started Sep 30, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg Weekly
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms

Aug 1, 2010 (Started Sep 30, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg Weekly
Advice & Tips: be sure you take ibuprophen! also ask your doc for Amantidine, this helps with the flu feeling you get from using Avonex, also know one week you could not have any side effects, just know this will not be the case every week, you could go 3 weeks and be fine and then all of a suddon you are sicker then you thought possible, just treat yourself like you have the flu and do not fight the fact that that you are having side effects, remember it is what it is and there is nothing we can do to stop it, just be gratful for the times you are not sick! Stay strong, and know it will end!
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms

Dec 27, 2008 (Started Sep 30, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 30 mcg Weekly
Advice & Tips: Stay hydrated and remember your Aleve before your shot and 12 hours after. This helps with the side effects.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms
  • 1 helpful mark

Mar 1, 2010 (Started Dec 29, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: muscle aches

Dec 12, 2009 (Started Dec 29, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 3 x 44 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: worked at first..must have built up a resistance to it
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: muscle aches

Feb 13, 2009 (Started Dec 29, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 3 x 44 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: easier than expected, neverthought I owuld ever be able to inject myself, and only 3 times a week.
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: muscle aches
  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 9, 2010 (Started Nov 18, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (fatigue, nausea, fever/chills, awakening due to pain, ocular migraine aura, joint pain, tiredness, whole body ache, stabbing headaches, flu like symptoms, shivering, puffy lumps on thighs, muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: horrible stuff
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms, joint pain, whole body ache, muscle aches, awakening due to pain, puffy lumps on thighs, shivering, fever/chills, nausea, stabbing headaches, tiredness, ocular migraine aura, fatigue, fatigue

Jul 1, 2010 (Started Nov 18, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (fatigue, nausea, fever/chills, awakening due to pain, ocular migraine aura, joint pain, tiredness, whole body ache, stabbing headaches, flu like symptoms, shivering, puffy lumps on thighs, muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: I REALLY do not like this medication. It makes me extremely tired, body aches are ongoing, heightened anxiety, agitation and depression. Raised lumps on the current and past injection sites with each injection when taken as Rx'd.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms, joint pain, whole body ache, muscle aches, awakening due to pain, puffy lumps on thighs, shivering, fever/chills, nausea, stabbing headaches, tiredness, ocular migraine aura, fatigue, fatigue

Mar 15, 2010 (Started Nov 18, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (fatigue, nausea, fever/chills, awakening due to pain, ocular migraine aura, joint pain, tiredness, whole body ache, stabbing headaches, flu like symptoms, shivering, muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: I am relieved that my last MRI in February has shown no active lesions....so the Avonex must be working great. I just started using prednisone --10mg 1/2 hour prior to injection and again 6 hrs after...and the effects are great! I was ready to quit the Avonex until I tried premedicating with prednisone. Sorry, but the tylenol just wasn't cutting it...but alls well now!
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms, joint pain, whole body ache, muscle aches, awakening due to pain, puffy lumps on thighs, shivering, fever/chills, nausea, stabbing headaches, tiredness, ocular migraine aura, fatigue, fatigue

Feb 25, 2010 (Started Nov 18, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (fatigue, nausea, fever/chills, awakening due to pain, ocular migraine aura, joint pain, tiredness, whole body ache, stabbing headaches, flu like symptoms, shivering, muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: hate it
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms, joint pain, whole body ache, muscle aches, awakening due to pain, puffy lumps on thighs, shivering, fever/chills, nausea, stabbing headaches, tiredness, ocular migraine aura, fatigue, fatigue

Dec 13, 2009 (Started Nov 18, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (fatigue, nausea, fever/chills, awakening due to pain, ocular migraine aura, joint pain, tiredness, whole body ache, stabbing headaches, flu like symptoms, shivering, muscle aches)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: WOW...MS sucks but the treatment really bites. I hate this stuff. I'm not sure if I would rather have the flare ups or the constant side effects from the AVONEX. Either way, I'm disabled. At least with the MS, it would be only once every 1 1/2 years. With the AVONEX it's 5 out of 7 days/week. I get over the side effects just in time to take another dose. I am seriously reconsidering my choice of treatments.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms, joint pain, whole body ache, muscle aches, awakening due to pain, puffy lumps on thighs, shivering, fever/chills, nausea, stabbing headaches, tiredness, ocular migraine aura, fatigue, fatigue

Nov 19, 2009 (Started Nov 18, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (fatigue, fever/chills, whole body ache)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 0.5 mL Weekly
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: flu like symptoms, joint pain, whole body ache, muscle aches, awakening due to pain, puffy lumps on thighs, shivering, fever/chills, nausea, stabbing headaches, tiredness, ocular migraine aura, fatigue, fatigue
  • 1 helpful mark
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