Avonex stories plz....:) - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

thnkpos · 02-06-2005, 10:07 AM

hi, am interested in hearing/reading Avonex stories, good or bad, y they/u chose Avonex, what where the ms symptoms u were experiencing........
thanks a bunch

ladydi1953 · 02-06-2005, 01:25 PM

i have been on avonex for a year and have not had any bad reactions to the medication at all...from the very first shot i had no injection reaction problems...i suffer from a biting itching sensation in my arms from time to time also leg pain occaisionally but these come and go......i am starting on Tysabri this month and hopefully this new drug will prolong my good times and reduce the severity of the bad

thnkpos · 02-06-2005, 02:22 PM

lady, what are u symptoms of ms now? y did they suggest tysabri?
thanx

Arraicha · 02-06-2005, 06:27 PM

I was offered to choose between Avonex and some other medications. I chose not to go with Avonex because the statistics weren't as promising as Betaseron and Rebif, although the injection frequency is much more interesting.

crystal22 · 02-08-2005, 11:32 PM

I started on Avonex 2 months ago, mainly because I liked the less frequent injections, although Avonex is an intramuscular injection where as the others are subcutaneous (in the layer of fat below the skin) so the Avonex shot itself hurts more cuz they use a bigger needle. After the shot I usually have mild fever and chills, some nausea and a bit of muscle aches. Taking Tylenol or Advil before and after the shot helps a lot. There hasn't really been any clinical trials comparing all of the different meds for MS, so no one can say which one is most effective, however you have less of a chance of developing antibodies (which make the med ineffective) with Avonex. Tysabri isn't yet available in the US, so us Americans dont have that option. Overall, I think I made the right choice, but I guess the side effects are different for everyone.