Avonex - Side Effects question - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

PghGuy00 · 02-26-2007, 08:13 AM

I'm now 8 months on Avonex and still get the side effects. Sometimes they are minimal sluggishness that lasts 18 or so hours. Well I'm off work today because I'm on my 2nd day of incredible muscle and joint aches, amazing fatigue, and just that overall "someone just hit me with a truck" feeling. Does anyone know, or has anyone read anything on what can lead to this? I've try to research this but come-up empty. These supposed "minor flu-like" symptoms arent so minor in my book.

woodysouth · 02-26-2007, 05:38 PM

I have been on Avonex for many years.I have the flu like side effects each week.I take tylenol before shot and after for about 24 hours each week.

Before my Avonex I had 4 severe ms exacerbations a year.With the Avonex I now only have 1 ms exacerbation a year,so for me I can tolerate the side effects.

My Doctor checks liver funtion and all the blood work is fine,so I just tolerate the side effects.

My side effects come and go.Some time I go a year with weekly side effects and then at time the side effects will stop for months at time.

Discuss your case with your Doctor office.There are other choices if you can not tolerate.

OliverBocca · 02-26-2007, 09:03 PM

Wow, I am sorry you have not had good results with the Avonex... I have been very lucky with it myself. No side effects, aside from a "jumpy" leg at the injection site (and that only lasts 15-30 minutes...). I just lay down on the couch after I give myself the shot and watch a TV show (Seinfeld is just the right length)... then I am fine. Wish it was the same for everyone else!

Please see your Neuro... I bet there is a better med for you! (His/her goal will be to keep you on these injectables... if you give up, you will not get the benefits from them!)

dgibson70 · 02-27-2007, 12:50 AM

I do have weekly muscle aches and a headache the day of the shot but I wake up the next morning just fine. For me it depends on where the shot is given. If it's given higher up in my butt, more in my hip I'm okay but this last one was given right in the meat of my butt (nice mental, sorry) and I had the worst achiness I've experienced yet. Something to think about for you. Nice thing about the Avonex is it is only a once a week shot, the only one I think. The rest require several injections a week. I tried doing the self injections in the thigh for several months but I grew to have a real phobia of the needle so now I have a technician at the clinic do it. I've been on Avonex for right at a year now and no episodes since those experienced initially. Seems to be working.

Good luck.

Beastly · 02-27-2007, 11:39 AM

Hi,

I've been on Avonex for 20 weeks now. The side effects are like yours, headache, aches, pains and that just worked over with a baseball bat feeling! However, I'm coming out of them faster now, so I just write off Sundays.

The good news is that my scans show improvements; I've gone from aggressive MS to passive-ish. I look at it this way - it's better to put up with the side effects than it is to bear the prospect of a wheelchair.

All the best,

DB-H