new avonex ???? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

glamour girl · 07-15-2007, 08:55 AM

Hi. I'm about to start Avonex again after 5 years. My 1st major replapse in a long time.So haven't been on injects just mild meds. I went off Avonex to complete my family. I hear they have new pre filled injections. When i was using them i had to mix everything up myself. Just wondering if its really easier, i'll be seeing a MS Nurse on friday for her to show me how tho do them all over again. I dreaded the after effect of chills and fever, do the new Avonex have lesser side effects. Wanna hear from people who have used both.. Any feedback would be great..thanxs GL

duttin · 07-15-2007, 08:09 PM

Glamour Girl,

I can't answer to the avonex as I'm on rebif.

Wishing you luck with starting these meds over.

glamour girl · 07-16-2007, 01:21 AM

thanxs anyway. Rebif was the other choice alternitive , dont think i'll cope with more than 1x week injec .. your so brave.. thanks again.

MSNik · 07-16-2007, 07:38 AM

Glamour Girl,
Just wanted to say that I know of someone who went from the old Avonex to the new one...she says that its SO MUCH easier to use, because you dont have to mix it. Rebif, which I use, comes prefilled and ready to go- and it is easy....
Rebif and Avonex are the same drug...the only major difference is one time a week vs. 3 times a week. Keep in mind, the reason that Rebif came out, is becasue many patients were experiencing drug withdraw symptoms on Avonex....by the time the end of the week came, they "needed" their drug, and could tell it was wearing off...by giving it 3 times a week (rebif) you never really experinece that feeling.....but, for others, they NEVER experince that feeling..

The side effects, from what my friend tells me are exactly the same. Youll probably go thru the flu-like symtpoms again for a few months (try Aleve, it lasts 12 hours vs. the 4 hour over the counters) and you will probably have some small site injection reactions...nothing like what Copaxone users talk about...but overall, whatever you went thru before, youll probably go thru again....however its short lived.

Im proud of you. Now that your family is all finished and you are ready to commit to going back to a drug, I think its smart of you to do it asap and NOT let another relapse (after this one) hit...at least if you are taking one of the therapies, you know that you are doing EVERYTHING you can NOT to let MS control your future..
Keep us posted...and hey, DO THE SHOTS YOURSELF from the get go this time! Dont end up like me!

Hugs,
Nikki

TXChica70 · 07-16-2007, 07:43 AM

I'm on Avonex, have been for just under 18 months now. I have always used the prefilled. I go into the clinic each week for my shot but I did self inject for about 6 months. It's very simple. You just put the needle onto the syringe, push it up some to get the liquid to the top and get rid of any bubbles and that's it for preparing the syringe. I do still get some chills and aches even after all this time. I don't know about the ones you had to mix but the prefilled are easy to use.

My suggestion as the needle that comes with the package is scary large, have your doctor give you some thinner needles and see if you can't get some numbing lotion that you put on for about an hour before hand. Helps a lot.