Avonex and leg weakness?

[LATW]

Has anyone who uses Avonex noticed any leg weakness after having started this medication?

I took my second injection the Friday. It went pretty well. I did have flu-like side effects. But felt I did better this week than last.

But I got up this morning and had a terrible time getting back up the steps to go to the bath room.

I am wondering if the Avonex could be the reason.

LA

[MSJayhawk]

The drug maker does not indicate leg weakness as a side effect. You may be experiencing a flare-up.

Most people who take AVONEX have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sweating, muscle aches, and tiredness) early during the course of therapy. The tiredness might be related to your leg weakness??????

Of a greater concern is to have your liver monitored as that is the worst side effect from what I have read. Stay in touch with your prescribing doctor regarding any side effects.

[LATW]

Ok. Thank you. I am not even on the full dose of Avonex yet so that probably is not the issue.

Funny, I am still trying to do exactly what I have done for the past few years, trying to figure out what I am doing to make my self feel so yucky.

I thought for a while it was the foods I was eating. I pretty much stopped eating and dropped a bunch of weight. Too much weight.

I realized it was not the food and have put the weight back on. I could have done ok with out putting it ALL back on, but oh well.

I guess I may just have to accept the fact that it really is my body doing this to me and not something I am doing to myself. Especially now that I have a dx of MS.

It is a hard thing to accept.


LA

[anxiousme]

I've been on Avonex since Dec 06. I have not felt that my leg weekness was due to Avonex, but rather an effect of MS. I think you will begin to see less of the side effects as time goes by. It has been a wonderful drug for me. I had a 1 year MRI showning no new lesions. Yeah... Hang in there and give it 6 months, the time it takes the drug to be in full strenght in the body. It does get better with time. The most important thing for me....once a week injection intermusclarly, meaning no site reactions. It is very tolerable all things considered. Good luck. Keep your journal and bring to your doc appts.