Starting Avonex this week

[Gogilady]

Any ideas about how to deal with Flu like symptoms and is it working for the ones taking it?

[Lulu54]

I'm not on any injections now, taking tysabri instead.  I'm glad to read your start up on Avonex is going well.  Here's hoping it continues to go well. - laura

[Gogilady]

thank you I appreciate your suggestions.

[Gogilady]

Nurse came yesterday to educate on the injection. I started with 1/4 of the dose and did all that everyone said with the hydration and anti inflammatory and did not have any side effects. Next week I will be o 2/4 of the dose so will pray that I still don't get them. Good luck to you.

[Gogilady]

Thank you , I could not imagine doing a daily shot which is the ONLY reason I went with Avonex, but if I can't tolerate the flu-like symptoms I will certainly deal with the daily injection.

I appreciate your help.
J

[Gogilady]

Good luck to you Corrie on the ReBif

[sobey7]

I started the Avonex injections as soon as I was diagnosed with MS in September of 2012.  It did not go well for me.  The flu-like symptoms were so severe the doctor titrated me back to 3/4 dose.  I still had a bad reaction...migraines, severe tremors, pain.  He took me off the Avonex and I'm now on Copaxone.  The only reaction I get from that is swelling at the injection site.  So I wish you luck with Avonex and hope all goes well for you.  But if for some reason it does not...know that there are other options out there!  Take care.

[Corriel]

I'm afraid I don't have any advice for you. I will be starting Rebif this week myself. Best of luck with the injections and please keep me posted on how you make out.

Corrie

[Gogilady]

Thank you!

[immisceo]

I inject weekly either with placebo or Avonex as part of a drug trial I'm on. The trial is double blinded meaning neither myself nor the medical staff I deal with know which of the drugs I'm on and which is a placebo.

Part of the protocol for my first 6-months of the intramuscular injection was taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Fancy word in this instance for most over-the-counter painkillers) at a very specific schedule in the 24 hour period surrounding injection.

This was to keep me non-the-wiser to any flu-like reactions, so I wouldn't have a huge tip-off as to what drug I'm on (big no-no for properly conducted trials). Well, it worked in the sense that I still don't know!

As per protocol, I had to take an NSAID dose 1 hour before injecting, four hours after injecting, sleep, one within four hours of waking and 8 hours after waking. This schedule doesn't conflict with most NSAID instruction leaflets, but be sure to read them to make sure if you go this route and run it past your nurse/doctor.

This may not be preferable to you, just thought I'd chime in with the method the company that makes Avonex has approved to keep its study bunnies in the dark on the flu-like-symptoms.

[sllowe]

Nsaids worked for me, and I did not change my diet or anything. I did however keep plenty hydrated as suggested by the MS nurse. I always drink lots of water so that wasn't hard for me. Went to back to school night the same night I started and was good-to-go. Wishing you well with it. You'll be fine :) The symptoms are no-where near the real flu if that helps :)

-Shell

[Ojibajo]

Avoid caffeiene, especially the day before, the day of and the day after you take your shot. I assume they are going to taper you on. If not you should taper on:

1/4 does the first week

1/2 does the second week

3/4 dose the 3rd week

Finally a full does the 4th week.

I haven't tried it yet but I have heard that the auto-inject is much easier and I am seriously thinking of switching to it.

In addition to avoid caffiene. Drink ALOT of water the day before, the day of and the day after you inject. The med tends to make you dehydrated. I try to shoot for at least 36 oz of water/day. You can probably drink other things too, but nothing with caffeine not any other beverages that might dehydrate you. If you exercise or work out at all you will need to drink more. I found this out the hard way.

Take an NSAID about an hour before you inject. I usually take 800mg of Motrin or 2 Aleve. (I have a high med tolerance.)

I have never really had any major reaction that I can remember, other than some slight tummy upset that was mild enough that I was just able to go back to sleep. I felt great when I woke up.

I have weekends off so always inject on Friday (or Saturday if I forget). That way if I do have an adverse reaction it's not at work. I ALWAYS inject in the evening. (Between 6pm-9pm) and NEVER in the morning.  I injected once in the morning because I forgot to take my shot and I would be off schedule if I didn't take it and that was THE ONLY time I didn't react well. I had to go home from work.  

I won't make that mistake twice.  Good Luck!

[Gogilady]

Thank you JacksonMom.. I appreciate you.

[Gogilady]

Thank you TLC, I am newly diagnosed and can't take the oral or Tysabri, so of the injection choices this seemed to be the best one to start with .

Jodi

[Gogilady]

I am still waiting to see what my co-pay is then the nurse will follow I assume. Good luck.

[Jacksmom516]

I have been an Avonex user for almost two years.  

here is my routine -  I hope it helps

Morning of shot start day off with two Aleve - I am a water drinker so staying hydrated is not a problem but if you are not drink water that day.

That evening -  take shot and two acetominophen before bed.  My side effect have been basically non-existent.  I might occasionally get a headache but that is is.

Let us know how you do!

[TLC_31]

I’ve tried to time my injections so that the worst effects hit when I’m asleep. That means injecting about three or four hours before I go to bed, then taking a dose of over-the-counter medication right before I go to sleep.

For OTC medication I use Tylenol, but others use Aleve, Advil, etc. I also take a dose an hour or two before injection when I take the Avonex out of the refrigerator. For your first couple of weeks you might even take a dose 4-6 hours before that.

Hydration tends to help alleviate effects. Drink plenty of water in the day of and the day after injection. Of course, other non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages also work to hydrate you.

I don’t always follow my own advice, but over time my body has acclimated to the Avonex effects, so those things are not as important. Many Avonex users report milder side effects after the early injections, and that was the case with me. Unfortunately, the effects are too strong with a few patients, and they can’t continue. I hope you end up being one of those with even fewer side effects than I have.

Ask questions anytime!

[ghost39]

Don't have the answer but interested as MS nurse is coming to see me for the first time tomorrow and Avonex was one of the drugs my neurologist suggested for me. Hope all goes well for you, its all daunting!