is this normal

[lenny3]

hi everybody. i just started my avonex last sat. the first shot went good. felt good afterwards. no side efects. did my shot this week and man i feel like a train hit me. my neck my back are hurting me. my eyes are bothering me a headace. real tired. dont feel like doing nothing. go to my nero. on friday morning. is this normal after doing avonex? i seem like i cant do anything very long at all. it wears me out and i hurt all the time. my left leg just dont do what its surpose to do. i trip and when i reach for something its like i get a sharp pain in my back. is this normal for ms? and thanks for all the help you wonderfull people have given me iin the past.

[HVAC]

Rosanne
My Dr. said once you take Ambien stay in be. I did not understand why she said that.

Just be careful if you get Ambien you do not fall. I got out of bed because the dog was barking to go out, was wobbly fell into the dog crate and broke my cheek and had to have stitches.

Alex

[ShoreMom]

Thanks for the tip I did ask my GP about something to help me sleep the night i inject and he did not jump to give it to me, but he did say that he would.  I may try that route to avoid a day where I am so sluggish.  

How long have you been taking Avonex?  

Thanks Ess. :)

Rosanne

[essdipity]

Actually I take an Ambien as well. Get the best sleep of the entire week.

ess

[ShoreMom]

Hi, I have had four shots od Avonex and they do seem to vary in how they effect me.  I have found that if I take the shot late in the day I do not sleep even with Advil/Tylenol.  I do like the idea of the Aleve (longer lasting pain med).  I may try that if my new morning time doesnt work out,
Yesterday I switched to a morning injection and it wasn't too bad.  I did find that by diner time I to feel like a train hit me and I am very achy and tired.  This morning I am felling Ok.  Still a little tired. I hope you find a plan that works for you.  

Rosanne

[essdipity]

Lenny, it is very common for Avonex to cause flu-like symptoms. You should read all the information that came with your shipment of Avonex. You can also talk to your doctor about this.

I do my shot before bed, and take an Aleve at the same time. That's a long-lasting pain reliever you can buy anywhere. Then I sleep through the Avonex effects nearly every time. If I don't, I take another Aleve after 12 hours (what the package says is safe).

Try this or something similar. It helps many people.

ess

[LATW]

I have found taking my shot in the afternoon to be best after trying the right before bed schedule.

For me afternoon is best because that way I can stay on my pain reliever schedule and drink drink drink my tea.  

I actually feel better the day after by doing it that way.  I was not able to sleep through the side effects and I would have to sleep most of the day the following day.

My side effects can still last about 3 days some weeks. They slowly let up.  

Everyone is different in what works for them. You may have to experiment with the scheduling of your injection and pain reliever.

LA

[LATW]

yes it has been normal for me. Aching, pain, vision problems, chills, hot, cold, you name it.  Ugly fluish feeling.
I have been on Avonex since last February. I took mine yesterday and am still aching yet this evening.  Some weeks are ok and others are not.

I have no idea why.

LA

[Lulu54]

Hi Lenny,
You may want to read what others here have written about their experiences with Avonex.  You can find some of those by typing in Avonex in the box on the right side of this page that says SEARCH THIS COMMUNITY

I am on copaxone, and fortunately have had no side effects.

Reading what others have said, you can feel like you have the flu for a day or so after your injection of Avonex.  You should take your shot before bedtime and then try to sleep off some of the side effects.  Be sure to talk to your doctor about all of this on Friday.  

You may want to start a list of questions to take with you so you remember everything that you want to ask your neuro about.  I make a list for every doctor I see so I can remember too.

As for the back pain, could you have hurt your back some other way?  When you write about it hurting when you reach for something it sounds like it is a muscle problem and not a nerve problem,  but I may be wrong.

feel better,
Lulu