Started Avonex 2 years ago. Full dose. Put me in the flu like side effects and spiked a pretty good fever. I would definitely go up in dosage gradually if I did it again. (But part of that was I hadn't done any interferons in about a year).

I was on Rebif when I was first diagnosed. I like Avonex much better. Thinner gauge needle = less pain. And only once a week.

Get some ibuprofen in you prior to the shot.

I was on Avonex for 2-1/2 years and my DH did my shots Friday evening before bed so I could sleep through the side effects. If it were me, I would postpone a week so you could do it on Friday evening and not have to rush to work.

As someone else said, meds effect everyone different. I always had side effects and I distinctly remember the side effects from the first shot being the worst. I dosed up on ibuprofen and drank lots of fluids on shot night. When it seemed my body developed a tolerance to the ibuprofen, I started taking Theraflu about an hour before my shot.

Good luck!

Volada,

It doesn't sound like the doctor thinks this is a pronto thing.

If you have never done injections before or hubby has never done them, I would recommend the training with him there. You will need him sometimes to either give emotional you can do it or at times, mine had to do it (like when I waited too late at night and my hand was shaking)....

You will love the once a week thing! The needle is long, but like Moose said it is very slim....I RARELY felt the needle go in....

Take Care!

thanks so much--avonex rep said it is not that big a deal--but he isn't the one getting the shot, rushing to work, picking up children, doing homework, etc. etc. --i think i am leaning toward waiting heck--some people don't even go on meds...

You are right that some people don't....you have to decide between you and the doctor. But don't let the fear of needles keep you from the meds.

I started Avonex pretty much a needle weenie! I can now do shots on the phone!!! It does get better!!

my neuro said --tylenol--does it matter? thanks for your msg---i am hoping to be one of the 52% (according to avonex guy) w/o side effects...but that leaves a lot of people who DO get them

I always used ibuprofen. It is an anti -inflammatory as well, that's why I used it.

found this research that supports ibuprofen...thanks again--you all are making
this bearable--my family and friends are still a little freaked so you all are my support!

Research: Ibuprofen Best for Treating Post-Avonex-Injection Side Effects

AvonexThis study tried to compare ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and corticosteroids for the treatment of flu-like symptoms that accompany Interferone-beta-1a (Avonex) injections. The result was that there was no clear winner, but ibuprofen seemed to help the most with symptoms immediately following the injection.

"OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and prednisone in the treatment of interferon beta-1a (IFNbeta-1a) flu-like syndrome (FLS)...

CONCLUSIONS: No prophylactic treatment for flu-like syndrome seems to be superior to another in terms of overall well-being during the first month of IM IFNbeta-1a therapy. However, ibuprofen confers better control of symptoms immediately following IM IFNbeta-1a injection."

I have been on Avonex since about June 1997. I had only one lesion back then and I still have only one lseion. I am not going to claim that the Avonex made the difference but I don't want to switch! When I started I had mild flu symptoms for about a month. Not the whole month but for a day after my shot. So I would take the shot on Friday nights. Now I don't have any flu symptoms. I have had a history of some really weird dreams the night of my shot and the Aleve that I take doens't seem to effect it. My family just knows that it was another Avonex night for me! We have come to laugh about a lot of what happens to your body with MS. My husband says I need to write a book about what I hear him say vs what he did say. I was an RN so needed no help in giving my shots but I did make sure someone else knew just in case I did come to a point in my MS hthat I couldn't give it. My husband was a medic in thr Navy.

thank you for this--i was tempted to start off w/rebif but my husband and i ultimately decided on avonex--i want to start on friday's also...a book is an excellent idea! i am now starting "the first year--multiple sclerosis" and it is kinda bumming me out" so maybe we can all collaborate and do a funny one

i too just have one lesion (that's what i heard neuro say--husband claims he heard something else) but i am sticking w/ONE! hopefully i will have the same good results you have experienced.