I've taken both, and I think I'd chose Avonex for the convenience, because eventually you get used to the harpoon. I was only slightly sick one day a week...

personally, i chose copaxone.
i have a hx of depression and we didn't want to chance that worsening on an interferon.

i also didn't want to chance the flu-like sx's and not feeling well.
i already feel carpy everyday.

so i traded a daily shot for not having any reactions.
i use the autoject so it's automatic. you just get used to the routine.
so far i've been fairly stable. my mri's have been stable too.

it can take up to 8 mos for C to work in the CNS. guess it needs to build up in your body.

i'm happy with it.

Been over 6 months now on Copaxone, pointing and shooting daily.

You get used to it quickly. I manually inject (tried the autoinjector and disliked it), but I'm a needle wimp for bigger needles and I've seen the Avonex needle...

NOTHANKSLOL!!!

I've been on both. Of the two, I woUld say Avonex worked better for the MS but I couldn't take the sx.....and Copaxone didn't work for me but it was a cinch to shoot it, after Avonex..

Good luck..

I haven't tried either, so I don't have an informed opinion on either of the drugs . . . but if you had your hopes up on Rebif, why not try Avonex to see how you do on the SAME med at a lower dosage?

Cherie

Hi legzzalot,
Nice to meet you.

I was on Avonex for a year but my body would not tolerate it. I have flu symptoms for 5 days with fever. My Liver enzymes started to go high also.

My Neuro switched me to Copaxone which helped for about 3 1/2 and then stopped working for me. Copaxone was easy, needles are small, and I never had that bad a reaction.

Just don't inject into any area with colors, like red, blue or blackish or greenish appearing. These are veins, arteries and capillaries. You want it in the skin only with Copaxone. With Avonex you dart it straight down to the muscle, that is why the needle is thicker and longer.

If you want an opinion I would say start on Avonex if you plan to do Rebif in the future. As said above, Rebif is twice the dosage of Avonex. If it agrees with you, and it does work for many people, without getting fluish, then you know you will be able to switch later on to a stronger dosage.

With Avonex and Rebif it is best to start with 1/4 of the shot amount and work your way up to full dosage.

Copaxone you don't do it that way. You take the full dosage daily, everyday. Both are easy to do.

If you try Avonex, do you have to do Copaxone before you can do Rebif? That sounds odd to me. Good luck with whatever you decide to try. You can always switch around.
Lady

I've been on Avonex since 1997 with no problems. Oh, I had some mild flu like symptoms at first but not anymore. I don't mind the long needle because I'm heavy plus I'm an RN.

Hi Doydie,
I remember you from the other board. How are you?

In my past life, I was an RN also. My nursing skills are now antiquated.
I changed my career to financial eons ago.

I am thin so I found the muscle right under the skin with the Avonex. I only had to dart half way or I would hit bone.

legzzalot, no special skills are needed to do any of the DMD's. They all send a nurse to your home or in the doctor's office, to teach you how to do these injections. You also get a video and a step by step instruction manual.
Lady

I have never been on Avonex, but was on Betaseron. I was sick, and my liver wasnt happy. I had the flu stuff, and well...just didnt feel good.

Copaxone took some getting used to, but i had no flu stuff. I am a manual shooter now, and the side effects are almost nil.

what affects me badly, makes someone elses life so much better, and vice versa. You just wont know until you take it.

SInce your MD wants you on an interferon, I would look at the Avonex. Many have taken it and do great on it. Just make sure you get check ups for liver enzyme studies done. It doesnt have an auto injector like the others, but its only once a week.

Best of luck to you.