Copax or Avonex? The choice is mine??
 

Ok so the insurance company flat out refuses to pay for the Rebif my doc prescribed. We filed an appeal and that too was denied because I have not tried Copax or Avonex. So my choices are to continue to fight them and still no meds or to choose between the two that we had already ruled out.

Doc is suggesting I try one of the meds the insurance will cover. Any suggestions anyone?

How about LDN? It costs about $15-20 per month and no shots!

For me, Avonex wasn't a choice because it was an IM shot. Yep - I'm a needle wimp. :o Once a week isn't a bad deal, but couldn't get over the size of the needle. Avonex is basically the same med as rebif at a much lower dose, so it might be a way to see if you could tolerate it.

I'm on Copax. It's sub-Q like rebif, but it's an every day shot. Took me awhile, but now it's on the routine list like brushing teeth. It's also not an interferon like the other DMD's. Some docs prefer to leave it in reserve as the secondary med to try before Tysabri.

Whichever you decide to do, I wish you luck. I'm so sorry to hear the ins. co. is being this way. :(

It was explained to me that Copaxone doesn't cause the fatigue and flu-like sxs that the interferons do...and that it actually crosses the blood-brain barrier, which the interferons don't.
I do inject every day, but I use the autoject, so it's easy as pie, once you get used to it. It does become part of your daily routine.

Everyone is different so I think its kind of a "lets start here and see what gives" type thing. :rolleyes:

I've done great on Copaxone for 4 years. Is it the med or just remission? Who knows but I'm not changing a thing for now. Personally in my mind I do feel that being on a dmd is a very proactive move and maybe just feeling positive has an effect, don't know.

Good luck with whichever you pick and remember you can always switch.

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..:eek:

Good luck..:hug:

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.:D
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. :hug:

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.

Dejibo's absolutely right!

it's not something you want to forget, to get your blood tested regularly.

Liver Injury Warning for MS Drug Avonex

By Miranda Hitti - WebMD Health News - Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD

March 16, 2005 -- Patients taking the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Avonex should be watched for possible liver problems, says the drug's maker.

http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclero...ms-drug-avonex

for me, I took Betaseron for two years, and had to stop, as my liver enzyme levels went through the roof.

that can damage your liver, and also (pay attention here!), affect the absorption of medications like antibiotics!

that happened to me, and I ended up unable to process out Erythromycin, and it built up to toxic levels in my body, triggering a systemic reaction.

I also had a lot of trouble with the "flu-like" symptoms, and felt poorly for the entire time I used the interferon... BUT... Legzz, everyone is different, and you may do just FINE on the Avonex, for many people it works out just great.

:hug:

I also used Copaxone for three years, and did pretty well on it, except for occasional site reactions... (red itchy lumps) there were no other side effects for me... and I never had the IPIR thingie:

here's a vivid description of an IPIR, and other info about using Copaxone:

http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpres...trip-its-been/

I finally stopped the Copaxone when my neuro felt it was no longer working for me, and diagnosed me as SPMS (Secondary Progressive)

What Are Some Signs that RRMS Has Become or Is Becoming SPMS?

'CRAB drugs' don't work well: Despite our best efforts and adherence, some people with RRMS that are on the current disease-modifying drugs (Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex, Betaseron and Tysabri), will begin to show increasing disability and lesion burden on MRI scans. This is an indication that we are no longer responding to the drugs and that we could be moving into SPMS.

http://ms.about.com/od/multiplescler...signs_spms.htm

so, 20 years into this joyful disease, I am currently on no DMD's... but I believe that's why I'm in pretty good shape now, because of the years I did them, that slowed the progression, and lessened the relapses for me.

consider carefully when making your choice, research it, ask LOTS of questions, and I hope whatever you choose works well for you, Legzz.

:hug:

Lady, sorry I don't remember you but I guess that's MS! I guess you are talking about Braintalk. I'm fine. Grandkids keep me buzy. Right now trying to find things that I have lost is keeping me the busiest! Glad to have you here.

I started with Avonex but over time, could not tolerate it; so I switched to Copaxone.

Considering Avonex is so similar to Rebif, I'd start with it. You can then determine if a) it reduces the ['projected'] number and severity of your exacerbations and b) whether or not you can tolerate it. If you can't (meaning your liver enzyme tests aren't coming back within the normal range), it's a pretty good indicator you might have similar problems with Rebif.

Copaxone is another good option, I'd remain open to it as an alternative to the interferons. As someone said (I think it was Jules?) you don't have to stick with one, several of us have at one time or another - for various reasons have chosen a succesion of the ABC&Rs....

becca44