This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I've been on Avonex for 6 months and 3 weeks until now and I skipped only one injection due a very serious flu that was not reacting to antibiotic. the doctor asked me to stop Avonex and put me on 2grams of Augmentin for 10 days. During the antibiotic treatment I had rashes (urticaria). becuase of that I went on cortison and next week took Avonex. The rashes were controllefd while on cortison, but as soon as I went out of it, the rashes exploded. The day I take AVonex they seem to increase now. then a few hours later they reduce. during the next day they continue until around 5-6 days from the injection when they get worse. The day of Avonex the rashes get much worse and the cycle repeats. my neurologist suggested to move to betaferon, as he believes the rashes are caused by Avonex. but I am so scared of the side effects. i am sick two days per week due to Avonex, i can't manage 6 days per week. that is no life. did everyone go through somethign lk this? any possibility to control the rashes? is it possible to discontinue avonex for 2-3 weeks and then restart it? what is the impact of this?
right now i am on telfast twice per day and xyzal once per day as antihistamines to reduce the urticaria.

Hi Alexandra,
What form of Avonex are you taking? The prefilled syringes or the powdered form that you mix with sterile water? If you're using the prefilled syringes, then you may do better on the powdered form. Some doctors may not be aware of this, but the powdered form is still available from Biogen. The difference is that the powdered form uses a more physiological buffer at neutral pH while the prefilled syringes use an acidic buffer in order for it to act as a preservative.

NHE

Thank you NHE. I am using the preffiled injections. I will talk to my doctor to see if I can get the powder form and try that. I really really don't want to move to Betaseron.