This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

This is a call for our members who currently are, or previously have taken, Avonex for the treatment of MS to please share your experiences with the therapy at an exciting new project that has sprung out of our work at This is MS, aptly titled "the Experience Project"

Born out of our experiences (no pun intended) here at This is MS, where a wonderful community has formed based (originally) on shared and common experience, ...

Plenty of info warning women to get off Avonex if they become pregnant. Also a handy registry to register yourself if you're pregnant and on Avonex at http://www.criver.com/clinical_services ... tml#Avonex.

That's all well and good. But where's the research? Where are the outcomes? Avonex has been around for years now, as have the other MS drugs. Aren't there any conclusions or initial hypotheses yet beyond just "don't do it"? ...

Wow! I am so happy to find this site. I come from a family with a strong history of autoimmune problems. My mother has a diagnosis of MS and has been on Avonex for about 4 years, with good success. She claims she is really healthy now, but I had her here for 3 weeks and she seemed pretty sick to me still. Primarily her energy is very low.

What I am wondering is, have ...

Okay, I have a stupid question...

If Avonex and Rebif are the same drug (interferon beta 1a) and the difference is the way it is injected (IM vs. SC), then why couldn't someone buy a months supply of Rebif (which is approximately the same price as Avonex) and simply inject 2/3 of the 44mcg dose IM? For the same price (appoximately) you would have 3 months worth of drugs?

Just a silly thought...

Thanks,
Aaron

what made you choose Avonex over the other CRABS? My son will have to start one soon, and Im torn between which one we should go with. His Dr. asked me to research them and decide. They both have good and bad sides. Side effects, times etc.

Maybe you all could give me more ideas on which one?
Thank you.

kristy

sorry this may be sort of a repeat of anther question.

Does everyone get side effects like the flu and chills etc. from avonex? my son starts soon, but I do think the Dr. wants us to choose between this one and the beta one. But leaning toward this one due to the once a week thing. one the other hand, the side effects do sound aweful.

kristy

Is anyone else on the avonex + methotrexate combination?
I had been on avonex + cellcept but the cellcept side effects
were not worth it (finally figured out that was what was
causing the diarrhea). So the (new) doc has switched me
to methotrexate instead. The little research I did showed it
to be "mildly" better than avonex alone.

Does anyone have better info on methotrexate and its use
in MS?

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Just curious to see if anyone has had the less dramatic course with Avonex. I'm going to start it soon and, well, I'm n-e-r-v-o-u-s! So I'm looking for positive feedback.

I've been on Avonex for 1 year now and still have the normal side effects every week that come with it. I've gotten a pretty good routine to minimise the effects using Tylenol, eating, rest, and more Tylenol, but they are still there every week. Some weeks are worse than others. The neuro said when I started I'd only have them a couple of months. Wrong. Then he talked about switching to Copaxone for less ...