Sorry for the newbie question -- Why Avonex?
Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:14 pm
Hi, my name is Sarah and I am here to ask a slightly more detailed version of the ultimate newbie question... "why Avonex?"
I have spent a lot of time reading the wonderfully helpful boards here and I have what I think is a slightly more specific spin on this quesion -- I am most interested to hear people's thoughts on the potential for serious side effects relating to liver and other organ function.
After experiencing what I later learned was lhermitte's sign, I had an MRI a few months ago that showed a lesion on my spine and a possible lesion on my brain. A spinal tap confirmed the presence of the protein that makes MS more likely. My neurologist thinks that I should begin treatment and I agree.
Like many others here, I was given some literature and told to decide. Because I am a lawyer with sometimes crazy work hours and I love to travel, the once per week dosing of Avonex really appealed to me and given the seemingly similar effectiveness rates of the CRABs, I had decided that I would try that first. Then I had a conversation with a coworker who also has MS and he told me that his doctor thinks that the potential organ damage with Avonex is actually much higher than is currently reported and that Copaxone is the best way to go. His advice has sent me into a tail spin.
I was under the assumption that the regular blood work done in the normal course of taking the interferons would let me know if I had anything to worry about with respect to my liver... is that assumption incorrect? Is there other potential organ damage that I should be worried about? I hadn't ever heard anything about other organs possibly being damaged -- am I missing something?
I am 29 and anticipate being on the drug that I choose for a long time, so I don't want to choose something that is likely to harm me. I would most appreciate your thoughts and input.
Best,
Sarah
I have spent a lot of time reading the wonderfully helpful boards here and I have what I think is a slightly more specific spin on this quesion -- I am most interested to hear people's thoughts on the potential for serious side effects relating to liver and other organ function.
After experiencing what I later learned was lhermitte's sign, I had an MRI a few months ago that showed a lesion on my spine and a possible lesion on my brain. A spinal tap confirmed the presence of the protein that makes MS more likely. My neurologist thinks that I should begin treatment and I agree.
Like many others here, I was given some literature and told to decide. Because I am a lawyer with sometimes crazy work hours and I love to travel, the once per week dosing of Avonex really appealed to me and given the seemingly similar effectiveness rates of the CRABs, I had decided that I would try that first. Then I had a conversation with a coworker who also has MS and he told me that his doctor thinks that the potential organ damage with Avonex is actually much higher than is currently reported and that Copaxone is the best way to go. His advice has sent me into a tail spin.
I was under the assumption that the regular blood work done in the normal course of taking the interferons would let me know if I had anything to worry about with respect to my liver... is that assumption incorrect? Is there other potential organ damage that I should be worried about? I hadn't ever heard anything about other organs possibly being damaged -- am I missing something?
I am 29 and anticipate being on the drug that I choose for a long time, so I don't want to choose something that is likely to harm me. I would most appreciate your thoughts and input.
Best,
Sarah