avonex and thyroid

I have several concerns, I have hypothyroid, kidney desease, and in the past suffered a clinical depression. From what I've read, the thyroid and depression are contraindicaitons for using Avonex. I have extreme medication sensitivity, tend to have side effects easily. My mother died of chf. With all I've read about avonex, I truly feel it is a very poor choice for me.

I had hair loss after starting Gilenya back in February and was very concerned about it. There's something about these immune modulator drugs that have hair loss as a potential side effect. I had to search and search the drug companies website to finally find it as it was an "uncommon" side effect and not on the packaging where mostly "common" side effects are only listed now days.

He also thinks that maybe I have become immune to the effects of Avonex and am going to be tested for that. If I am he thinks Tysabri. What do yo uthink about that? What do you think my chances of the numbness going away? Anything I can do for it?

The last time I had bloodwork done on my thyroid function, all was fine except T3 uptake was 3 pts. below the normal low range (mine is 21.3 & reference is 24.3 - 39.0). Is this something I should have checked/should I go to an endocrinologist? I'm also wondering if the Avonex i'm on could be hurting my thyroid. This bloodwork was done a yr. after my starting on Avonex. I'm just curious. I'm fine with just leaving it alone. Thank you!

My sister has been on Avonex for 10 years and she told me the first couple of months are the worst. And so far it is true, it is getting better with each injection. She said she still has some weeks where it wipes her out but for the most part she is fine with it..

I have had MS for 10 years and I just stopped my AVONEX so I can try and get pregnant I know it sounds stupid but there is no studies on avonex and pregnancy so I just thought I would ask if any one else has been on some treatment or off to get pregnant? and how long were you off your meds ?

If you took your shot on Monday and some of the symptoms you describe on Wednesday, it would not be from the Avonex. Avonex side effects, if they are going to occur, start not long after the shot and linger STRAIGHT THROUGH, until they end. Some people have little to no side effects. When I took Avonex for over 3 years, my flu like side effects, didn't let up until around the 3rd day after my shot. Please note that I said, did not let up...

) and still have a safe and fulfilling sex life. Your best bet is to discuss this with your doctors and possibly and Infectious Disease Doctor. The doctors may recommend vaccinating your partner. They may also consider the risk of contracting HPV to be a low risk exposure and do nothing. Most people with MS can be vaccinated with "non-live virus" vaccines. Gardasil is a VLP (Virus Like Partials) vaccine (so it is safe) protecting against infection by HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11.

Hello Everyone :) I haven't been around on the forum or a while due to a string of horrible bad luck, but things are starting to look up so here I am :). I have a question about DMDs I have been on Avonex now for 5 weeks and have noticed a huge difference in my muscle spasms. It's as if the off switch got flipped! I went from having them literally 24/7 literally. My neuro said she hadn't really seen anything quite that severe she could see muscle spasms everywhere during my exams.

I started Avonex injections 3 weeks ago (tomorrow will be injection #4) and I am losing hair by the handful! I know that it might sound vain worrying about my hair when there is so many bigger problems to worry about but I don't want to be bald on top of everything else. Anyone with advice or have the same problem???

Does Avonex cause a lot of leg weakness and aching? Or is that something more associated with MS itself?

When he heard about this he was adamant that the Interferons were off my possible list of meds. He would not re-prescribe Avonex and said that Rebif and Betaseron would likely (not definitely) be worse. As a physician, myself, this makes sense. When a person has a problem that is associated with a class of medications, they can be possibly have that problem with all members of that class.

The sole purpose of Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex and Betaseron is to slow the progression of the disease and reduce the number of relapses. If you look at the studies, people on these CRAB's still have relapses, they just don't have as many relapses as people who are not on a CRAB. So it should not be a surprise to any of us on a DMD when we do have a relapse. The CRAB should be making it less intense and shorter in duration, hopefully.

Well Avonex is a lot like beta. Got a fever of 102 and feel like death. It hit me within 3hrs after the shot. Well at least it's just once a week.

I DONT GIVE MYSELF THE INJECTIONS EACH WEEK, MY HUSBAND DOES BUT THEY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AVONEX HAS IS GREAT. WE PAID 10 A MONTH AND WHEN HE CHANGED JOBS AND WE LOST INSURANCE I HAVE BEEN GETTING IT FOR FREE. I DO STILL GET ACHY, EMOTIONAL BUT FEEL LIKE I AM ADJUSTING TO THE MEDICATION. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CHOICE. HOPE THINGS GO WELL WITH YOUR INSURANCE.

I read in there something about the thyroid and the effects of particular medicine on the thyroid and made my decision. I've not regretted the decision I made, so I'm glad I did so much research.

//www.rxlist.com/avonex-drug.htm) and, like other proteins, can only work within a very small range of conditions (ie pH, temperature). As the stomach is a fairly acidic environment, proteins will denature (fall apart) and so Avonex would be rendered useless. That said, there is a therapy available in pill form (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090429205613.htm). Called "cladribine", it may very well be the first treatment for MS that does not involve regular injections.

I moved this from another thread so you all can respond..... Hi. I just stumbled upon your post by accident. I am trying to get some info on DMD's. I have had symptoms since April 2012. I have gone to my PCP and she exhausted all possible tests with all neg. results they thought I had thyroid problems. After a couple of months I was referred to Neurology. With more labwork and 3 MRI's and a lumbar puncture I had a MS dc. totally blew my mind wasn't expecting that.

t affect your spirits, even though I think depression is listed as a side affect. I have been on Avonex for about a year and a half and have found that my right side reacts better when injected than my left. I also inject in the early evening, then take 2 tylenol and two naprox about an an hour later. Usually I wake up pretty free of the yucks next morning.

t have your rx yet, that tells you the problem goes back to your neurologist and the Avonex reps and you can deal with them on Monday. It is so frustrating to know that you are so close, but then have to wait and wait some more to start treatment. I know from my own personal experiences.

I am sorry you suffered the side effects. I was on Avonex for 15 years and found that if I started ibuprofen around 4:00 in the afternoon and took it every 4 hours or so, and took the shot around 8 pm on a Friday night, I felt okay by Saturday afternoon. I also put ibuprofen next to my bed in case the side effects woke me up during the night. I wish you all the best. Just remember HANG IN it will get easier.

AS PROMISED, I WENT AND READ THE PAMPHLET THAT COMES WITH THE AVONEX AND I DID NOT FIND ANYTHING IN IT THAT MENTIONS CALCIUM DEFIENCY. I EVEN READ IT TWICE TO SEE IF I WAS MISSING SOMETHING, BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. LIKE I SAID IN MY PREVIOUS POST, I WILL BE SEEING MY NEURO ON TUESDAY AND WILL MAKE IT A POINT TO ASK HER ABOUT IT. WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.

I relapsed in January and am now back on avonex. I was symptomatic free through out pregnancy and breastfeeding. When beastfeeding ended I relapsed with in 3 weeks. I was very disappointed and had a horrible time trying to look after my 6 month old baby inbetween the cortisone drips. But we got though it. Am now feeling great and just have to get through the weekly shots until the new drug arrives in South Africa in a few years. Hope you all well.

I do the injection at bed time, then take one Aleve and an Ambien. Once in a while I wake up with muted flu symptoms, and then I take another Aleve, and that does the trick. By morning the whole thing is over for me. This sort of thing is very individual, and reactions are all over the map. Some have no effects, and a relative few have bad ones that last 3 or 4 days. Here's hoping your side effects are light or non-existent.

m pretty sure that I have seen someone on this site ask about hair loss with Avonex, maybe they will see this and answer you.

Avonex and thyroid

Common Questions and Answers about Avonex and thyroid

avonex