avonex injection sites

ve been on Rebif 22mcg for almost 2 years, with no side effects other than red spots at the injection sites (the spots stay for weeks). I don't inject my arms (no fat at all), and I use lidocaine cream to deaden the spot for the thigh shots (not much fat there either). Belly is the best spot for me. No relapses in 2 years. If you do choose any of the 3 sub-q injectables, do NOT underestimate the value of careful site selection -- always shop around for the fattiest spot you can find.

I have no first hand advice to give but I did hear a doctor speak on the injection cycle of Avonex. They show that the flu like effects occur several hours later and that you can time your injection so the worst of those symptoms occur at night while you can try to sleep them off. Taking the injection right before bed is not the optimum time from what she said because if the symptoms hit in 6-8 hours, you are going to feel crappy when you are starting your new day.

It seems the main differences are that it is a subcutaneous injection and thus not deep, and that it is used approximately half as often as Avonex. Will they drop Avonex? So now I'm wondering if anyone here has used Plegridy, and if so, how things are working. I'm now back on Tecfidera (another Biogen product) after a false start, hoping to avoid nasty digestive side effects by greatly increasing time between the 120 and 240 mg doses (per my neuro).

Also, my nurse informed me that we still want to rotate injection sites and she has found that if you keep the shots to your legs that it helps with the side affects. She isn't sure why but more people experience side affects when they use their arms. I am going to stay on my legs. BTW: I had a little shot mark for two days after, no redness, no irritation and only a slight pseudo-flare the next day.

Is anyone else experiencing this. I think I really need some more injection sites to use besides the abdomen and the upper legs.

ve been on a titration dose for about 5 weeks now and I can still see the the bruise from my first injection. A majority of the other injection sites are red blotches that are about 2 inches in diameter. These marks are mostly visible on my thighs and stomach. Sometimes I get a little residual pain and a red welt. I don't inject in the same area twice, I pre-medicate with Ibuprofen, I pinch, inject, let go, rub, apply Hydrocortisone cream.

Hi there, I did Rebif for a year but my arm spasticity kept me from switching injection sites like I needed to so a year ago I switched to Tecfidera. I think most folks have some gastro issues after being on the full dose for a week or two but it does vary from one person to another. My gastro issues were bad and I had to taper back down and go back up to the full dose much more gradually. At that point I was given the option to stop taking Tec but I managed to push through.

Flu-like symptoms are a fairly common side effect during the initial weeks of Avonex treatment. It is recommended that you take your Avonex injection before bedtime. Immediately before your injection, and for the 24 hours that follow the injection, patients have found that use of over the counter pain and fever reducing medications can help with this common side effect." You could also get on the Avonex website for further info. good luck. hope that you feel better soon.

Hi - I am starting on Avonex next week and of course am concerned about side effects but like the once a week part of the treatment. Those that are on Avonex how do you handle the side effects any tips you can give me?

Put a muscle to use and the drug can be dispersed into the circulation even faster. At any rate, since Avonex is a weekly injection I would think even eight sites would allow for sufficient healing between one use and the next. Keep in mind that no testing scenario comes close to the trial that begins AFTER a drug is approved for widespread use. More and more often we hear that good looking drugs appear less attractive once they hit the open market.

Sidesteps, I do think you should (at a minimum) call the nurse who does your injection teaching. A review of technique and sites never hurts. With an exam and live review the nurse might be able to discover the reason you have had problems since starting to use the auto-injecting technique. I wonder if the slimmer and shorter needle isn't to your body's liking. Maybe it doesn't get deep enough into the muscle or produces too much of a jet stream type entry into the tissue?

DX on 2/14...started Avonex last week with nurse helping and did fine. This week I thought I did okay but noticed the plunger did not go completely down. It was the 1/2 dose. Since I am inclined to over analyze, trying not to panic. Figure I'll be taking more next week...but since you all seem like you know your stuff...thought I'd ask the experts. Thanks.

Last night I had my first Avonex injection. I had a lot of hesitation about going on any drug, but figured I need to fight MS. The injection did not hurt at all. After the medicine was in it stung just a little bit. I woke up at 2:30 in the morning with the chills and by 5 I had the full flu like symptoms. By 3 in the afternoon, I felt pretty good except for a headach, but I've been having frequent headaches lately anyway.

I would go back to your neurologist and discuss switching to the avonex injection pen or perhpas even consider Plegridy - the new form of interferon from Biogen Idec that is a version of Avoenx but it is given every 2 weeks instead of weekly and can be injected just under the skin.

It has the lowest incidence of side effects and does not make neutralizing antibodies. Flu-like side effects are rare, but injection sites reactions are more common, usually tolerable. There is also an occasional immediate reaction of chest tightness, shortness of breath, and often anxiety, that passes with about 15 minutes. Only about 13% of people get this once or multiple times. I would say that Copaxone is your best alternative.

Avonex injection sites

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