avonex liver

Neuro doc has all the blood work from the last year and it will show high levels if the avonex caused it. I will keep you informed, but he did tell me Avonex has a tendancy to raise you liver enzimes. Which to my ears means Pancreatitis at the least! I know he will pull new blood levels which include liver, will keep you informed after I know for sure the outcome. By the way-the rep's at Avonex will not leave me alone...lol I refused to tell them anything until the doc tells me.

Yes, I think you really need to report this to your neuro. Are you being monitored for liver problems since starting Avonex? That's always a good idea with this med, since the enzyme levels can get fouled up. I also get just the usual effects from Avonex (on it 4 months), but I've learned how to minimize them and so am doing very well thus far. Please talk to your doctor and let us know what you find out.

I also hope that he has been doing regular blood work testing to check your liver enzymes every six months, while being on Avonex. I think it's time to ask your Neuro to check you for the neutralizing antibodies now. I don't know the cost, but it IS a blood test.

He recommends Avonex because my sister is on that and she is doing great. I am leaning toward Copaxone because it is the one with the least side affects. I am not too fond of giving myself a shot everyday but I don't want to have to worry about liver problems and flu like symptoms either. My sister has been on Avonex for the past 8 years and she is doing remarkable. I love the fact that she is doing well, but I am not fond of the weekly intramuscular shot, I know waaaa what a baby lol.

I have been on Avonex for the last 15 years and have finally reached my limit. I am taking a 6 week break from the Avonex and will be starting Copaxone at the end of April. I actually have two questions: 1) Has anyone taken a break from their medication for that long (and if so, any consequences) and 2) Has anyone switched from Avonex to Copaxone, and if so, how did you do?

ve been on Avonex for the past two months. The side effects have been minimal for me. My problem is now my liver enzymes are elevated. Dr. said I may have to try something else if my elevated liver enzymes continue. I don't like the idea of a daily shot with Copaxone, but I'm also concerned about the side effects of the oral medications. I won't consider Tysabri at this point because my MS diagnosis is fairly new and I want to try other treatments first.

I had forgotten that Plegridy even exists, so I looked it up for more info. Turns out it is made by Biogen Idec, who also make and market Avonex and Tysabri. It is a kind of interferon, and is administered via injection every two weeks. The doses are stepped up, with full levels reached after several weeks.

m thinking of starting Copaxone cuz little to no side effects and its not metabolized through your liver. But, does it slow the progression of the disease like Avonex? Im a full time RN student and working in the ER this summer so I dont want flu like symptoms stopping me and I dont want to damage my liver. What do you guys think?? Thanks!

Have there been any studies published as to the possible long term effects of Avonex use? I am a 10 yr + user of Avonex and am becoming concerned. My healing time from minor cuts etc seems to be exceedingly long. I recently under went dental surgery and my dentist commented on my slow healing. I am at an age where major surgery occurs and fractures also some times and I am afraid that I would be debileated long term or worse if this was to occur. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

If you stay on the Avonex I would ask your doctor to check your liver function and other levels with a blood test every 3-6 months for the first year to make sure your body is handling it well. Are you having any side effects now from the Avonex, such as depression, flu-like symptoms, etc? I am on Avonex now and the website is helpful. Also, did you get an info packet when you started? I found that helpful, too. Why do your doctors think its MS? Have you seen an MS specialist?

I was diagnosed in February of this year and was given a prescription for Avonex that day. I had to have a blood test to check my liver function and my AST and ALT levels were way high, and to make a long story short, they still haven't come back down to "normal" and I'm still not on Avonex. Apparently, liver function tests have to be done every 3 months for the first year on Avonex (or any interferon, for that matter), and they recommend 6 to 12 month intervals after that.

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with MS and had my first Avonex injection Friday. Friday night was tough (fever, chills, pain and eventually heavy sweating) but I felt pretty good by Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon I started feeling kind of down and by Sunday morning I feel even more so. I can't decide if this is a result of the drug or just the situation as a whole.

Hi! I am sorry for all of you that are also suffering hair loss. As if we don't have enough to deal with! My family thought that I was making a big deal out of nothing until I washed my hair and ran my hands through and came away with a full hand of hair. We are not talking your usual hair loss here!

Well maybe I can be more helpful. My own ALT and AST are considered slightly elevated, maybe about your range. My PCP made note of that but is not at all alarmed. I am on Avonex and a couple of other meds that can cause elevation, so naturally this is being watched. My neuro is very casual in this regard, which may not be a good thing for a lot of patients who may not knowledgeable, but luckily I am.

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!

You do not have to worry about avonex it does not suppress the immune system. Do not worry about the JC virus unless you are on Tysabri which you are not. To be completely clear unless your Doctor tells you otherwise you have nothing to worry about you are on a safe drug.

hi Mary-- I was very lucky -- at my first neuro visit, we discussed CRABs, and he sent me hope with tons of info on all of them, as well as books about MS. He recommended Rebif for me, but he also has patients on Copaxone. I've been on Rebif 22mcg for 18 months -- no flu-y symptoms, no side effects (except a mild occasional morning-after headache). No relapses.

It became quite noticeable a couple years ago or so, when I started my MS treatment (Avonex). I am on different medication now (Daclizumab), but the yellowishness is still very much there. All my blood tests come back fine, including liver enzymes. The official lists of side effects for these drugs don't seem to include yellow skin, but the fact that it coincided in time like that is really suspicious. Can there be a connection between my medication - or the MS itself - and this symptom?

I was diagnosed with MS six weeks ago (I'm still in shock about this!) and started Avonex injections. The reaction to the injection starts 6 hours after the injection with bone chattering chills, intense migraine-like headache, and an achy body. I take Advil every four hours but that doesn't seem to help. The headache continues through the next day. My doctor said he is unable to diagnose what type of MS I have - which seems odd. I do not want another night of this misery.

I agree with TLC, If you have trouble with handling the needle, you should use the auto injector. You will probably need to anyway, because since you are going to be injecting everyday you will need to use all your injection sites. Some of them are very challenging with the auto injector... Alternatively, I recommend Avonex. It's only once a week, so maybe the liver problems are reduced? And the flu symptoms aren't that bad.

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