avonex needle size

Makes me wonder why Avonex has a needle size choice. Is there any benefit to using a larger size needle? I assume by size we're talking about the diameter, right....

Thanks Shell. I appreciate it! I love the pen. I am one of those that suffers from anxiety from stabbing myself with a needle. With the pen, I don't see the needle so I don't even hesitate. The needle is also much smaller.

m wondering it someone can tell me the size (gauge) and length of the needle used with the Avonex pen. Advertising says the needle is only half as long as it was with manual injections. Was that one an inch and a half? Thanks. Ouch Jibs! I watched the animated video (the one "not for instructional purposes"). I'm not quite sure what part is giving you trouble. Are you unable to tighten the hub onto the syringe?

I used Avonex for 396 shots (7+ years), and after going to Gilenya on Halloween I’m going back to Avonex this month. The flu-like side effects of Avonex are most common, but often easily minimized. Some keys are to keep hydrated, inject in the afternoon or evening (preferably Fri/Sat if you work a standard week) and use drugs such as Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc. For me the side effects lessened over time. However, I know of others that found them intolerable.

well at 11am today will be my first shot of avonex..... i am scared...... not so much with the needle ..... just the possible side affects .... i am supposed to go camping lol..... and just in general..... anyone have stories of there first injection with avonex?????

I've been using an Avogrip to help inject Avonex for many years. For reasons I'm unable to explain, I sadly have lost mine and am looking to find a replacement. Biogen Idec has not been any help, and I recently discovered the groups like MSWorld disallow postings along these lines. It's just a little bit of plastic, and it helps me quite a lot! Seems more than silly that it would be so difficult! Thanks for your help!!!

Lol! Hope it goes well. It's gotta be kinda scary. That's one of the things that I am terrified about. I have no problems at all giving a shot to anyone else but can't imagine giving one to myself, lol. But, you can do this! It'll be nothing, I'm sure. Once you do it once or twice, you'll be able to do it in your sleep! Love and hugs!

I've been on Avonex for a year now. This is intramuscular, to the entire needle goes into the hilt. I was conerned at first. I can draw my own blood, but, I always needed someone else to first pierce the skin with the needle. Well, they send a needle that is not large and is very sharp. You just press the needle through the skin, no need to jab. It truly goes through like it would through firm butter. Usually the pressing in of the 1cc of fluid just causes a little discomfort.

For those that take Avonex, how bad have the flu like symptoms been for you? I had been on Copaxone and just recently stopped because I have had it with the huge welts and lumps the size of eggs. I am tempted to just take a see how it goes attitude since my MS seems to be mild and not do the DMD's for the time being. My neuro brought up Avonex and told me about the flu like symptoms and I don't know if that or the welts and lumps are worse?

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

Until sometime in 2007, I prepared for injections by taking a rubber cap off the prefilled syringe end and placing a needle over that end. Avonex then started shipping prefilled syringes with a luer lock device; I break a cap off the end and then sort of screw the needle on. I’ve uploaded a photo to my profile page displaying the old and the newer syringe side by side. The newer one has the white collar. The Avogrips also are pictured.

I have been taking the Avonex shot for a few months now and have become accustomed to the effects of it. However tonight I have taken my shot and now I am having a tingeliing sensation going on. It's in my arm (R), both legs and also my abdomen. I know what to look for medically to be concerned but no where have I seen this as a side effect. Has anyone else experenced this?

I inject manually now too but used to use the autoinjector which is easy to use and you dont even see the needle. Rebif has a similar device. The needle is so small, I rarely even feel it breaking the skin, it is whats inside that takes a bit of getting used to. The Copaxone gave me a stinging - burning sensation for a while till my body adjusted to it, as well as site reactions, but I rarely get these anymore.

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.

Avonex are essentially the same med, but Rebif is 3x week with a small needle into the fatty tissue; Avonex is weekly with a looong needle into muscle. Beta is similar to Rebif (slightly different chemical composition), every-other-day injection; I think you have to mix up each shot -- but many are successful on Beta. I'm thin, and neuro said the daily Copaxone shots would be a problem, likely cause tissue necrosis & site reactions for me.

I was dx in January & started Avonex in February. Prior to this I have always been known as very easy going. I work in a highly stressful job, but have for 15 years and I have always rolled with the punches. After my dx & starting Avonex I noticed myself becoming a bit testy. Now 8 months later I believe I am no longer able to roll with those punches. So my 2 parted question would be, does this sound remotely familiar to anyone and any suggestions to controlling emotions?

I just want to say to everyone who does the intramuscular DMDs (Avonex and ?) that I really feel for you. Does it always hurt like crazy? This evening while doing my first MANUAL inject of Copaxone on my own, I hit my thigh muscle. OMG - the pain!! My leg is still quivering and it happened maybe 45 min ago. Apparently, I don't know how to measure my invisible "fat." I went straight in and hit something.

Quix, I'm confused. You say that guitar_grrrl isn't going to make a mistake when choosing a DMD because they all work equally well. Does that mean that is Copaxone didn't work for me neither will one of the others? As you know, I just started Avonex (4 shots in). I don't think the needle is small or that it goes in like butter, lol. Maybe I am just a wuss! Anyway, will the Avonex more then likely "fail" since the copaxone did? Sorry if that's a dumb question.

We are going to try and see if insurance will approve Gilenya. Not too hopeful, it is not fomulary... If not, Avonex. The pharmacy called about the shouder med he prescribed and it was denied, but they didn't mention the fatigue med, so I am hoping that the pharm tech just didn't realize I had 2 there. Can I get opinons on the 2 meds?????? I am REALLY hoping they let me try Gilenya at least - I would love to not have to stick myslef - I am a single mom of 8 and 6 yr.

t inject daily so Copaxone was out. Then the needle with Avonex was too big, nor was there an auto inject so Avonex was out. Rebif has an auto injector & it is only 3x's a week, which is the medium of the other two. So far no major side affects. Two weeks ago I thought I was having a reaction to the meds so I skipped two injection days. I resumed the injections on Wednesday & so far no reaction. I've been on Rebif since April and am still getting use to sticking myself.....

DV- the Shared Solutions nurse on the phone had me back my needle off to a 9 almost immediately after I started the copax and like you I find it made a big differencei n the discomfort. I won't lie and say I don't feel the after effects, but they are minimal and I don't have the urgent need to ice the injection site like I did initially. Patientx, I have been on copaxone just under 3 months.

I've been using a Rebismart unit to inject Rebif for over 2 years now. I get a months supply at a time, which comes in a small box containing 4 multidose vials, each vial has 3 - 44mcg doses, (one weeks worth). Last month my druggist aked me if I'd be willing to take a months supply of pre filled syringes. They had ordered them by mistake for another client who used to use syringes, but now uses a Rebismart injecter, and refused the syringes.

Hey all...Just wanted to throw this out there. I am on Avonex and started the Avonex pen about 2 months ago..I noticed my last shot I bruised up. I bruised one time before with syringe.. Is bruising sometimes common when injecting??? Should I worry? Darn it I thought I had this down pat.

You are "needle weary." I know it's tough. Was on Avonex three years and now on Copaxone a year and a half. Was on insulin for many years also, which meant a daily injection. (Am not on the insulin anymore) When I was on Avonex, my side effects never went away and only slightly diminished over time. Three years of it, was enough for me. I just couldn't take it anymore. At the time, I only had 7 lesions in my brain.

Avonex needle size

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