avonex nurse

Hey Max! Have you had the Avonex nurse re-visit - to make sure the avonex is actually gettinginto your muscle? I've learned more and more how important it is for the med to reach the correct location. i.e., IM, or subQ. Even with copax - those not reaching the subQ tissue are experiencing many site reactions. That nurse should be willing to come back out for you to double check.

I have been on copaxone for little over a year its not working for me so my neuro has asked me to try avonex. My avonex nurse is coming this evening but I am wondering how long you actually gave it to get the symptoms of the shot to calm down. I am crossing everything to hope I dont get the flu symptoms so bad but we will see. I have a husband that works away and 3 small kids to care for, I dont want to be in bed all weekend when its the only time we get to spend as a family.

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?

Wondering if Avonex can cause itchiness & rashes throughout body after a few mos. of using. Was on it for 1 1/2 yrs., stopped for 8 mos. & resumed. Started getting some rashes & itchiness throughout body. Thank you !

Don't have the answer but interested as MS nurse is coming to see me for the first time tomorrow and Avonex was one of the drugs my neurologist suggested for me. Hope all goes well for you, its all daunting!

As I wrote before, I did fairly well with my first Avonex injection on Monday, had some side effects, took it easy on Tuesday, then felt well enough to run some errands on Wednesday. However, by Wed. night, my thigh kind of burned like I'd worked out real hard, and my radicular pain started acting up in the other leg, then proceeded to wrap around the top of my thigh like it's done in the past.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone who has taken both Avonex and Rebif could give some input here. I have been taking Rebif since this past June, but have started to wonder about how Avonex would compare side-effect-wise. As they are both interferons, I would think they would be similar, but I'm not certain. The idea of once a week sounds nice in comparion though, so I would like some actual first-hand knowledge. Thanks!

I will be talking to the nurse today to see what her plan is. I am also going to check again with the Avonex pharmcy. They did give me some instructions on doing 1/2 dose. I will give them to myself so really I could do it however I like I suppose.

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.

I take avonex and the nurse told me that I could take it a day late or a day early. They do get it to me within a day of ordering it.

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.

Ohhhh Jibby, ((hugs)) Weird huh? I cannot express it adequately really how it feels. You know, though, I have to giggle because I read your post and was slightly jealous. ;) I did not get a little Avonex Support Kid or prescription. I got a slip that said "Avonex" and the nurse filled out the forms to have the Avonex nurse come out. I'm not crazy about the injections either. I know I can do it but... I don't want to.

While I understnd the potential benefits of avonex, I am concerned that the side effects from avonex and once again facing everything will set him back again. He tends to get depressed at times so I am specifically concerned about that aspect. In addition, he works in a very high pressure job and I am concerned that this may leave him sidelined from work (in an environment that he does not want to open up to about the situation yet)....

I have been having a bad allergic reaction to the Avonex, they think. But there is no one to tell except the Avonex nurse. The MS clinic has a nurse temp. in because the 4th nurse left Feb 10. There has been 5 nurses and changes to the system. Had my psychriast appt. with them cancelled. I got a call from the MS Clinic, and was told that the Dr. had an emergency and meant that my March appt. is cancelled. Maybe they will be able to fit me in at the end of April .....

) And, feel free to ask them even the toughest of questions - I did, lol And, nurse was more than happy to answer.

My Avonex nurse called and tole me to call my MS RN, so I did. My prescription for the pen was just sent in!!! Yay!!! I should have it for next months treatments!! Yay!!!! I think it will really help with the one issue I do have - I stop just before giving myself the shot (shot anxiety) and have to mentally push myself a bit. I think not being ale to see the needle will help me get over that. Yayyy!

I have not had any depression with taking Avonex but everyone is different so if this is a major concern to you make sure you talk to your dr about it. I was just informed last week by my nurse that was training me on how to use my Avonex pen they came out with a every two week injection for the Avonex I will definately be looking into that the less injections the happier I will be.

I cant believe the nurse didnt instruct you better than that. I had a really nice informative nurse. But I know when i called after I got avonex pen they said the nurses were very busy sine the pen came out having to train patients. The lady from avonex line I was talking to told me I didnt have to have the training if I didnt want to. There was no way I was going to do it without the training though! Hope your situtation improves. Whats BG12?

If you are on Avonex, don't you have a nurse assigned to you? Can you call her and ask?

If any of your are taking or are thinking about or will be taking Avonex, if the Avonex nurse tells you to take it close to or at bed time. He/She is NOT playing around! I have been on Avonex for 6 weeks with no problems. Last night I fell asleep before I took my shot so I took it around noon after I got out of the shower. That was a a BIG MISTAKE! I was okay for most of the day, but I started feeling crappy (nauseous) around 4 or 5, by 8 pm I was making repeated trips to the toilet!

I'm a graduate student in bioethics, and I'm researching MS support services like MS Lifelines, Shared Solutions, etc. I'm interested in speaking with people who have had experiences with these services -- in particular the nurse hotlines and the peers/mentors/ambassadors. If you've had any experiences with these services and would be willing to discuss them with me, I'd be really grateful for your help. Thanks very much.

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