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Hi again Aroma! Glad to see you were able to post your question on a new thread. I decided to add my previous answer here to get things started. I'm not sure what a map card is but I'm guessing it is a medical assistance plan. Each plan is so different. We usually have to call our individual providers to see what they cover. There should be a number on your card. I am also guessing about the test injection you were given. It sounds like a TB skin test.

I've been on Avonex for 2.5 years and it's suited me well but I have just had a 4 week break. I then took my injection on Tuesday night and was strangely fine on Wednesday and Thursday but on Friday, Saturday and today I have lost about 50% of my strength from my left arm and leg. Is this likely to be a side effect from restarting the Avonex (muscle weakness) or a relapse?

Sigh, I have a question from a friend. She would like to know if avonex causes calcium deficiency? She is diagnosed with ms. Not like me.

As things stand, I am truly grateful to be able to use this medicine in the form that needs to be mixed. I think this will be very helpful to most Avonex users though. Not only will it hide the needle, it will also give you more accessible injection sites.

Hi! I'm an MS patient. I was diagnosed at 22 and am now 28. So, for 6 years I've tried a lot of MS therapies. I've done the Rebiff, Betaseron, and 1 other that I don't even remember the name of. Anyways, I started taking Avonex. This coming up week will be my 5th injection. I have suffered through the fever, the body aches, let me make that severe muscle pains, abdominal pains, and the list goes on. The one side effect that is really worrying me is the depression.

The faster you start DMDs the better off you are. It is your choice. I'm not sure that there is a "relative effectiveness" of the different interferon drugs. I take Copaxone and manually inject every day. It really isn't that bad. I picked my DMD based on the risks of the various side effects. The needle was about the last thing I was going to worry about.

My daughter will be starting on her MS medication and was given options for about 6 different drugs. They are all injectables. She is starting on Avonex once a week, and is dreading the weekly shot and the awful side affects. I know there are a few clinical trials going on right now for a pill form. Are there any nearing FDA approval?? And if so, when might we expect them to be available to the public?

Thanks for posting this. I am going to find out more about it.

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!!!

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 won't make this mistake twice!

Hi anuj, I read ur question. I also diagnosed ms just few days ago, nd I also prescribed injection avonex. But I wish I could give u exact answer but I don't have any personally experience about avonex coz I don't start avonex yet but I know I will.Just m saying that i found on google that when ever u inject just relax, don't take any stress, u may get flu like symptom so take ibruphen, take rest how much u can, then of course, u can manage it.

Hi Candy, When I was on the Avonex I had terrible itchy skin. I would start scratching and I would well up from the scratching. I also found that it dried out my skin as well. I use pure coconut oil right out of the shower then gold bond lotion right over the top of the oil. It seems to be helping tremendously. The oil soaks in quickly and the lotions seems to seal in the moisture. I hope this helps. Sorry you have this to deal with on top of everything else.

With Avonex and Rebif, it sometimes help to start out on less than the full dose for several weeks, building up to the full dose later It really makes a difference, as some of our members will tell you. In fact, I truly believe that ALL new drugs, with the exception of antibiotics, should be started off slowly to give your body a chance to adapt. Too often, I have heard of doctor's starting patients off on full doses of medications, only to have to give them up, due to side-effects.

Have your side effects gotten any better? I finally saw an MS specialist for 2nd opinion and he recommends I start Avonex but I am hesitant. My neuro said MS YES, the specialist says MS MAYBE, CIS YES. I have had my head stuck in the sand for 2 months now. Time to wake up and smell the coffee (er, Avonex?). But am scared to commit to the drugs because of the potential side effects. It's been a while since I've posted, but I value what y'all have to say so much.

Hi Aroma. Welcome to the MS community of MedHelp. You posted your question on a thread that is more than three years old and many people won't bother looking here. You will get a better response if you start a new thread by clicking on the orange colored "Post a Question" icon at the top of the page. I'm not sure what a map card is but I'm guessing it is a medical assistance plan. Each plan is so different.

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?

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?

I'm just curious... Do Avonex injections hurt all that much? I do a subcutaneous Betaseron injection and I don't feel a thing, not even a pinch when I inject. I just wanted to keep an open mind about possibly switching DMDs but the thought of doing an intramuscular injection gives me the heebie jeebies.

Hey Shelly! Yeah it's been a while, but I'm working my tail end off here trying to make ends meet ;) it's all good though! My story to this point is this (in a nutshell): In February I started having symptoms. Didn't know what it was, so my PCP ordered the MRI of the brain/c spine/l spine. Results came back with the report and the neuro that shares an office with my PCP happened to see it and talk with the radiologist. He then had his secretary make an appointment with me.

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