avonex withdrawal symptoms

I have been on Avonex for 17 weeks now but I am still experencing new symptoms. Especially in the past month. My doctor had me cut my Avonex back to 1/2 about a month ago because of the side effects. I THOUGHT I had been taking half dose but found out from the pharmacist that I have actually been taking 3/4 dose. That was my fault for not understand where the half way mark is at. But at least my side effects are becoming less even on the 3/4 dose.

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.

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.

My question is, can Avonex symptoms stick with you through the week. Since starting it I have had this head cold, congestion going on, not sure if it is just a coincidence or if it is possible that it is from the Avonex. I am not going to stop taking it or anything because it isn't that bad, it is just annoying me lol.

I'm sorry you feel so poorly. I haven't started any disease modfying drug yet, that will come in mid August. I've heard this about Avonex. The National MS Society website has some great info: www.nationalmssociety.org Here is what is a small portion of what is said about Avonex side effects: "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.

I think Avonex, as the lone intermuscular option of the injectables, is less prone to cause lipoatrophy. I'm not sure of Australia's timeline (my assumption based on 'Victoria' as your location) for Tecfidera approval or how amenable you are to taking such a recently approved drug, but I do think that Gilenya (another oral) is approved there as well and might be something to look into if injections are causing concern.

I am having site reactions from the Beta also but I feel much better than I did on Avonex. Very mild flu like symptoms compared to Avonex. Knowing what to do it very difficult.

Avonex possible side effects are depression and flu-like symptoms--fever/shivers, body aches and pains, general crappiness. These are usually helped by aspirin, or similar products, particularly ibuprofen. I was on Avonex for a number of years. What you describe sounds to me much more like a relapse. I'm betting OTC products don't help. And although I do understand wanting a bit of a break from Avonex, not a good idea.

//www.themcfox.com/multiple-sclerosis/ms-drugs/avonex/avonex-blood-counts.htm updated 2004, it might be worth finding out if your having a negative reaction and need to change DMD.

hi i am just going through the hoops to get started on Avonex with watch for these symptoms and get back to this feed if i experience the same, i hope not i am already scratching my skin for no reason Judy

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?

I have been diagnosed with 2 ms lesions and am taking Avonex every week. The last few days, I have been experiencing pelvic tremors. Can this be related to ms?

Kim, my brain mri was very positive too & LP was negative. I had weird symptoms on & off, some cognitive dysfunction which is very mild now & trigeminal neuralgia many yrs ago. I have no symptoms now but my main 1 was tingling sensations for which I took Neurontin. Am on nothing now & have no symptoms, but fear of progression. Maybe being on the Avonex made the tingling go away, but it stopped only mos. after stopping the shots.

I wrote earlier today to someone else, it might be trial and error until you find the right timing. We know Avonex has some flu-like symptoms for most people and you need to time your injections Most people also take it on the weekend so no to interfere with the work week but maybe you would rather feel good on the weekend to do other things and take the shot on a week day? It's lots to talk about with the Avonex nurse.

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!

My neuro calls and tells me that there are new lesions in the C-Spine (2, if I remember correctly) as well as a "re-activated" lesion that I had in C-3/4, which is the first lesion that I've ever had. The brain MRI came back "normal" even though I've had ON symptoms for about a month now - go figure. One thing that I don't understand is that he said "We're seeing new lesions in the spine, which we _never_ like to see" which I don't really get.

If you took your shot on Monday and some of the symptoms you describe on Wednesday, it would not be from the Avonex. Avonex side effects, if they are going to occur, start not long after the shot and linger STRAIGHT THROUGH, until they end. Some people have little to no side effects. When I took Avonex for over 3 years, my flu like side effects, didn't let up until around the 3rd day after my shot. Please note that I said, did not let up...

I have been on Avonex for over a year and still have side effects. They are not as bad as they were but still miserable. I have had it. Last night when my husband gave me my injection my muscle had a spasm and tightened up. It push the needle half way out and he has to push it back in again. I am done with it. I see my new doctor, my other ms doctor retired, in two weeks.

I have had MS for 10 years and I just stopped my AVONEX so I can try and get pregnant I know it sounds stupid but there is no studies on avonex and pregnancy so I just thought I would ask if any one else has been on some treatment or off to get pregnant? and how long were you off your meds ?

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?

Thank you TLC, I am newly diagnosed and can't take the oral or Tysabri, so of the injection choices this seemed to be the best one to start with .

Hi guys, has anyone not heard from the AVONEX people once they were put on it.??? I have heard from heath nurses, and today, got my WELCOME package, but still no product. I don't know what is going on, and of course the lady or the rep from Avonex is away on holidays till the 2nd. of Dec..... so, I guess we will do it next week ... Just to let you guys know, they stopped my antiobiotic IV today, and said that it was an MS attack. Wherever there are nerves, MS can strike.

Any suggestion for decreasing the pain in the leg from the Avonex shot. I am still experiencing pain in my left leg 4 days after the shot. I do not experience any flu like symptoms after the shot. I experience tightening in the chest for 10 minutes (48 hours after the shot). I also experience tightness in my lower back under my shoulder 24 - 48 hours after the shot.

I had no pain in my legs prior to starting Avonex a month ago. The shot really hurts regardless of how long I ice the leg. I use the 25G, 1 in. needle as I'm a slender woman. I'm lucky not to get any significant flu like symptoms. I do experience pain/tension in my side and back 48 hours after the shot. Advil has helped with the pain.

Avonex withdrawal symptoms

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