difference between avonex and rebif

Hi Sam, Well, I'm just not sure. I'll tell you, I went on Rebif not long after being dx'd and I'm off of it now for a short time (for other reasons), and I'm curious to see how I feel after I restart. For me, I could not tell the difference between MS feeling like ****, or Rebif feeling like ****. I really did not have enough time w/MS to know the difference. Now that I've had this gap in time, I feel I will know the difference too.

What do you feel (besides the differing side affects of the meds) the major difference is between subcu and intra muscular? And, since you get the itching under the skin for a few days w/copax, and you have to inject every day, is there ever a time you don't itch? Also, do you have to locate muscles? Or, is the needle just long enough to hit them? Q - WOW! No site reactions, that is amazing!

s, and wanted to treat me aggressively. Rebif and Avonex are exactly the same type of interferon, but the dosage and type of injection are what differs. Avonex is 33 mcg once a week...Rebif is 44 mcg 3 times a week. (And it's made from Chinese hamster ovary cells - how hysterical is that??) lol! I have talked to numerous people on Avonex, and they said that they felt llike they had the flu for a day or two after their injection each week.

When he heard about this he was adamant that the Interferons were off my possible list of meds. He would not re-prescribe Avonex and said that Rebif and Betaseron would likely (not definitely) be worse. As a physician, myself, this makes sense. When a person has a problem that is associated with a class of medications, they can be possibly have that problem with all members of that class.

After at least of 5 weeks of worsening effects from Copaxone and 8 weeks total, it's all over between us. I truly tried. Almost went to counseling. Arbitration was an option, and so on. The bottom line is that I had terrible allergic reactions that snowballed. I tried several kinds of antihistamines, plus Singulair, and a bunch of different creams. All I got were hives, bruises, welts, rashes and misery.

have been on in order, avonex, rebif, avonex again, betaseron, copaxone and tysabri. Currently not on any, but will be on gileyna in january. Tysabri worked the best for me, but because of the very high risk for me to get PML, I decided not to chance it any more.

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!

yes, it was the va neuro recently that mentioned rebif or avonex and suggested strongly i go with one of them versus the copaxone. this guy typically minimizes any symptom i have(my impression). can't talk to a nurse there until doc Rx's something. i don't even want to discuss that office.

I really am sorry to hear that you have become frustrated wtih Rebif. Perhaps you would do better on a lose dosage and Avonex may be for you. Hope you feel better and decide which treatment to use in the near future. Slowing down this disease is vitally important.

Hello everyone! I Haven't really been on here much lately. Just going through some new changes in my life. I'm doing well, how are you guys? You all are always in my prayers and I hope all is well as can be! :) I started taking Rebif almost 2 months ago and haven't had any problems with it, except a new kind of fatigue coming around latley like the day after I take it because I take it at night right before bed. And I know this has more to do with the MS than the DMD, I think.

what MS shots copaxone, rebif, betaseron & avonex has the smallest percentage of blood fractions

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.

I had hair loss after starting Gilenya back in February and was very concerned about it. There's something about these immune modulator drugs that have hair loss as a potential side effect. I had to search and search the drug companies website to finally find it as it was an "uncommon" side effect and not on the packaging where mostly "common" side effects are only listed now days.

The sole purpose of Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex and Betaseron is to slow the progression of the disease and reduce the number of relapses. If you look at the studies, people on these CRAB's still have relapses, they just don't have as many relapses as people who are not on a CRAB. So it should not be a surprise to any of us on a DMD when we do have a relapse. The CRAB should be making it less intense and shorter in duration, hopefully.

I am sorry you are having this problem. It must be frustrating. As for missing the rebif injections my neurologist had to stop mine for a month due to illness and he said it wouldn't make that big of difference and not to worry. Hope this helps and hope you get approved soon.

s known that some people on the Interferons, Avonex and Rebif have had no additional lesions, that have lasted years. That was my experience when I took Avonex. Since I now take Copaxone and have only been on it for a little over a year, I cannot give you a personal view of how well the drug is working for me. I am beginning to notice less relapses, though. How DMD's work is not fully understood.

Avonex (which I’ve used for 11 years) and others are notably absent from your list. Avonex, Rebif, and Betaseron have been around longest and have the strongest safety profiles. If your MS is more aggressive, then you may be more inclined to consider Gilenya, Tecfidera, Aubagio, or Tysabri. All of the DMDs are discussed from a neutral perspective at the link below: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Treating-MS/Medications Choose a medicine that you can adhere to the dosing schedule.

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

Hi, Joani. I know what you mean about bitter-sweet. I think all of us in the diagnosed category understand. It is kind of unusual to have only spinal lesions, but that does happen. I'm glad your neuro is concerned, yet a few days or a few weeks without a DMD is hardly likely to make a difference. After all, MS isn't a disease that grabs hold overnight.. Still, take advantage of your neuro's point of view by letting him know quickly about any changes or new problems that occur.

one of our long term members, essdipity, had the same problem with the itching and switched to either Rebif or Avonex. Good luck in your decision. Was Gilenya offered as an option or just the interferons?

It is definitely an individual choice and based on so many various factors..other conditions you are dealing with, etc. For me, copaxone was first choice because I have other autoimmune diseases I'm dealing with along with diabetes and copd, and supposedly has the least amount of side effects. I was able to stay on it for about a year before I began having bad skin reactions.

My neuro, who does a wartload of research on AVonex and Tysabri, told me that Avonex "hits its full effect around 6 months," and when I was having symptoms at that time (actaully for me it was 7 to 8 months) did not feel that Avonex had been given a full chance. I think 6 months is jumping the gun a little, just based on the words of one of the major researchers, but I can't tell you that I really know.

If you are allergic to interferon (Rebif and Avonex), then you will be allergic to the Betaseron. You were allergic to Copax too? What type of allergic reaction did you have, and how long did it take to happen? If I end up allergic to Rebif, my Neuro told me my only options are Copax or Tysabri. Were the reactions different from med to med? Please describe if you can.

Difference between avonex and rebif

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