The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at Some people may have problems with their liver while taking Avonex. Liver failure has been reported in rare cases. You may have a higher risk for liver problems if you drink alcohol or take other medications that can affect your liver. These include:. Avonex may cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, aching muscles, and feeling weak.
These symptoms may start within a few hours or days after your injection and can last for about a day. They tend to be worse when you first start treatment. This allows your body to get used to the medication and can help minimize flu-like side effects. You can also relieve flu-like symptoms by taking an over-the-counter pain and fever reliever on your injection days. Ask your pharmacist to recommend one of these drugs for you.
Hair loss can be a side effect of using Avonex. Weight changes were not reported in people who took Avonex in clinical studies. Weight changes have been seen in people taking other forms of interferon beta the active drug in Avonex.
For example, suddenly gaining a lot of weight could be a symptom of fluid retention caused by heart failure. Gradual weight gain can also be a sign of an underactive thyroid gland.
On the other hand, weight loss can be a symptom that your thyroid gland has become overactive. Avonex may also be used off-label for other conditions. It helps to slow down the progression of MS and reduce the number and severity of relapses you have. In clinical studies of people with relapsing MS, Avonex was found to slow the progression of disability, reduce the number of relapses, and reduce brain lesions areas of nerve damage. Avonex treatment was compared with a placebo a treatment with no active drug.
A second study looked at the effect of Avonex in people with clinically isolated syndrome. Researchers found that people who took Avonex were about half as likely as people who took a placebo to have a second episode within 3 years. Avonex is not approved for use in children. Research has shown that interferon beta the active drug in Avonex can slow the progression of disability, reduce the number of relapses, and reduce brain lesions in children.
This can relieve the flu-like symptoms that commonly occur with Avonex. If your multiple sclerosis MS relapses during treatment, you might be prescribed other drugs to take with Avonex. A relapse is when you get new or worsening MS symptoms.
Other medications you may take include corticosteroids to reduce the nerve inflammation swelling , as well as other drugs to treat specific symptoms. Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.
Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. The dosing frequency for Avonex is once a week. You should have your injection on the same day each week. When you begin treatment, your doctor may start you on a low dose of Avonex. This helps to minimize flu-like symptoms that can be a side effect of the injections. The dose is gradually increased over 4 weeks to help your body get used to the medication.
The titration kit contains three devices that you use to give the first three doses. Then continue with your usual schedule the following week. However, do not take Avonex 2 days in a row. A medication timer may be useful, too. Avonex is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. Other drugs are available that can treat multiple sclerosis MS. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.
You may wonder how Avonex compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Avonex and Rebif are alike and different. A relapsing form means you get episodes of new symptoms or times when symptoms come back or get worse.
Avonex and Rebif have some similar side effects and others that differ. Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain examples of mild side effects that can occur with Avonex, with Rebif, or with both drugs when taken individually. This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with Avonex or with both drugs when taken individually.
The use of Avonex and Rebif in treating relapsing-remitting MS has been directly compared in a clinical study. In this study, people who took Rebif were less likely to have a relapse of their MS than people who took Avonex. Avonex and Rebif are both brand-name drugs. There are currently no generic forms of either drug. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics.
According to estimates on GoodRx. Avonex and Gilenya are prescribed for similar uses. Below are details of how these drugs are alike and different. Gilenya contains the active drug fingolimod. They are both disease-modifying therapies, but they work in different ways. Avonex is only approved for use in adults. Gilenya is approved for use in adults and in children ages 10 years and older. Avonex and Gilenya can cause some similar and some different side effects.
These lists contain examples of mild side effects that can occur with Avonex, with Gilenya, or with both drugs when taken individually. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Avonex, with Gilenya, or with both drugs when taken individually. The use of Avonex and Gilenya in treating relapsing-remitting MS has been directly compared in a clinical study.
In this study, people who took Gilenya were less likely to have a relapse than people who took Avonex. People who took Gilenya also had fewer new brain lesions areas of nerve damage than people who took Avonex. Avonex and Gilenya are both brand-name drugs. Avonex is given as an injection into a muscle. Your doctor will teach you or your caregiver how to prepare and inject Avonex. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions on how to give the Avonex injection.
This allows it to warm up to room temperature. Use a different place within these injection sites each time you inject Avonex. This will lower your risk for having a reaction at your injection site. About 2 hours after you have an injection, check your injection site for redness, tenderness, or swelling.
Avonex is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis MS. Relapsing means you have episodes of new symptoms or times when your symptoms come back or get worse. When this happens, it creates inflammation swelling that damages the outer protective layer of the nerves, called the myelin sheath. Damaged myelin makes it harder for messages to travel along the nerve fibers from your brain to the rest of your body.
Federal and state laws and other factors may prevent or otherwise restrict eligibility. You may be eligible to enroll in the Biogen Copay Program for as long as it is offered and you are treated with a Biogen relapsing MS medication. One injection, once a week. Do not change your dose unless your healthcare provider tells you to. More to check out. Like most drugs, Avonex may cause mild or serious side effects.
The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Avonex may cause. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Avonex. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you have serious side effects from Avonex, call your doctor right away. Some people may have an allergic reaction to Avonex.
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Avonex. Keep in mind that the caps of Avonex prefilled syringes are made from latex. If you have an allergy to latex , the autoinjector form of the drug may be a better choice for you.
Talk with your doctor to learn more. Hair loss is a rare side effect that you may experience from taking Avonex. Although uncommon, hair loss was reported in studies of people using Avonex. They may be able to recommend medications that you can take or use to reduce your hair loss. If the hair loss is very bothersome to you, your doctor may recommend a medication other than Avonex.
Although rare, liver damage is a possible side effect of using Avonex. Some people who used Avonex in studies had liver function test results that may indicate liver disease. Even though liver damage is rare with Avonex use, you should know what the symptoms are. This helps you look out for them.
Symptoms may include:. Before you start using Avonex, be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications that you take. Your doctor should be able to help determine your risk for liver damage. Throughout your treatment with Avonex, your doctor will monitor your liver through blood tests. If you develop any symptoms of liver damage, be sure to talk with your doctor right away. If you have symptoms of liver damage or if your blood tests are showing possible liver damage, your doctor may recommend that you stop using Avonex.
Some people taking Avonex developed depression , mood changes , or suicidal thoughts or behaviors during treatment. Depression was a common side effect of this medication. But rates of suicidal thoughts or behaviors were rare. Before you start taking Avonex, tell your doctor if you have any history of depression, mood disorders, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
They may monitor you more often than usual if you have a history of mental health conditions. If you do develop any of the symptoms mentioned above, be sure to talk with your doctor or caregiver right away.
In some cases of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, you may need to visit an emergency room. Your doctor will usually have you stop taking Avonex if you develop depression, mood changes, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Some people reported that their depression symptoms eased after stopping treatment with Avonex. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Avonex comes in two forms: a single-use prefilled syringe and an autoinjector. Each form contains 30 micrograms mcg of medication in 0.
Either device should be used only once. So once you inject your Avonex dose, you should discard the syringe or autoinjector as directed. Before you start using Avonex, your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you how to use the syringe or autoinjector.
This way, you can learn how to self-inject or have a caregiver inject the drug for you. Be sure to inject your Avonex dose exactly as your doctor prescribes. You should change injection sites with each dose. This helps prevent your skin from becoming irritated. The dosing schedule for the drug increases over the course of a 4-week period.
Your doctor will discuss your specific dosing frequency with you before your first dose. When you first start taking Avonex, your doctor will usually start you at a low dosage. If you experience side effects from Avonex, your doctor may recommend taking certain medications before your dose to help prevent the side effects.
These medications may include acetaminophen Tylenol and diphenhydramine Benadryl. Taking these medications before your dose may decrease your risk for certain side effects, such as fever or flu-like symptoms. For example, if your MS symptoms get worse during treatment, your doctor may recommend taking a steroid medication with Avonex. The steroid may help ease nerve swelling. Talk with your doctor about your treatment for MS before starting Avonex.
You may have questions about Avonex and your treatment plan. Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you.
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