How does Avonex work? What are possible side effects? The most common side effects experienced by those taking Avonex include: Headache Chills Fever Pain Depression Injection site reactions Nausea Fatigue Backache Muscle aches These symptoms generally last for a day or two after the injection and lessen over time.
Things to note about Avonex In addition to routine MS lab tests, complete blood and differential white blood cell counts, platelet counts, and blood chemistries, as well as liver function tests, are recommended during Avonex therapy.
Before starting Avonex talk to your doctor if you: Have a history of hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to natural or recombinant interferon beta, albumin or any other component of the formulation Have a history of anaphylaxis Are pregnant or planning to get pregnant , as there is limited information on the use of Avonex in pregnancy. Consider discontinuation of Avonex if depression occurs Have hepatic liver injury Are a congestive heart failure patient, who should be monitored for worsening symptoms Have Thrombotic Microangiopathy damage to small blood vessels in vital organs Experience development of new autoimmune disorders Experience seizures.
Individuals with the above conditions should be monitored closely while taking Avonex. For more details, read the full prescribing information of Avonex. Sign up for emails from MultipleSclerosis. Comments 0 comments. Reactions 0 reactions. Comments 2 comments. View references caret icon. Sign up for emails Subscribe. Follow us Follow us on facebook Follow us on instagram Follow us on twitter. In theory, the interferon drugs seal off the blood brain barrier and inhibit the T cells from being activated.
This prevents the T cells from entering the central nervous system CNS and destroying myelin, and ultimately, the nerve axons. The interferon beta 1-a Avonex, Rebif and interferon beta 1-b Betaseron, Extavia drugs for multiple sclerosis MS have flu-like symptoms following injection, which can be minimized by taking acetaminophen Tylenol , naproxen Aleve , or ibuprofen Advil or Motrin. Their less common side effects include allergic reactions, depression, suicidal ideas, liver and thyroid functions affected altered thyroid test and elevated liver enzymes , and low red or white blood cell counts.
Because they affect the liver, you may bruise more easily or your skin may change color make sure you inform your doctor. Avonex has been associated with heart problems, although it's not clear that the drug was the culprit.
Since they are all injected, you may have localized reaction in the injection site like redness in the skin, bumps, bruises, pain and infections.
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. And they want you to get the best care possible.
Avonex is used to treat certain forms of multiple sclerosis MS. MS is a condition that affects the nerves that connect your brain and spinal cord.
MS causes your immune system to mistakenly attack the covering of your nerve fibers. Some symptoms of MS may include:. To be specific, Avonex is used to treat relapsing forms of MS. A relapse is a time of new or worsening symptoms. Avonex is used to treat the following in adults:. This may then help relieve your symptoms.
Avonex is not known to cause symptoms of withdrawal. But when you stop treatment with Avonex, your symptoms of multiple sclerosis MS or clinically isolated syndrome CIS may worsen. This is because Avonex was working to help ease your symptoms. If you have any questions about possible side effects when you end Avonex treatment, talk with your doctor. You should do this about 30 minutes before your injection.
Let Avonex come to room temperature before you inject it. Once you have removed Avonex from the refrigerator, you should use it within 7 days. You may also wonder how long Avonex can be unrefrigerated. Doing so may make the medication less effective than usual. For more information on how Avonex works, see this article.
You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist. No, weight gain and weight loss were not side effects that were reported in studies of people taking Avonex. But in some cases, weight change can be a symptom of other side effects of Avonex. For example, if you develop heart failure due to Avonex, you may gain weight. Changes in your thyroid is another possible side effect of Avonex.
And thyroid changes may cause weight gain or weight loss. They can help determine the cause. According to guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology , if you have MS, you should get a flu shot each year.
The medications Avonex and Rebif are both approved to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. With these forms, you may have new or worsening symptoms. Both of the drugs contain the active ingredient interferon beta-1a. But even though these drugs are similar, they also have many differences. And be sure to talk with your doctor about which drug is right for you. Before considering treatment with Avonex, talk with your doctor about all your medications and any physical or mental health conditions you have.
Taking medications, vaccines, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works.
These effects are called interactions. Before taking Avonex, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Avonex. There are no known interactions between Avonex and other drugs or supplements.
Avonex may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you use Avonex. Factors to consider include those in the list below.
Alcohol and Avonex may both cause liver damage. Talk with your doctor about how much, if any, alcohol is safe to drink during your treatment with Avonex. It is not known if Avonex is safe to take while pregnant. Other interferon beta drugs have been tested during pregnancy with mixed results. Avonex is a kind of interferon beta drug.
They may recommend a different treatment option for you. It is not known how much Avonex may pass into breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a child who is breastfed.
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