Reviewer: Benjamin, 35-44 Male on Treatment for 1 to less than 2 years (Patient)

Comment:
I have being taking Avonex for the last year, it results as slow as painful (the injection), and it takes an entire day of my life because of the fatigue side effects. The relation cost/benefits is no so clear for me.

Comment:
I have being taking Avonex for the last year, it results as slow as painful (the injection), and it takes an entire day of my life because of the fatigue side effects. The relation cost/benefits is no so clear for me.
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Reviewer: jlefferts3, 65-74 Male on Treatment for 2 to less than 5 years (Patient)

Comment:
I get a small side effect for one day.

Comment:
I get a small side effect for one day.
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Reviewer: Avonexveteran, Male on Treatment for 10 years or more (Patient)

Comment:
For me Avonex has been great! Started Avonex in June 96 after several exacerbations, the latter of which landed me in the hospital and on steroids. Had some side effects early-on but they soon went away. More importantly I have remained stable with no attacks since on the drug. Now I self-inject weekly and its little more than a minor inconvenience. I know some can't tolerate Avonex , but for ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
For me Avonex has been great! Started Avonex in June 96 after several exacerbations, the latter of which landed me in the hospital and on steroids. Had some side effects early-on but they soon went away. More importantly I have remained stable with no attacks since on the drug. Now I self-inject weekly and its little more than a minor inconvenience. I know some can't tolerate Avonex , but for me its been a godsend. I fully expect to be on it indefinitely, probably for the rest of my life. But that's OK with me and far better than the alternative!
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Reviewer: joann, 45-54 Female on Treatment for 10 years or more (Patient)

Comment:
when you first start taking it, it's rough. You get symptoms almost 4 hours from the injection to the minute. You get flu like symptoms with a headache so bad the hair on your head hurts. I was told at first to take benedrill, and I was out of it for days. A simple 800 motrin takes care of the symtoms you just need to do it before the 4 hours. I get the injection in my hip area, and go back and ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
when you first start taking it, it's rough. You get symptoms almost 4 hours from the injection to the minute. You get flu like symptoms with a headache so bad the hair on your head hurts. I was told at first to take benedrill, and I was out of it for days. A simple 800 motrin takes care of the symtoms you just need to do it before the 4 hours. I get the injection in my hip area, and go back and forth each Sunday. If I get the shot in the arm you will feel the symptoms in 2 hours. I have been on this med for probably 10 years. I have gone through the loss of my mother and father the most stressfull time of my life and I didn't have an episode. I highly recomend this drug. I fear the needle each week (you think i would be use to it by now) but the new pill that's out has much worse side effects. I have my meds delivered to me at my work place, they come in a cooler with ice packs. This way they aren't sitting by your side door in the summer heat and all that money goes down the drain. They give you a 3 month supply at a time. The only bad thing is if you don't do the shot yourself, they charge you $25.00/week and my ins company $161.00/week and that is just for someone to inject you. My 90 year old Aunt gives me my shot, she is teaching my husband to do it, since she feels she can't live forever just to inject me. I hope this helps you. I am a very lucky MS person. People know I have MS but you can't tell by looking at me, I don't live my life like I have it. I would rather have MS then CANCER. At least I can do something about it. I am determinded to not let it get me down.
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Reviewer: Linnezer, 45-54 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I've only been on it for a few months. Was on copaxone for three years, went off it cause I wasn't good at daily injections. I've had no side effects with Avonex, nor did I have any with copaxone. I had no flare ups worth mentioning while on copaxone. I can't speak for Avonex's effectiveness since I've only been on it for a short time, but so far so good.

Comment:
I've only been on it for a few months. Was on copaxone for three years, went off it cause I wasn't good at daily injections. I've had no side effects with Avonex, nor did I have any with copaxone. I had no flare ups worth mentioning while on copaxone. I can't speak for Avonex's effectiveness since I've only been on it for a short time, but so far so good.
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