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Avonex User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

Avonex has an average rating of 7.2 out of 10 from a total of 44 reviews on Drugs.com. 67% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 23% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Avonex

  • Dee
  • October 8, 2020

For Multiple Sclerosis "Diagnosed with MS in 1998 and have used Avonex since then. Very content with this med. I take either ibuprofen or acetaminophen prior to injecting. No problems. I am thankful. Biogen helps with the cost."

10 / 10
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6 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 11, 2009

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have had MS for well over a decade and have been on AVONEX for 2.5 years. I believe this medicine is working well. I have had one small clinical relapse. I make sure to drink plenty of water during the day and take an ibuprofen before my injection. I have had a headache a few times the following morning. This is the only possible side effect I have had."

9 / 10
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17 Report
  • Therese
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • March 20, 2020

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been using Avonex for 15 years now and I have had no new lesions after year two on the spine or brain. Which shows how positive this drug is for slowing the MS process down. Hate the side effects, but love the med!"

10 / 10
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6 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • msgir...
  • November 15, 2008

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have used Avonex for about a month now, to treat my MS. I have a mild case, and symptoms are not too severe. I appreciate the once-a-week injection (hate needles) but am feeling the side effects. I use the Tylenol PM when I take the injections and that does seem to help. We take the injections on Thursday, and I am able to work from home on Fridays. I am very tired, but usually better by Saturday. I definitely recommend this based on the once-a-week injection vs the daily or every-other day injection of the other choices for MS. Good Luck."

9 / 10
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15 Report
  • Carol...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • September 11, 2021

For Multiple Sclerosis "Not a lover of injections but once a week I will persevere, it’s been about five years since had flare up. It’s just the psychological thought of the IM injection which truthfully doesn’t really hurt. I will continue with this as it’s working and I am taking my injection on Saturday night. The following day I am very tired but it’s Sunday so a day to relax!"

10 / 10
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4 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • MaryM...
  • June 17, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been on Avonex for 1 month. I chose it due to the injections once a week. I do not even feel the needle or medication go in. I do ice the area well for 3 minutes and make sure the alcohol dries completely before injecting with the smaller needle. Each week the side effects have been easier but they are still quite strong. I do sleep 8 hours after the injection but wake feeling like I did not sleep at all and like I was run over by a truck until about 20 hours after the injection. It has taken 3 days to get my energy back so far. However I do notice that my Multiple Sclerosis symptoms have improved and I have had feeling in my left foot for the first time since my first attack 3 months ago so that makes it worth sticking with for now."

6 / 10
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13 Report
  • Msr
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 5, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "I am almost 68 yo; diagnosed w/LOMS in '15. Immediately went on Avonex (wkly self injectable pen). Symptoms have not progressed and I am stable over the past 2.5 yrs. I do well with the shots; have learned to travel with medication and have taken care of my needs worldwide! I initially had the flu like symptoms post injection but they dissipated over time, but here at 30 months later I had a really bad episode of wracking chills and muscle aches just last pm. Feel worn out and sore this am. Why after all this time did I have this reaction? Have never missed a dose, so it's not like I am reintroducing medication to my system, Anyone else having this problem?"

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8 Report
  • chick...
  • March 25, 2010

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have had MS for over 25 years now and have been on Avonex for about 2 months. I find the shots to be tolerable (given to me by someone else) and the side effects are not too horrible. About 6 hours after injection I have chills, muscle and joint aches and a slight headache. These effects last for approx. 4 hours. The following day I feel tired but okay. Not sure if it is helping. I HOPE SO..........time will tell. After all is said and done, the shots and the side effects are not so bad."

5 / 10
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13 Report
  • Rodne...
  • August 7, 2010

For Multiple Sclerosis "While the Avonex was extremely effective on the lesions (they became smaller and some actually disappeared!). However, the side effects were severe. It literally took me out for 3 days (totally) it took about 2 more days to do anything above the bare minimum i.e. go to work, come home, eat and sleep, and I had about a day and a half to get everything else done such as grocery shopping and mowing the yard and taking out the garbage. Let alone housekeeping. I finally just switched to Copaxone due to anxiety over injecting the drug with such a large needle and to counteract the side effects of Avonex."

2 / 10
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12 Report
  • Mary...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 11, 2022

For Multiple Sclerosis "This was the drug from hell for me. I would be wildly ill for 2-3 days after taking it each week. I developed new lesions while on it. I switched doctors and the new one took me right off of it, thank goodness!"

1 / 10
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3 Report
  • RPac
  • December 2, 2008

For Multiple Sclerosis "I used Avonex from 1997 - 2002. I did not tolerate it well. Even though I took the injection at night, and an hour after two extra strength Tylenol, I was down and out for 24 hours. I would have stayed on it because it seemed to really minimize the MS symptoms. But an MRI in 2002 showed that the MS was progressing (more plaques on the brain) so the doctor changed me to Beta-Seron. I had two relapses in the last 6 years but in the last 18 months, there has been no change and I am doing well. I tolerate the Beta-Seron well but on two occassions in the past year I had flu like reactions, which I reported."

8 / 10
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10 Report
  • Tammy
  • May 17, 2022

For Multiple Sclerosis "This was my second shot at medication. After my first injection I had severe flu like symptoms that lasted for 24 hours. Banging headache, aching limbs, vomiting, unable to mobilise much. I tried injecting at night and would take some pain killers an hour before to see if it helped with the flu like symptoms. At first it seemed to not be as bad. However I ended up having to take every Tuesday off work (injection night was Monday before bed) and it got to a point I couldn't even take my daughter to or pick her up from school on the Tuesday, I had to rely on family. I was on this medication for just shy of one year and the time frame for the side effects just increased. Going from 24 hours to sometimes 6 days. Eventually enough was enough, I am a single mum and the only reason I am trying medications is to ensure my daughter still had her mum present and able. Which was not the case with this medication."

1 / 10
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2 Report
  • Kara...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • October 5, 2021

For Multiple Sclerosis "I've been on Avonex for the past 25 years, and have been VERY happy with it. I get some chills and achiness the day of the injection, but as long as I take Motrin or Tylenol it's under control. Very few new lesions from when I was first diagnosed. Sadly, my insurance just changed and my new one doesn't cover Avonex. So I'm looking at other treatments and am not happy about it."

10 / 10
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2 Report
  • Teri
  • April 19, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "I've been on Avonex almost eight months. A little flu like symptoms the following day. It gets worse if I've had too much coffee, less 'achey' if I'm drinking plenty of water the day before. I'm fairly new to MS so don't know if it's stopping the lesions but I feel better than a year ago. ' Fortunately, I am a copay assistance program so it's zero out of pocket. Thank you Biogen."

9 / 10
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4 Report
  • Anonymous
  • October 14, 2012

For Multiple Sclerosis "The flu like symptoms are horrible. I was told to take Tylenol night time before I took the shot. I did and it seems to help with the effects of the shot."

5 / 10
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14 Report
  • Antti...
  • August 19, 2016

For Multiple Sclerosis "My body couldn't tolerate this medication."

1 / 10
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10 Report
  • Stan
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • May 25, 2022

For Multiple Sclerosis "Avonex has been working great for me. Been talking it for 12 years now."

10 / 10
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3 Report
  • CMano
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • March 4, 2021

For Multiple Sclerosis "I started my MS therapy with Avonex about 25 years ago. I didn't have any side effects with it but my MS progressed so I was changed to a different therapy."

2 / 10
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4 Report
  • None
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • January 8, 2020

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have never had any side effects from this shot at all. Does that mean I don't really have MS?"

1 / 10
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4 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.