Interferon beta-1a for Multiple Sclerosis User Reviews (Page 3)

• Therese
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 20, 2020

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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!"

• FaceP...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2017

Rebif (interferon beta-1a) "I'm 19yrs old and have been ill for 6 years but only officially diagnosed less than 1 year ago. Due to my age DRs would even even consider MS. I've been on Rebif 4 months, along with 2 infusions of solumedrol and I am going downhill fast. I fall daily, go blind and deaf and lose use of limbs few a times a week. I had to drop out of college due to cognitive issues when I had been a 4.0 student. Rebif has not helped. I struggle to walk, talk, think or even do basic things like eat. I feel Rebif should've helped by now. My mom has a $150 copay that Rebif pays so that's a plus. I have an apt with new MS specialist soon and will ask for new med. I'm not waiting for the "6month" trial period."

• MaryM...
• June 17, 2011

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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."

• msgir...
• November 15, 2008

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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."

• Carol...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 11, 2021

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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!"

• M r
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 5, 2012

Rebif (interferon beta-1a) "I have had multiple sclerosis since 07/2007. On 05/2012 I have had a relapse. I have been on Rebif since 07/2007, it's awful to have this relapse, my right arm is still not 100% back. Rebif is a good medicine though, I have minimal to no side effects, I do get severe hot flashes during the times I do get to sleep...leaving me to have to constantly change my shirt every 2 hours. Regardless I'm kind of upset that I went through a relapse within 5 years of be being diagnosed."

• Msr
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 5, 2017

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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?"

• chick...
• March 25, 2010

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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."

• Rodne...
• August 7, 2010

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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."

• Fred...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 29, 2020

Rebif (interferon beta-1a) "I was on Rebif for 9 years. The first 8.5 years were fine. The side effects were basically minimal and easy to handle. I eventually developed injection site reactions at 5 of the 8 recommended sites. These were essentially knot-like masses below the skin surface. Kind of like a weird reaction. I stopped taking it about 4 years ago. The masses are very slowly shrinking, one is gone as far as I can tell. If I could do it over again - would I? Yes, in my opinion, it worked for 9 years."

• Mary...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 11, 2022

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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!"

• ADD
• February 17, 2016

Avonex Pen (interferon beta-1a) "After Diagnosis of MS in 2008 I researched the available MS medications. I choose Avonex my brain lesions have decreased and shrunk. My symptoms have improved. I have not had a relapse. This medication has been a God send for me. Now I will have to switch to another medication because of insurance. Am researching the approved Meds and none are meeting my needs. I believe in Avonex,"

• CVH
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 24, 2015

Avonex Pen (interferon beta-1a) "I started on Betaseron when it came out. I changed to Avonex when it came out mainly because it was once a week. I get the side effects of flu like symptoms usually a few hours the next day. I have continued to be active and no new lesions. It has worked for me so far. I'm 60 so I have been blessed."

• RPac
• December 2, 2008

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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."

• CMano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 4, 2021

Rebif (interferon beta-1a) "My MS therapy was changed to Rebif about 20 years ago because my MS symptoms progressed while on the other therapy. I didn't have any side effects with Rebif but my MS continued to progress so I was changed to a different therapy."

• Tammy
• May 17, 2022

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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."

• Baker...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 20, 2020

Rebif (interferon beta-1a) "When I was first diagnosed with MS I tried copaxone and tecfidera both of these gave me side effects that I couldn't handle, but the Rebif has been virtually side effect free for me. I know everyone is different. All I have to do is take one Advil before an injection and I do not have any of the flu-ish side effects. I have been on this for 3 years now with no new progression of lesions. I will say when I was first diagnosed I was terrified of all medicine and the thought of doing an injection was so scary. Now it's nothing. I still have other issues with my MS and I've thought about trying a new medicine but after looking at the newer medicines the side effects scare me. I think this one is worth a try."

• Kara...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 5, 2021

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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."

• Bizzy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 4, 2015

Avonex Pen (interferon beta-1a) "I have been using Avonex since October 2008. When the pen was made available, I was ecstatic!! This meant I didn't have to rely on my husband to do the syringe injection, without seeing a needle, I could do it myself. I used the pen for about 2.5 year's. In that time, several mishaps occurred, the blue button wouldn't work, the needle fell out, the final problem:the needle stuck in my leg after pulling the pen from my leg!!! Needless to say, I am back to depending on my husband again. The flu-like symptoms are the same with both forms of injection. I would go back to the pen in a heartbeat it was been improved and dependable."

• Teri
• April 19, 2017

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) "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."

• Emgee
• March 10, 2010

Avonex Prefilled Syringe (interferon beta-1a) "I began using Avonex when I was diagnosed in March of 2007. I think it has done wonders to stave off progress of the disease. I have not had a major relapse since being on the medication, nor have I ever had an injection site reaction. Side effects were aches and flu-like symptoms the following day, which subsided with the following techniques: Day of injection, filling up on fluids. 2 hours prior to injection, taking 2 ibuprofen. Injection in the buttocks rather than thigh- this made a big difference. Injecting 2 hours prior to bed, then taking 1 more ibuprofen before sleep. Keeping hydrated the day after the injection. I love that it's once a week and there are no red sores from the injection as with other MS medicines."

• Lin...
• June 4, 2009

Avonex Prefilled Syringe (interferon beta-1a) "I've been using this medication since February 2009 when I was diagnosed and I can't complain much. Most problems I have is a small amount of chills after injection the day after, maybe a little tired, but in 1-2 days, I'm good to go. I've found some benefits too, cognition is better, small difference, but still it's something. I've a feeling of normality that I've not had in years, not sure if that's the medicine though or just knowing what the heck has been wrong with me all this time."

• MrsNZ
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2022

Rebif (interferon beta-1a) "I have only been using Rebif for about 3 months. I started on the low dose and worked my way up to a full dose. I have been on the full dose just shy of 2 months. I started to notice a sore crop up here and there in my mouth and thought it was a canker sore and it would go away after a day or two. Recently I got a HUGE sore on my lip. Super swollen & throbbing eventually leading to what appeared to be a blister. Dr said to stop meds immediately. I also have been sick for 2 months and have had 3 rounds of antibiotics and prednisone for respiratory issues. I have no idea if it meds were helping. Frankly, when you read about all of the meds its a bit scary. Don't know what direction I will go from here."

• smith...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 10, 2016

Rebif Rebidose (interferon beta-1a) "I had no issues the first 6 months on Rebif. Medicated before each injection so didn't get the flu like symptoms. However things changed starting at month 6. Started getting red itchy spots at the injection sites. Also got cellulitis 4 times. And to top it off, got 1 new lesion. Still on it but in the process of switching to Tysabri. 2 lesions did shrink in size though."

• mkb
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 21, 2012

Avonex Prefilled Syringe (interferon beta-1a) "Diagnosed in 1997, immediately started with the older version of syringe, pill and liquid which I had to mix and then inject. Started with the prefilled syringes around 2005?( /- years) Initial signs prior to medication were double vision and pins and needles sensation on the right side and loss of sensitivity in hands. Occasionally, the exacerbation may come with weakness on one side of my body. Currently, I might have one exacerbation every few years, when I do have an %u201Cattack%u201D, my doctors give high dose steroids and I usually come out of it relatively quickly with no major residual effects. Avonex has worked well for me."