Interferon beta-1a and Injection Site Pain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 11, 2012

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been taking Avonex for close to 16 years, and my biggest fear in the world is losing access to it. I started on Betaseron but had to stop because of injection site reactions and severe flu symptoms. I had been through everything: complete invalidity, lying in a hospital bed to basically healthy, with no noticeable symptoms at all. But since being on the Avonex, I have only very minor exacerbations, less than one per year. In the last 10+ years, I have not missed any work or canceled any vacations for MS issues. My only problem is the cost."

• TiB...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 2, 2018

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2006. I was nearly immediately put on Rebif. The worst reaction I have ever had are site reactions. I have learned to manage those by massaging the injection site before and after each injection. Ice helps if it is stinging after the injection, heat if it is aching. I had a pretty severe relapse in 2015, my new neuro put me on Tecfidera, which was awful. I would (exactly) 1 hour after taking the medication in the morning throw up for 1 hour (exactly), the flushing was miserable. I would flush so hard I would look nearly purple. I had so many physical issues, weight gain, etc. Not to mention I had low levels of JC virus and was still put on Tecfidera (that combination causes a brain infection). In 2017 I started seeing another new neuro. His first order of business was taking me off of Tecfidera for 1 month and starting me back on Rebif. I have had no issues since. I feel like I am human (with standard MS issues)."

• Nhl...
• September 13, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "I just started this medication. With each injection, the side effects have gotten worse. I did my 3rd dose last night, and I'm miserable. The body/muscle aches, headaches, etc. are about unbearable. Each time, I took two 500 mg Tylenol before my injection as recommended by my training nurse. I was told about the flu-like symptoms, read the booklet my neuro gave me, but I thought the symptoms would subside at least halfway through the next day. I am so pained. I keep taking Tylenol and even my muscle relaxer, hoping for relief. But nothing seems to help. I called into Biogen after my 2nd dose. No help. Copaxone gave me bad brain fog and injection site reactions. Tecfidera kept me in the bathroom in unbelievable pain. Not sure what to do now."

• hwa...
• February 21, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with MS in 07/2009 and started this medication in 11/2009. I was titrated up to 22 mg and then titrated up to the 44 mg within 4 months of starting medicines. I got an emergency phone call from the neuro office after routine blood work came back telling me to immediately move back down to 22 mg dose. I had elevated liver enzymes for an entire year on this medication. Finally, the levels dropped to normal range. Four months after the liver enzymes normalized, I stopped having the flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, general unwell feeling). I take a naproxen about an hour before each shot. I still get site reactions and some bruising at the injection site (and burning when the medicine is going in). I use the RebiSmart Injector."

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

For Multiple Sclerosis "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."