I am a new MS patient.This week is my 3rd Avonex shot. When do I see any results?

Question

I was diagnosed 4 months ago. I'm taking 15 Mcg Avonex Injection but I 'm feeling pretty bad. My doctor will cut the dosage in half until I get use to the medication.

Answer 1

You don't see any results.
Taking Avonex is like wearing your seat belt in your car.
If you drive a car and don't wear a seat belt, you might be in an accident and get hurt - or you might not be in an accident.
If you have MS and don't take treatment, you might have more frequent or more severe exacerbations - or you might not.
This might be the hardest part of MS - you just don't know.

I was diagnosed in 1995 but didn't start treatment until 2000. The fact that your DR. has put you on Meds so soon after your diagnosis might be an indication that the Dr sees something you can't.
Don't give up on Avonex just because you feel lousy. The side effects do get less severe over time, I promise.

The drug is offered in pre-mixed or you mix it. I started with the kind I mixed and then switched to pre-mixed thinking it would be better. Wrong! My husband hated the pre-filled syringes because it felt like he had to push the plunger really hard. And my side effects started all over again when I switched, and then AGAIN when I switched back. Right now, if I sleep through the night and don't wake up during the fever, I'm really OK after a shower and a cup of coffee the next morning.

Don't forget to pre-medicate. Some say Tylenol, some say Advil. Try both and see what works for you.
Keep a big jug of ice water (with a lid!!) by your bed for when you wake up thinking you could drink a gallon. I found it best to have water waiting for me handy because I'd wake up dying of thirst and not really be able to figure out how to go about taking care of it...

I would say to you "Don't let MS become who you are" or "You might have MS, but it doesn't have you" but, I won't say those things because I would have wanted to slap the person who said them to me. But, don't let this become an all-encompassing thing that rules all your decisions. You are still the same person you were 5 months ago (before you knew) and you can still do the same type things you did then - you just might want to be a little more careful if balance issues are a problem, and be wary of extreme heat.

For good literature, reaources, and connections, contact your local chapter of The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They can hook you up.

Answer 2

Hi. I have MS, got diagnosed last August, and I take Avonex also. You asked when will you see results? MS drugs are kind of weird this way because, you arent going to really see any results. They unfortunately wont help with your symptoms, all they do is slow down disease progression, which is something you arent going to be able to FEEL. When you go in a year or two for a follow up MRI, that is how you can see the Avonex is working for you because it should decrease the active lesions in your brain and work to prevent new ones.

Avonex is a disease modifying drug, all it can do is modify the course of your MS. Your exacerbations should be fewer and farther between, that is a result of taking Avonex. I know these shots suck, I hate them, but they are our best hope to making the best of our futures. And being on Avonex doesnt mean you wont have any exacerbations in the future either, you will. We all will. We just have to put our faith in that the Avonex is making us have FEWER exacerbations.

I have been on Avonex for 9 months, they still make me feel bad. You have to do some experiementing with when to take your shot and stick with it. Here is what I do, as long as I stick to this plan my Avonex day is better.

6pm - take shot out of fridge and take 2 tylenol.
9pm - take shot in upper arm (I switch arms each week), and
take 2 more tylenol.
11pm - go to bed. I try to sleep till 11am-noon the next day. And I take 2 moreTylenols when I wake up. Usually by around 3pm I am feeling back to normal.

You just have to do some experimenting with what works best for you. It took me a while to find the routine that worked best for me.

And please dont get discouraged with the Avonex not making you feel better, that isnt what it was designed to do. Preventing future relapses and slowing down disease progression is the most important thing.

I hope you dont ever get discouraged and stop taking it. Not even for a week. That needle is our future and as much as it sucks and we hate it, its the best thing for us! I hope you can find a routine that works for you. :)