...kinda works... this revamp of Avonex is only taken 2x a month (every 14 days), and interestingly the side effects (flu-like feelings) seem to extend longer than the one you inject once a week!
Go figure. But I started it in Dec 2014, and I guess it's working okay. I've developed more irritating physical issues (neuropathy, muscle aches) but my mind seems clearer. Also, the newness of it somehow means I can get it generally free from the drug maker for now (based on income, etc), so really other than the shock of the new, what have I to worry about? :)
I guess everything is stable, though I may be developing other issues concerning neck nerves--lots of irritation on right side. Icing it for an hour before sleeping helped, though! We'll see what my "new" primary care person says about it--I have not been to a primary care dr since I got back to Texas, except for an 'urgent' issue of infection. I guess it was overdue to find one. Really, aren't neurologists generally the primary care doctors for MSers?
**Update-- as of October 2015, I came off Plegridy-- joint pain, anger issues were getting waaaay too much! I'm gonna hope for Ocrelizumab in 2016--I was in the Phase II clinical trial for that and it was WONDERFUL.
2 comments:
Hi. Can you tell me more about the side effects? I'm switching from Rebif. Excited about the 14 days but nervous about flu like effects. I didn't have flu symptoms from Rebif but the injection sites never recover. I look like I'm a 50 Shades fan girl.
Hi,
well, I've just done dose six and most of the flu-like effects are gone. I don't seem to have a problem with injection site issues so far. I would recommend taking ibuprofen before the injection, and then fit the next day, take it every four hours, like the pillow bottle says. it made a big difference for me, but I'm not a MD, of course! You could also ice the spot before the shot-- that seemed to help me but I often forget! So, for me the worst thing was the side effects that felt like flu, which hit starting about 8-10 hours after the shot. The fourteen day cycle odd pretty great though! good luck!
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