Donna,

I took Avonex for 8+ years. The chills and flu-like symptoms are bad at first but they subsided in me to just a headache the next day. A few suggestions.

1 - definitely take Aleve or Advil. Experiment with what works best for you. For me, Aleve nor Tylenol seemed to do the trick as well as Motrin. But as Jim said, Aleve worked for him and I have MS friends who swear by Tylenol. I was on the Avonex for 3 1/2 years straight and then had to go off to get prenant/nurse. When I started back up, the side effects started all over again - chills, achiness. So I started taking 3 Motrin at night (right before or right after the shot right before bed) and then 3 the next morning. Note: If you want to take more than the recommended amount, talk to your doctor first. There is a toxicity to Advil/Motrin. That seemed to do the trick for me though. I always had a headache the next day - but it was a dull one. It did make me cranky.

2 - take the shot the night before a day you don't have to work, at least until the side effects subside. Talk to your doctor/nurse about switching the day you take the shot. I used to "forget" my shot all the time and switch the days. Again - talk to your doctor first.

3 - Not that I ever did this - but have some wine. I have an MS friend who used to pour herself a glass of red wine and drink 1/2 before she gave herself the shot. I know of another who draws a bath, soaks in it a while, then gets out and gives herslf the shot.

Stick in there and give your system time to get used to the interferon. As much as I hated shot night, I sometimes wish I could go back to the 1x/wk shot that stung a little when my husband didn't let the alcohol dry. The Rebif hurts when I take it - and it has been 4 months now. The side effects are non-existent, but it hurts .

Good luck.

Kristin

I have to tell you that I have been on Avonex for 6-8 years, been so long that I can't remember exactly when I started.  I first started on the drug where you have to mix the drug with the saline and now I am on the "Avonex PS" which is premixed for you and you just have to put a needle on.  

What I have found in controlling the side effects the best way you can is taking the shot in the evening so you sleep through the worst effects.  The side effects won't really go away but you can just control the degree of the effect to you.  I also found that the time of year has a effect on the degree of the shakes (which feels like you have a flu/cold and the shakes are to the bone).  A hot bath or a really long hot shower relaxes your muscles & bones for awhile anyway to at least subside the shakes for awhile.

Give this a try.

hang in there.I have this awful disease since 1972. Taking the shot once a week is nothing if it means a chance to a normal life, kindof.  I concider myself lucky because I can still walk, with a walker, but at least I'm not totally disabled. I did buy myself a wheelchair just in case. I keep thinking my age is against me,65 but still kicking. 28 when  given the bad news but loving husband is godsent. If we didn't have it someone else would.  Linda

Donalda Martin-Gagno

5/18/10 7:11pm

Thank you for your post, I am very newly diagnoised with MS, I have been struggling with everything, it is good to hear that you are still coping after all these years.  Thank you again for sharing

Donalda