Get Informed: Avonex
Active Ingredient(s)
Avonex
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). It is believed to work by affecting the immune system, although its exact mechanism of action is unknown.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Aug-22 9:20 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Sep-02 9:06 PM
Other Names
- Avonex
- Interferon Beta-1A
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 17 May 1996
- Est US Patients*
- 181,300
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Avonex or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Avonex
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Avonex during the past year.
Avonex Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Avonex used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 1,300 patients that use Avonex (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Sclerosis | 100% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Avonex work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 1,300 users taking Avonex (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM). This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 90%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Avonex outweigh the bad things.
- 0%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Avonex.
Common Side Effects of Avonex
iGuard regularly polls our more than 1,300 users taking Avonex (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
75% of patients experience side-effects on Avonex
10% of patients experience significant side-effects on Avonex
Most Common Side Effects...
-
FLU-Like Symptoms
-
Fatigue
-
Headache
-
Dizziness
-
Nausea/Vomiting
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Muscle Pain/Cramps
-
Injection Site Reactions
-
Insomnia
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Palpitations
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Avonex ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Have been on Avonex for almost eight years. Have found if you ice your injection site it numbs most of the pain. Good luck everyone.
55 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-20 00:31:46
Question/Comment:
If anyone has a problem with affording the medicine....because it's outragious...talk to the makers of avonex...I've been on avonex for almost two years and havn't had to pay for it at all. They have programs to help make sure you can take your meds. Acredo is another great company. Do the research if you need help.....I think I started with the MS Foundation. Good luck to everyone.
27 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-19 13:36:10
Question/Comment:
I was diagnosed in 1999 but only started taking Avonex a few years back after a relapse. I have been doing wonderfully since but discovered a few things (the hard way I might add!) along the way. I REALLY don't like the self injection but I found the closer I do to the center of my leg (alternating exact locations and legs weekly) the less painful it is going in. Also, I try to relax my leg completely and press down on either side of the injection site almost creating a little 'dome' of flesh; for some reason that also seems to help it from burning. I always pull it out of the fridge at LEAST an hour in advance and NEVER have alcohol the same day as my injection. One night, I had a single beer before an injection and the flu-like symptoms came on fast and furious; I'm not sure if it was directly linked but why take the chance? Anyway, I am walking in the MS Walk on November 7th and am thankful there is something like Avonex that hopefully is keeping this nasty disease in check. So far so good! Good luck everyone!
39 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-10-20 23:25:30
Member Answer/Reply:
I do not drink alcohol at ALL while on Avonex because of the risk to the liver. I do not know how many days the Avonex stays in the body with the weekly injection so I don't drink -- it is not worth the risk.
57 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-18 19:25:30
Question/Comment:
I haven't head anyone mention having severve depression problems with the Avonex how about in general with MS?
36 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-26 19:24:05
Member Answer/Reply:
It seems that the longer you are on avonex the less depression you have. I been on avonex for 5 years and I have notice a big decrease in my depression. Mike
60 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-22 14:26:00
Member Answer/Reply:
I have been taking Avonex since 2001 and have an incredible jump in depression and anxiety things which I never dealt with before the medication. I am glad to hear that all of you are doing so well on it. I am currently in therapy for coping and was admitted to the hospital for the anxiety and depression. I am currently on about three medications for these things now. I also was diagnosed with Fibrymialgia in 2005. This causing chronic pain along with the MS which could also contributed to the depression. Hope you all continue to do well.
36 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-29 09:46:21
Question/Comment:
I WAS DIAGNOSED IN FEB 2000 AND WAS PUT ON AVONEX IN APRIL OF 2000. I GUESS IT IS DOING IT'S JOB BECAUSE IN TEN YEARS MY MS SYMPTOMS ARE STILL MANAGEABLE. MY QUESTION TO ANYONE IS - MY HUSBAND LOST HIS JOB W/OUR HEALTH & RX COVERAGE AND COBRA WILL NOT COVER ME. MY ONLY OPTION IS TO GO TO STRAIGHT MEDICARE D RX COVERAGE. WILL THEY COVER THE COST OF AVONEX???????? I KNOW WITHOUT RX COVERAGE IT IS OVER $1000.00 A MONTH.IF ANYONE OUT THERE KNOWS THE ANSWER PLEASE REPLY. THANKS
39 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-24 19:08:30
Member Answer/Reply:
Do you live in Indiana? My husband is self-employed and I can't get health insurance through regular insurance, so I get it through the state. It's called ICHIA. I'm a 50 year old female and have been on this insurance for 8 years. It does cover Avonex. If you do not live in Indiana, you might check with the state you live in to see if they have something like this.
50 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-23 12:34:28
Member Answer/Reply:
the cash price of avonex is $33,000/year.
48 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-10-16 14:03:21
Member Answer/Reply:
I believe Biogen has a plan to help with the cost based on income. You might check with the company.
61 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-11-07 19:51:08
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
39
Patient Comments About
Avonex