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smaller Avonex needles |
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| Added by: | MacT | ||||
| Post: |
Get smaller Avonex needles.
I just used the smaller needle, the Avonex representative recommended. It is great! At my neurologist, he had me talk to an Avonex rep. because I have been taking it for more than six years. Instead of a 1 1/4 inch needle its only 1 inch and instead of 23G it is 30G. THIS FEELS SO MUCH SMALLER. I had to have my neurologist write out a prescription for the new needles. I recommend everyone that has to use those big needles - get that prescription - for 30G 1. just to recap my routine - I take 4 200mg Ibuprofen tablets, about 15 min. or a 1/2 hr. before my shot. -put ice on the spot for a few minutes. (between the ibuprofen, the ice and these new needles I hardly feel a thing.) after alcohol wipe, I inject the Avonex slowly (due to the small needle). Apply pressure for a bit then I couldn't find the spot to cover with the bandaid. Later, I take 3..2.. Ibuprofen, every 4 hours or as needed, to ward off the flu symptoms. good luck all. |
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I agree that the smaller guage needles are much less painful. I have a very small frame and weigh less than 110#. When my husband first strated giving my injections, he accidentally got the longer needle and actually struck the bone in my arm. It really hurt. My sister is an RN and told me she would never use a needle that size on someone as small as me & she was not surprised that that big needle penetrated me far enough to hit my humerous bone. Another thing my sister recommended was a numbing creme--emla. You put it on the skin,cover with an occulsive dressing (I substitue Saran wrap), wait 30 min. I don't even feel the needle go in. You have to have a prescription for the smaller guage needles and for the emla ointment. 
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I'm sorry to hear that it took six years to discover that Avonex has an alternative, smaller one inch needle. I started using Avonex back in December, 2007. The rep I talked to from Avonex mentioned the two different sizes to me and asked my body type. I am tall and lean, so the smaller one inch needle was the one they recommended. Every Avonex pre-filled syringe kit comes with a one and one quarter inch needle to attach. The Avonex people sent me a box containing 100 of the one inch needles to use instead.
I have to admit the one inch needle looks far less menacing than the larger one. It's amazing the difference just a quarter inch makes!
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thank you for this advice, it is timely. I am on my way to start avonex, awaiting my new rx to be delivered this week, then comes the rn to work me through the process. I was going to forego treatment (capoxone was not good for me) because of the symptoms. Someone told me not everyone experiences side affects, and probably all of those that do are out living life and not writing here. So that convinced me to give it a try. I recognize both of you from past posts and seem to have alot of knowledge. I will follow Khills advice on preparing for the treatment, and will look into the smaller needles BobbyJ recommends. Thank you both.
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