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starting avonex - how to make it easier
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Hi - I am about to start Avonex and am not looking forward to it. I'd like to hear any recommendations you have to make the shots easier. Do the flu symptoms last 24 hrs? Can I take NyQuil or something to sleep through most of the symptoms at night? Is 30 mins at room temp before the shot enough? Any other tips from you whio have BTDT? Thanks so much for your advice.
Posted on 11/04/09, 10:11 am |
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I can't bring myself to jab the needle in, so I learned to ease it in very slowly. I also get a smaller needle- 25g x1".
To warm it, I put it in a pocket for a while. I don't know if it helps, but I figure body temp is better than room temp. There are times when I have no side-effects. But normally they go on for 2-4 hours, and seem to kick-in after 6 hours or so. I take Acetaminophen every 4 hours throughout the day which seems to work best. And I huddle under the blankets when the chills hit. I inject in the morning because I couldn't sleep through it. Waking up in the middle of night from it really disturbed me. I wish you all the best with this. Avonex has a web site avonex.com/msavProject/avonex.portal" title="http://www.avonex.com/msavProject/avonex.portal" target="_blank"> www.avonex.com/msavProject/avonex.... They have a support line 800-456-2255. Nice folks, and very helpful. 
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I have been taking the Avonex shots for 2 1/2 years now and here is what I have learned so far.
Most of the time the needle does not bother me at all but every once in a while you hit some kind of nerve and it hurts, but if you get a ice pack and ice down the area first until it is numb, this is not an issue. I rotate between arms and legs and my wife injects me most weeks, but I do self inject when I need to but only in the legs. I do not warm it up in any way except to take it out of the fridge at least an hour or so before I inject. I take 800 mg of ibuprofen before my shot and take my shot just before bedtime on Saturday nights; this for me allows a good night sleep, but it took several months to get to this stage. First you have to understand that everyone is different, some have no bad side effects at all but this is what I went through. For about six months I would get severe chills at night that would wake me from a sound sleep shivering uncontrollably, there is no way to sugar coat it, that really sucks but it has been over 2 years since that has happened. In the beginning it would be two sold days that I felt like crap, but I found most of that was from my muscles hurting after violently shivering the night before. Today I feel sore and very tired on Sundays, but it does not stop me from doing whatever any more, I just know that I will feel bad on Sunday and I keep going. I picked Avonex because of the once a week shot, I can’t say that I like it, but after over 2 years I have had no progression so I guess it is working. Good Luck Tim
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I don't use Avonex, I use Betaseron. I do have something that may help. Try taking the Arthritis Strength Tylenol. It lasts a full 8 hours, instead of the 4-6 hours the other strengths last. This gets you through a full nights sleep, or a full days work.
Hope that helps! Just remember the flu like sx lessen with time. Just be patient. Adapt the mindset, you're not having to endure a shot, you're taking a jab at your MS!
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