honestly, i don't like avonex because there's been studies that high-dosage high-frequency is more effective than high-dosage low-frequency, if your health insurance covers a more frequent interferon, i'd get that one.

my first choice was betaseron, then rebif, then copaxone. i ended up with rebif, and only got the flu symptoms the first night, after that they went away.

if you switch, just make sure you get your liver tested after starting, and you should be fine! the only weird side effect i have is that i get really thirsty after the shot.

sorry it's not a direct answer, but some information!

I was on copaxone then switched to avonex the inner muscular shot hurt a lot compared to sub q of copaxone.I had bad flu like side effects on avon.I hope all works out for you.

I'm happy as a clam with my Rebif, being injected only 3 times a week. Normally have no side effects or if I do, they are minimal and go away within a day. That doesn't happen very often though. I don't have info about the BG12, but have an upcomping appt in October with my neuro and will definitely be asking about it then. The hard part is, that if the Rebif appears to be working for me along with the changes I've made in diet and exercise, would I switch or stay with what's working? Not sure what the answer would be yet. Best of luck to you, and call me if you want to chat!

Amy

Hi Melanie,

I understand BG-12 is coming out sometime in the late winter or early spring 2013. My doctor is already aware that I want to switch to that treatment as soon as it becomes available.

There is a current thread on Avonex. I hope you can find it and read about it.

I was on Copaxone and switched to Avonex because I was allergic to Copaxone. After about 8 months of Avonex, I could not stand the side affects of Avonex, so I switched to Tysabri for 14 months. Since February I have been off any DMD, only awaiting for some other medical conditions to settle down before I re-start Avonex again. I'm not looking forward to it at all. Please PM me with any specific questions you may have, I'd be glad to help.

Lynne

Early on I had switched from Avonex to Copaxone.
My dr. Has talked to quite a bit about switching once it gets FDA approved. At first I was leery about it because I had been taking Gilenya for 1 year then was quickly taken off of it due to serious side effects & death began happening. At first I said NO, I WOULDN'T TAKE IT until I was told that it has been used in Europe for many years, just not for MS.

What side effects are u concerned about?

I have had kidney issues and I had a tumor on my thyroid when I was 17 so they removed it. I don't want to have organs monitored due to a medication. I don't do well with the flu either and I am a stay at home mom. I don't have time to get sick for days at a time....

I was on Avonex & stopped after 1 year I could no longer take the side effects. I have been on all MS meds. My neurologist wants me to start BG-12 as soon as it is approved.

The below URLs should give you some more info about this drug.
Best of luck working with your doc to find something that fits you best.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:sz6pNpQ0LyUJ:www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/ncp/programs--services/education/education-programs/carolinas-consortium-on-ms/topics/download.aspx?id%3D27200+bg+12+side+effects+National+MS+society&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgI3rD9Z6QgvR4t26XG4QOI0qWD2QCRD39IsllbT5fceDqzru4bOXjNawKBxZ-cpeJLsOle44wAwl-iF1UW5o8gnafqoY09JF6ge501pJ23KKM_p9bBBiEGMN1mluM9dmxqeXiN&sig=AHIEtbTQGNZ1iH07MEtmIotZPebZj4SSDQ

http://www.msworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=118828

http://www.facebook.com/notes/ccsvi-in-multiple-sclerosis/whats-bg-12-whats-protandim-and-whats-an-nrf2-activator/10150674812867211

Sorry the first link above does not work.
Go to the below URL and click on "New Medications and Treatments in Multiple Sclerosis" it is about 6 hyperlinks down on the list.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/search-results/index.aspx?q=BG12+oral+medication&as_sitesearch=&x=0&y=0&start=0&num=20

Hi

I asked my dr about the pill and he is like me, I beware of new meds, don't want to become a statistic,,, I'm on avonex and it's not the flu like symptoms that give me trouble, it's the ms.
Flu like symptoms are manageable and for me it's almost none now.

Good luck, alma

I have heard that if anyone suffers from IBS or any stomach issues that the BG12 aggrevates this even worse and you may not be able to take it. My nuero is all excited about it. I am currently not on anything but think I should be. scared to start anything as I have not heard anything good about any of it. scarey but I know I have to do it soon as i can feel things progressing. UGH

Don't know anything about the BG 12 pill. As for Avonex, I've been on it about a year and a half. I am very happy with it. I am a little more tired and achey the next day and have had chills a few times. Nothing to really complain about. I like that it's only once a week. That was a big factor for me. I'm very needle phobic and didn't want to inject any more often than necessary. The needle looks big but really doesn't hurt. Not sure what monitoring you are refering to. I get blood work once a year. My sister has MS also and was on a couple of the subcutaneous meds and said they stung, caused major site reactions and bad flu like symptoms for her. They also didn't work for her. She is on Gilenya now.
With any of the DMDs, it seems you don't know how you will react til you try it. I hope you find the one that works best for you. : )

When I was first diagnosed back in November 2001, I was put on Avonex. I was on it for a year and a half, six months of that was taking the painful injection twice a week. It didn't do anything for me. I then switched doctors. He put me on Copaxone. After a strong relapse in 2003, I was on Copaxone until 2011 when my MS decided to go nuts. I was switched to chemotherapy which worked until February of this year. I am now waiting for BG-12 to be available. MS has put me through the ringer but I refuse to let it win this battle.

Hi. I was on Copaxone for a year and developed multiple lesions in my neck. The injections were uncomfortable. Dr said to me if I wanted to continue to work switch to Avonex. I got another opinion and switched. Rebif wasn't out yet. I remember having to mix the Avonex solution/shot - before pre-filled syringes came out.

The nurse who trained me was great. She told me to think of the long needle as sliding thru butter and I shared that idea with others I never had any flu-like symptom. And I rarely found it painful to inject. The only side effect I had was Migraines -1 out of four injections.

I asked my Dr. several times about being tested for neutralizing antibodies and he didn't believe in it. Avonex never helped me and he finally referred me elsewhere. The original MS specialist who recommended Avonex told me she doesn't believe any of the MS meds work (she is 60 plus now and so is he).

Now I have SPMS and the MS Drs I have Consulted don't really have any strong rec's. I just saw my new neuro He is suggesting BG12. When I asked why - he says because research shows it is safe. For me I feel like I am a guinea pig.

If you have RRMS I'd try it. My feeling is the interferons don't work for everyone. Some studies show Copaxone have neuroprotective effects long term. That's what the previous Dr. said then she up and left. The new guy disagreed. It is so important to have a good doctor. So many have either no opinion or multiple opinions. He did mention GI side effects

Good Luck. I hope neuros today are better informed.

Melanie

I had used Avonex 9 years ago, but stopped after 1 year due to the side effects.

My dr. told me last week that BG-12 will be out at the end of this month.