Interferon Hangovers: Managing Treatment Side Effects

Judy Lynn avatar

by Judy Lynn |

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You've Got Some Nerves
Interferons (Beta and Alpha) are the oldest of the disease-modifying treatments, or DMTs, for people with MS. Interferons include Avonex, Betaseron, Rebif, and Plegridy. This column won’t get into the pros and cons of each of these treatments. Instead, I’d like to focus on one of the more common side effects associated with all forms of interferon treatment: Flu-like side effects. I prefer to call this my “interferon hangover.” I have spent a good portion of the day fending off a wanna-be migraine, a sure sign that I had not followed my injection day protocols!

Symptoms will vary among individuals, but my interferon hangover generally includes:

  • Headache – Not your average sort, but more of a “Who put the ice pick in my temple?” and “Why is that light so blindingly bright?!” and “Stop talking so loud!”
  • Fever/chills – You know, teeth chattering while you kick off the covers with trembling limbs and wonder if your skin might ignite the sheets.
  • Muscle aches – Such an inadequate title for the sensation that I have been kicked by a horse, followed by someone peeling the muscles off my bones. I always think of that scene in the X-Men movie when Wolverine’s bones turn to Adamantium.
  • Fatigue – Did I just nod off while going pee?
  • Uncomfortable sensations – My skin feels painful to the touch, even the softest T-shirt causes discomfort.

It may seem strange that I tolerate such side effects. I will admit I’ve had days when I just can’t do it. But my “medication adherence” improved greatly after switching from every other day Betaseron to the once-a-week Avonex seven years ago. I am now 13 years post-diagnosis and I think I am doing pretty well.

It is my belief that treatment with interferons plays a key role in my ability to work full-time and live an active life, albeit a slightly modified definition of “active.” My MRI’s show minimal change — a few new lesions, but also the disappearance of a few old lesions. Disease progression has caused mild foot-drop, slight difficulty with word-finding (worse when I’m tired) and increased spasticity. The paresthesias and fatigue are the same, neither better nor worse. I can still go dancing, hike with a friend, stay up too late, carry a baby, take a road trip (with my hand controls), travel, and learn new tricks!

The risk of serious side-effects from interferons is more acceptable to me than some of the other DMTs, and I take comfort in how long Avonex has been on the market. I will add that my “interferon hangover” was worse when I first started the injections. This is common, and if one can hang in there, it often improves. I also found that the lyophilized, or powdered, versions of these medications are what works for me. I mix them up myself on injection day. Pre-filled syringes contain preservatives that I react to and cause my hangover symptoms to increase exponentially.

Through trial and error, I discovered how to minimize interferon hangovers and the impact they have on my quality of life. You will have to find what works best for you, but here are some tips that have helped me through injection days.

  • Hydrate – It’s like preparing for a marathon. I drink a lot of water, coconut water, and herbal teas.
  • Fuel – Normally I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, but injection day is different. A big dinner with lots of protein and starch seems to minimize the flu-like feelings.
  • Medication – 500 milligrams acetaminophen and an extra Gabapentin usually do the trick. If needed, I add curcumin supplements or a second acetaminophen.
  • Rest – Injection night requires 8-10 hours of sleep. This lets me sleep through the worst of the side effects. A late afternoon nap the next day is not uncommon.
  • Scheduling – I do my shots on Sunday evenings and telework a partial day on Mondays. This lets me stay in my sweatpants if I’m not feeling well, and I have control over lighting and sounds.
  • Do Nots – Skipping alcohol and junk food the day of and day after my injection is critical. It seems wise to be extra kind to my liver while it processes the interferon. I also avoid extreme heat, cold, or too much activity.

While these protocols are not terribly complicated, I’m human and I don’t always follow them exactly. On those occasions, I pay for it. My headache this day is likely a direct result of getting only seven hours of sleep and not drinking enough water. The lack of sleep caused me to drink too much coffee (and finish off the dark-chocolate covered marshmallows) as my brain struggled to get through the work day. Neither of those things is helpful headache prevention.

Like all bad hangovers, an interferon hangover is likely to serve as a deterrent and remind me of what to do and not do in the weeks and shots to come.

Do you have any tricks for avoiding interferon side effects?

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.

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About the Author

Judy Lynn avatar
Judy Lynn Judy has been living with MS for 13 years. She remains amazed at the array of symptoms that this chronic degenerative disease of the nervous system may cause. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is reported to have said, "The only thing constant is change." Judy has found this to be particularly true living with MS. She will explore the varied MS symptoms and manifestations, and most importantly, the rainbow of creative adaptations, coping mechanisms, and remedies available for MS patients to try.

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interferon, multiple sclerosis, side effects

Comments

Roy avatar

Roy

Judy,
Good article about interferon hangovers.
I too take the the powdered form of Avonex and also found the pre-filled Avonex to cause more severe side effects and wondered why since they are the same dosage. The preservatives you mentioned sounds like a pretty good reason.
I pretty much get similar SE's as you do except I don't get fever/chills but do occasionally get muscle spasms. I only get them occasionally and are usually caused by lack of rest or heat. I take it in the evening to sleep thru the side effects if any for that week. Most time I no longer get any reacions ar all.
It is unlikely that Avonex causes any serious side effects. I have been taking it since June 96 (one month since it came to market) and have not experienced any serious problems.
I guess you could call me and Avonex Veteran.
- Roy

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Roy avatar

Roy

Judy,
Good article about interferon hangovers.
I too take the the powdered form of Avonex and also found the pre-filled Avonex to cause more severe side effects. I wondered why that is since they are the same dosage. The preservatives you mentioned sounds like a pretty good reason.
I pretty much get similar SE's as you do except I don't get fever/chills but do get muscle spasms. I only get them occasionally and are usually caused by lack of rest, heat, or stress. I take it in the evening to sleep thru the side effects if any for that week. Most of the time I no longer get any reacions ar all. It is unlikely that Avonex causes any serious side effects. I have been taking it since June 96 (one month since it came to market) and have not experienced any serious problems.

- Roy

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Judy Lynn avatar

Judy Lynn

Thanks for the comments, Ron. I had muscle spasms on shot night in the past, and like you found that heat could trigger them. I take a calcium/magnesium supplement to help with muscle spasms in general. That's great that your reactions don't happen most of the time! And even better to hear you've been on it so long without serious side effects- you are a veteran :-)

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Christina avatar

Christina

Nice article, Judy. I like your sense of humour. Helpful tips too! Thank you :)

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Judy Lynn avatar

Judy Lynn

Thank you, Christina! Humor is a wonderful coping mechanism :-)

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Jeri avatar

Jeri

I've been on Avonex since November 1998. What has helped the most is switching from Tylenol to Aleve, which lasts 12 hours instead of just 4. I used to take it on Friday evenings but it messed up most of Saturday when I needed to go to soccer games or basketball tournaments with my kids. I switched to early Sunday morning because I can go church, then come home after lunch and take a 2-hour nap. I overlap doses of Aleve, taking one dose right after the shot, another 5 hours later (early afternoon) and another in the evening, finishing with two Aleve PM before going to bed. If I follow this protocol, it cuts the achiness out. I still have a problem with waking up with a migraine the next morning, but two more Aleve and a dose of sumatriptan takes care of it and any residual achiness to get me through Monday. Thanks, Judy, for your tips.

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Tammy Morgan avatar

Tammy Morgan

Thank you for this article. I’ve been on Avonex for almost 3 years and it has worked but the avonex hangover. Oh my. Some weeks nothing. Others I get the chills, aches and headache. Headache can last 2 days. I’m going to try to monitor my shot day and see if some of your tips work for me. All the best to you.

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Judy Lynn avatar

Judy Lynn

I hope some of it helps you out, Tammy!

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Larry avatar

Larry

I have been on Avonex for 19 years. For more than five years the day after was unpleasant which mostly was aching. If someone touches my back it is extremely sensitive the day after the shot. It is difficult to tell if it hurts like when someone touches you on a badly sunburned area. I know that sounds weird about not being able to tell whether it hurts or feels good. . However, if my wife rubs my back gently for a while I realize it is a good sensation. If she continues for a few minutes I find the super sensitivity goes away. I have read that heat affects many with MS but on the day after I found if I had bad symptoms soaking in a really hot bath for an hour or so greatly helps though when I get out of the tub I am extremely tired and immediately go to the bed and collapse for an hour or so. Staying outside at beach for an entire day in the sun has never bothered me. What I found worked for me was to switch from Tylenol to Advil. I take three Advil before I take my shot which is right before I go to bed. If I forget to take the Advil I wake up about three hours later with aching and a fever so I get up and take three but it takes a while for the discomfort to alleviate enough for me to go back to sleep. The difference from switching to Advil before my shot was and has been remarkable. After about eight or so years the day after symptoms rarely happen or are very mild compared with before. At the time I was diagnosed with MS I was having multiple issues which included optic neuritis, weak legs, and when I was writing it would off and on turn to scribble for a several words then look normal which would go on and off in little bleeps. I had strange vibrations in my heels that would go 24 hours a day for weeks then go away then start up in my other heel but finally go away. The same was true with twitches mostly in my arms but sometimes under my eyes which might go on for days. Often when I talked it sounded to me like I was drunk but did not sound like that to others when I asked them if it did.I have been very fortunate. I do drag my feet a little, very little, which is seldom even noticed by anyone but the heels of my shoes are definite evidence. When it comes to taking my shot I count to ten but never get to ten.Sometimes I stick myself at two or three but never let myself get to ten because I feel I wold then make it 15, 20, 30...and maybe not even take my shot. I believe Avonex has been a big blessing in my life. I hope this helps someone.

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