Thanks for joining us in our forums. I was in the original Phase 3 clinical trial of Avonex back in the late 1990s and was then treated with it for about 7 years. I developed needle fatigue, wound up having my wife give me the shots and eventually changed DMTs to Tysabri, which was an easy treatment and much more effective than Avonex. I then moved to Aubagio and, finally, Lemtrada.
Avonex is a very old medication and one of the least effective of the 20+ disease-modifying therapies now available in the US. Rather than stopping your med completely, I’d have a discussion with your neuro about what other DMT might be appropriate for you.
My philosophy, and that of many of the top MS neuros, is hit it hard – hit it fast with the most effective treatment possible. I’d suggest you raise the issue on one of our forum topic areas, e.g. “MS Medications,” since what you write in your bio isn’t seen by anyone other than the forum administrators. Please let me know if you need any help.
Hi Deb,
Thanks for joining us in our forums. I was in the original Phase 3 clinical trial of Avonex back in the late 1990s and was then treated with it for about 7 years. I developed needle fatigue, wound up having my wife give me the shots and eventually changed DMTs to Tysabri, which was an easy treatment and much more effective than Avonex. I then moved to Aubagio and, finally, Lemtrada.
Avonex is a very old medication and one of the least effective of the 20+ disease-modifying therapies now available in the US. Rather than stopping your med completely, I’d have a discussion with your neuro about what other DMT might be appropriate for you.
My philosophy, and that of many of the top MS neuros, is hit it hard – hit it fast with the most effective treatment possible. I’d suggest you raise the issue on one of our forum topic areas, e.g. “MS Medications,” since what you write in your bio isn’t seen by anyone other than the forum administrators. Please let me know if you need any help.
Ed