Congratulations on your healthy diet! That was one of the "awards" I gave myself too after my diagnosis.

I use Avonex, but not the powder form. I had my seventh injection Friday night. I still have side effects, but they are nothing compared to the first two weeks. I get fever, chills, aches, and headache. Since the third shot I've been able to sleep through them, although I do have headaches for the rest of the weekend. It's getting a little easier every week.

I take an aleve before my shot. It's supposed to last 12 hours. I take another one in the morning for the headaches. I also drink a ton of gatorade the day of my shot. I noticed that the more hydrated I am, the less the side effects bother me. I have never experienced any stomach upset from Avonex. I usually slip on my healthy diet and eat a big mac before each shot. It makes me happy, I guess! But I would assume it would be best not to be hungry when you do the injection.

Good Luck! The side effects really do get easier. Best wishes!

Hi!

I used Avonex for several years and was perfectly miserable. Besides that, I couldn't help but think that anything that made me feel so rotten had to be bad for me.

I switched to Copaxone when my neuro told me about the great test results it was getting. I have never been so happy with a decision. The shot feels like a small bee sting and in 15 minutes you're good to go (vs. 3-4 days feeling like I had the flu - every week). With respect to the possible breathing problem, the lady who showed me how to use the medication told me a friend of hers (a nurse) had a problem once and kept her wits enough to realize that her breathing was getting better every minute so she waited and was fine.

I don't know that I'd be as cool. I've used Copaxone over 2 years and never had a problem.

I hope this helps you in your decision-making; I know how hard it is.

Good luck!

[QUOTE=jlbrow7;3368652]Hi!

I used Avonex for several years and was perfectly miserable. Besides that, I couldn't help but think that anything that made me feel so rotten had to be bad for me.

I switched to Copaxone when my neuro told me about the great test results it was getting. I have never been so happy with a decision. The shot feels like a small bee sting and in 15 minutes you're good to go (vs. 3-4 days feeling like I had the flu - every week). With respect to the possible breathing problem, the lady who showed me how to use the medication told me a friend of hers (a nurse) had a problem once and kept her wits enough to realize that her breathing was getting better every minute so she waited and was fine.

I don't know that I'd be as cool. I've used Copaxone over 2 years and never had a problem.

I hope this helps you in your decision-making; I know how hard it is.

Good luck!


It's me again. I just want to add that I've never taken even a Tylenol with Copaxone. With Avonex I took Aleve, Advil, whatever I could to help me get through it.

I was on both of these medications at different times. Right now I've been off medication for nearly a year. Since my New Year's resolution is to take better care of my MS and quit sticking my head in the sand, I will probably go back to the Avonex.

Yes, on the pre-filled I had the flu syptoms EVERY week, so I'd choose the powdered (which was WAY better for me -- I got over the side effects in just a few months). And drinking lots of fluids the day before and the day of the shot really DOES help.

Copaxone started out great, but after 3 or 4 months, the site reactions just wouldn't go away and I had lumps and red, sore spots EVERYWHERE for all time! If I got bumped or if I accidentially touched the spot... well. So. That just isn't for me. Everyone is different.