Avonex (Interferon Beta-1A)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Avonex Used For?
Avonex is a prescription medication specifically designed to treat relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It belongs to a group of medicines called interferons, which naturally exist in your body to help fight infections and regulate immunity.
Primary Uses
Avonex is used to slow the progression of disability, reduce the number of relapses, and delay the onset of definite MS after an illness suggesting MS. It helps manage the symptoms of relapsing MS, where people experience periods of worsening symptoms followed by recovery periods.
How It Works
While the exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, Avonex is thought to work by decreasing the unwanted immune reaction against myelin (the protective covering around nerve fibers). In MS, your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks this myelin coating in your brain and spinal cord.
Good to know: The positive effects of Avonex are not seen immediately but occur with long-term treatment, so it’s important to continue your treatment as prescribed.
How to Take Avonex
Avonex is given as an injection into your muscle, usually in your thigh or upper arm. Many people with MS learn to give themselves the injection or have it given by a caregiver after proper training.
Dosage Instructions
The usual full dose is 30 micrograms once a week, given as a 0.5 mL injection. If you’re new to Avonex, your doctor may start you on a lower dose and gradually increase it over the first 3 weeks to minimize flu-like side effects. Remove the medication from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before injection to let it reach room temperature. Never use heat sources to warm it.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s less than 2 days before your next scheduled injection, skip the missed dose and take your next injection as planned. If it’s more than 2 days, take it as soon as you remember, then resume your regular weekly schedule. It’s important not to miss injections as this can affect your treatment success.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed injection, as this may increase your chance of side effects.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Flu-like symptoms (tiredness, muscle aches, shivering, fever)
- Headache
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Migraine
- Joint or muscle pain, stiffness, or spasms
- Dizziness, feeling faint
- Sleeplessness
- Soreness, redness, or bruising at injection site
- Loss of appetite
- Runny nose, coughing
- Increased sweating or flushing
- Rash
- Frequent urge to urinate with pain or burning
- Reduced sensitivity to touch
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Unusual confusion, anxiety, worsening depression, severe mood swings, or thoughts of suicide
- Seizures, fits, convulsions, or fainting
- Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Breathlessness, persistent coughing, swelling in hands, feet, or legs, or palpitations
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Hives or itchy skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Increased tiredness
- Swelling of face, lips, mouth, or throat causing difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Discharge from injection site or persistent pain, redness, swelling, or tissue destruction
- Signs of pulmonary arterial hypertension (difficulty breathing, increased tiredness)
Important Warnings
Before starting Avonex, it’s crucial to discuss your medical history and current health conditions with your doctor to ensure this medication is safe for you.
Who Should Not Take Avonex
Do not use Avonex if you have an allergy to interferon beta or any ingredients in the medication, if you have severe depression (especially with suicidal thoughts), if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or if the medication has expired or appears cloudy, discolored, or contains particles.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have or have had: depression or mood problems, seizures or convulsions, liver or kidney problems, heart problems, bleeding problems or frequent infections (which could indicate low blood counts), or if you bruise easily.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not use Avonex if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, as it may affect your baby’s development. If you become pregnant while on treatment, tell your doctor immediately. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, discuss with your doctor whether to use Avonex or breastfeed – you should not do both. Women of childbearing age should use birth control during treatment.
Depression Warning: Depression is common in people with MS and those using medicines like Avonex. Tell your doctor immediately if you feel depressed or have suicidal thoughts.
Drug Interactions
It’s important to tell your doctor about all medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter medicines, to avoid potentially harmful interactions.
Important: Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other medicine while using Avonex.
- Medicines used to treat epilepsy (prevent fits)
- Medicines used to treat depression
- Medicines that affect bone marrow, such as cancer treatments
Alcohol & Driving
Be cautious with alcohol consumption and activities requiring alertness while taking Avonex.
Alcohol
Be careful drinking alcohol while on Avonex treatment. Rarely, people treated with interferons have experienced serious liver problems, and while it’s not known if alcohol increases this risk, it’s possible. Discuss alcohol consumption with your doctor.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Avonex may cause dizziness or feeling faint. Be cautious when driving or operating machinery, especially when starting treatment or if you experience these side effects.
Storage
Keep Avonex in the sealed tray until ready to use and store in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C. If necessary, you can keep it out of the refrigerator for up to 7 days in a cool, dry place below 30°C. Do not freeze, use heat sources to warm it, or store in bathrooms or cars. Keep away from children and dispose of properly through your pharmacist.
Overdose Information
If you think you or someone else has used too much Avonex, immediately call the Australian Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) or New Zealand National Poisons Information Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), even if there are no symptoms. You may need urgent medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
The positive effects of Avonex are not seen immediately. They occur with long-term treatment, so it’s important to continue your treatment as prescribed by your doctor.
If it’s less than 2 days before your next injection, skip the missed dose. If it’s more than 2 days, take it as soon as you remember and resume your regular weekly schedule. Never take a double dose.
Be careful with alcohol while on Avonex. Rarely, people treated with interferons have experienced serious liver problems, and alcohol may increase this risk. Discuss alcohol consumption with your doctor.
Remove Avonex from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before injection to let it reach room temperature. Never use heat sources to warm it. Always inspect the solution – it should be clear and colourless or slightly yellow.
The most common side effect is flu-like symptoms including tiredness, muscle aches, shivering, and fever. Your doctor may advise gradually increasing your dose during the first 3 weeks to help reduce these symptoms.
No, do not use Avonex if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, as it may affect your baby’s development. If you become pregnant while on treatment, tell your doctor immediately.
Keep Avonex in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C in the sealed tray. You can keep it out of the refrigerator for up to 7 days in a cool, dry place below 30°C. Never freeze it or use heat to warm it.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.