Interferon beta-1a User Reviews & Ratings

• hst...
• July 25, 2013

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed in Nov 2006. Avonex did not work, so early in 2007, I started on Rebif. Six years, no relapses. I would get very bad headaches on the two-day stretch with no Rebif. I made the mistake of stopping my Rebif for about six months, and I had a relapse. Face is numb, and legs and feet tingly. I regret stopping for the six months. I should have called MS Lifelines and figured out how to manage the headaches. Regardless, I am back on Rebif and will gladly suffer a headache if I don't suffer any more relapses. If the going's good... don't quit!"

• Avo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 17, 2013

For Multiple Sclerosis "Avonex has been a Godsend to me. I was diagnosed in '95 after experiencing several bad attacks, one of which required hospitalization. Started Avonex in June '96, one month after it came to market. Got some side effects early on (mainly fatigue), but they soon went away. I no longer have any side effects, don't even premedicate. The injections are little more than a minor inconvenience. More importantly, I have remained stable with no attacks. I did experience some fatigue when starting to use the prefilled syringe. I quickly went back to the original powdered form and remain on it to this day. I probably could have adjusted to the prefilled syringe but choose not to do so. I expect to continue with the Avonex injections unless it stops working, I develop bad side effects, or a cure is found. All unlikely scenarios at this point. I expect to be on it for life."

• joe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 21, 2012

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was on it for 18 months. It was like taking a shot of the flu every week. The side effects never got better. After massive amounts of research, I finally went to supplements, healthy eating, mindfulness, taking toxins out of my daily life, exercise, and of course, prayer. I still live with my MS symptoms, but I will work out at the gym, I will ride my bike 100 miles this week, and continue working productively. Don't ever give up!"

• DRE...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 22, 2015

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been on Rebif 44 mg for 3 years now ever since I was diagnosed. I do my injections at bedtime with a little bit of ibuprofen. I have no family history of MS. When I was diagnosed, I was in denial, disbelief, and very angry. Why me?!! I have so much left I want to do... The side effects I experienced are fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, and next-day dizziness, which were severe for the first year, but no more attacks. Now I experience general fatigue the day after the shot until about noon. I wake up feeling very hot sometimes. The good news is since being on Rebif, only one new lesion has been stopped with steroids. And I have come to terms with the question of why me, to what am I supposed to learn from this. You can live with this and live well."

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2014

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was initially terrified about the injections, but from my first onwards, they have proved to be no trial at all. The delivery method is amazing. I never thought I'd say this, but I even look forward to them, knowing that I'm doing something to help myself. I now truly believe that Avonex is helping. My symptoms have lessened since starting it only three months ago. I hope things continue this way and also hope everyone out there with Multiple Sclerosis finds a similarly effective treatment."

• Mar...
• July 9, 2013

For Multiple Sclerosis "I am a 31-year-old male, 200 lbs, and was diagnosed with RR Multiple Sclerosis in Feb. 2012. After losing sight in one eye and some steroid treatment, my vision returned, however, the color is still a little off. My neurologist put me on Rebif immediately. Since I have been on Rebif, I have not experienced any major relapses. Just some tremors now and then and other minor symptoms that may just be permanent nerve damage. I take the 44 mcg dose at bedtime with 400 mg of ibuprofen, it seems to help me sleep through the night. I do get headaches often, but the ibuprofen seems to help (not eliminate them). I also get flu symptoms sometimes the day after I take a shot, but not always. My liver enzymes are slightly elevated, but nothing to worry about. Thank you, Rebif."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 11, 2012

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been taking Avonex for close to 16 years, and my biggest fear in the world is losing access to it. I started on Betaseron but had to stop because of injection site reactions and severe flu symptoms. I had been through everything: complete invalidity, lying in a hospital bed to basically healthy, with no noticeable symptoms at all. But since being on the Avonex, I have only very minor exacerbations, less than one per year. In the last 10+ years, I have not missed any work or canceled any vacations for MS issues. My only problem is the cost."

• Anonymous
• June 28, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been an MS patient since I was 17. I am 29 now. I have been using Avonex for 10 years now and am so happy with the results. I take it before I go to bed at night on the weekend. I also take a couple of Tylenol with codeine (#1) and usually only have a slight headache when I wake up in the morning. I do get a lot of migraines, but who knows if that has anything to do with the medication or the fact that I have Multiple Sclerosis. Avonex has worked wonders for me. I usually only have an MS attack on average every 3 to 4 years, and they aren't usually that severe. I have relapsing and remitting MS. I would recommend Avonex to anyone who is newly diagnosed. It has changed my life."

• TiB...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 2, 2018

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2006. I was nearly immediately put on Rebif. The worst reaction I have ever had are site reactions. I have learned to manage those by massaging the injection site before and after each injection. Ice helps if it is stinging after the injection, heat if it is aching. I had a pretty severe relapse in 2015, my new neuro put me on Tecfidera, which was awful. I would (exactly) 1 hour after taking the medication in the morning throw up for 1 hour (exactly), the flushing was miserable. I would flush so hard I would look nearly purple. I had so many physical issues, weight gain, etc. Not to mention I had low levels of JC virus and was still put on Tecfidera (that combination causes a brain infection). In 2017 I started seeing another new neuro. His first order of business was taking me off of Tecfidera for 1 month and starting me back on Rebif. I have had no issues since. I feel like I am human (with standard MS issues)."

• Nur...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 29, 2014

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been on Avonex for about 5 years and have had no relapses. Have had Multiple Sclerosis for 14 years. Great to have 1 injection a week rather than 3 with Rebif, which I was on before or Copaxone every day. The only drawback is the headache and tiredness felt the day after. These symptoms have not improved at all for 5 years. Starting to have spasm attacks at night recently, so might change to another medicine. Very effective medicine, though, never had any relapses, and that's the most important thing!"

• Pam...
• October 26, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "I recommend Avonex 100%. I have had MS for 8 years, and since then, I have had no new lesions or episodes. The flu-like symptoms were bad for the first 3 or 4 years but have since basically disappeared. Occasionally, I will have headaches the morning after the shot. Hope this helps you in your decision to choose Avonex."

• Anonymous
• February 14, 2012

For Multiple Sclerosis "First off, I was diagnosed with MS about a year ago, after having many relapses in a 6-month period. I was put on Rebif, and after that, I have not seen one more problem. It has given me a wonderful peace of mind. Second, I know there is a long list of side effects, however, I have not had one, so I take my shot anytime during the day. Third, my insurance is through Pfizer, which is the co-producer of this drug, so therefore I don't pay a penny out of pocket for this drug. Honestly, thank God for this remarkable drug!"

• Nhl...
• September 13, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "I just started this medication. With each injection, the side effects have gotten worse. I did my 3rd dose last night, and I'm miserable. The body/muscle aches, headaches, etc. are about unbearable. Each time, I took two 500 mg Tylenol before my injection as recommended by my training nurse. I was told about the flu-like symptoms, read the booklet my neuro gave me, but I thought the symptoms would subside at least halfway through the next day. I am so pained. I keep taking Tylenol and even my muscle relaxer, hoping for relief. But nothing seems to help. I called into Biogen after my 2nd dose. No help. Copaxone gave me bad brain fog and injection site reactions. Tecfidera kept me in the bathroom in unbelievable pain. Not sure what to do now."

• Eug...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 17, 2012

For Multiple Sclerosis "I started Avonex about 6 months after diagnosis. I got terribly sick after injecting. It was like coming down with the flu once a week. I felt feverish and painfully achy. I took naproxen, and that helped. Later on, I asked my neurologist for Vicodin to help out with the achy pain. Together, the medicines helped the side effects. I never miss a week, and as I injected more and more, the side effects have lessened to the point that with Vicodin I can work well on my injection days. I cannot sleep through the night on an injection. I sleep poorly and wake up in pain several times. I have not had a relapse in five years on Avonex, though my balance and leg have slowly worsened somewhat. I still work my feet full time."

• hwa...
• February 21, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with MS in 07/2009 and started this medication in 11/2009. I was titrated up to 22 mg and then titrated up to the 44 mg within 4 months of starting medicines. I got an emergency phone call from the neuro office after routine blood work came back telling me to immediately move back down to 22 mg dose. I had elevated liver enzymes for an entire year on this medication. Finally, the levels dropped to normal range. Four months after the liver enzymes normalized, I stopped having the flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, general unwell feeling). I take a naproxen about an hour before each shot. I still get site reactions and some bruising at the injection site (and burning when the medicine is going in). I use the RebiSmart Injector."

• Tuc...
• January 24, 2012

For Multiple Sclerosis "Extremely blessed to have insurance coverage for this medicine. I have multiple sclerosis and am 29 years old. I have been sick for about 3 years now, which was about 6 months after the birth of my first and only child. My prior conditions are mostly autoimmune, ranging from cardiomyopathy to Crohn's disease. My disabilities from multiple sclerosis include right leg/foot drop or weakness, numbness, urinary issues, balance issues, severe nerve pain, etc. I have been on Rebif for a month and have titrated up to the highest level of 44 mcg. I have extreme fatigue, bruising at the injection site, and flu-like symptoms, but I have noticed the longer I have been on it, the better my worst days are. So I am praying this will work."

• Anonymous
• May 17, 2009

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have taken Rebif; it has worked so well, and I have had so few side effects that there's been no reason to try out the other disease modifiers. When on a consistent dosage schedule, I never experienced a relapse. The needle is really small. I rarely use my injector anymore - just stab and go. I take it at night to sleep through any effects. I was warned very seriously about the possible side effects, but the worst that I ever have is a slight fever the morning after an injection and/or the beginnings of a headache that I nip in the bud with migraine medicine."

• Anonymous
• April 7, 2008

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been using it for 7 years and have not had an episode since. I have a very mild case, but my diagnosis was more than 15 years ago, so I was concerned about the secondary progressive symptoms of MS...none to report to date. I have found with the flu-like side effects that if I take the shot about 2 hours before bed and sleep for 6 hours without interruption, then I do not suffer from any side effects. The side effects are not as severe as in the beginning, they are just aching joints that are irritating, not 'painful.'"

• You...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 21, 2016

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have been taking Avonex for over ten years now. I always take it at room temperature, one hour before bed and on Saturday nights so I can relax the next day. I only had flu-like symptoms when I first started taking it or if I missed a couple of weeks. I take two Motrin when going to bed and never have any issues sleeping. I have had MS for over 20 years now and have found Avonex to work best for me. I have one or two pseudo-exacerbations each year but have had no major flares for years now, knocking on wood..."

• Fee...
• February 11, 2017

For Multiple Sclerosis "I am sorry to hear of those of you for whom Avonex hasn't worked. Either I am in a minority or just lucky with how it has helped me. I have been on Avonex for almost nine years, and the first month was a challenge ... shivers and aches shortly after my injections. Ever since, however, it has only been a minor inconvenience. I take two Advil an hour before my shot and only experience what I call a bit of a 'funk' 24 hours later, other than that, it is a breeze, thank goodness! My biggest challenge was the 1-1/4 inch needles, so I changed to 1 inch. Much less daunting! I have never missed a shot in almost nine years and don't plan to miss one going forward. Best to all of us MSers!"

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2010

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with MS almost a year and a half ago. I was on Avonex, but symptoms seemed to worsen, so my doctor switched me to Rebif. I wish I had taken this medication from the beginning! I love, love, love this injection! I have been on Rebif for almost a month now and can already tell a difference. I have not had any symptoms in 4 days! Which is really good for me because I always have symptoms every day. I recommend this to everyone! I have had no side effects, but headache. It's been great for me. No injection irritations at all."

• Ste...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 16, 2020

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with RRMS in 2011 and have been taking Avonex since (the pen kit for the past five years). At the time of diagnosis, I was having severe electrical sensations from my neck all the way to my toes when my neck was flexed downward (Lhermitte's sign). My other symptom was numbness in my fingers and toes. After my first month on Avonex, the electrical sensations stopped, as did the numbness. The only symptom I feel now is very slight occasional vibrating/tingling from my neck sometimes for short periods, and chronic fatigue, which I have learned to manage well. I used to get the flu-like symptoms from Avonex 3-4 times per year, but have not had any symptoms from Avonex in several years. My neurologist said I have had no new lesions or disease progression over the past 9 years. And Biogen covers my $120 copay every 28 days. I am very thankful for Avonex!"

• Jus...
• June 10, 2015

For Multiple Sclerosis "I am 21 years old and was diagnosed with MS in 2009. I began Rebif 44 mcg in March 2015, and unfortunately, I have experienced most, if not all, of the side effects: fevers, flu, chills, numbness, joint pains, headaches, bruising, nausea, vision issues, bladder issues, etc. I am hoping this drug is for me because I really don't want to have to start over with another one. The injections started off with severe pains, so much so that I am unable to walk after an injection for the rest of the day. But as time passed, it is evident that my worst days have gotten better. No relapses so far. I'm hoping these side effects don't stay..."

• ASY...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 3, 2013

For Multiple Sclerosis "Diagnosed in 1999 and was placed on Rebif since 2004. Never had any other meds. Overall, Rebif was good for me. I had 3 years with a minor relapse in each year (but did steroid treatment to resolve), and then I had no relapses. I must admit that I would skip at least 2 times a year and give myself a Rebif holiday-a week of not taking Rebif (I don't recommend this!). I would always let my doctor know. Despite my success, I stopped in 10/2012 because Rebif never let me feel like myself and I was ALWAYS tired and sluggish. Unfortunately, in 3/2013 I had a terrible relapse that landed me in the hospital for a few days. My neuro said it was aggressive and wants me on Tysabri now."

• Anonymous
• September 5, 2008

For Multiple Sclerosis "I have had no relapses since I have been on Rebif. I did not experience the sick feeling, thank God. I do not like the sting, which can vary from none to a bee sting feeling. Also, the mark that it leaves. I use my butt so they cannot be seen."