Brain & Nervous System Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Avonex for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment This injectable drug is used for early-stage MS By Julie Stachowiak, PhD facebook Julie Stachowiak, PhD, is the author of the Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto, the winner of the 2009 ForeWord Book of the Year Award, Health Category. Learn about our editorial process Julie Stachowiak, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Nicholas R. Metrus, MD on January 07, 2020 linkedin Nicholas R. Metrus, MD, is board-certified in neurology and neuro-oncology. He currently works at the Glasser Brain Tumor Center with Atlantic Health System in Summit, New Jersey. Learn about our Medical Review Board Nicholas R. Metrus, MD on January 07, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Indication How It Works Effectiveness Dosing Side Effects Contraindications Cost Avonex (interferon beta-1a) is one of the disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). It is administered as a weekly injection that you can learn to give to yourself. The drug, like other DMTs, is used to prevent MS exacerbations and to prevent disease progression. Avonex is not used for the treatment of acute MS relapses. PhotoAlto/Michele Constantini/ Getty Images Indication Avonex is one of the interferons, a category of MS DMTs that is effective and relatively safe. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 for use in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Avonex is also approved for those who experience one episode that meets the criteria of an MS attack but who have not been diagnosed with the disease. Avonex has been found to be more effective in reducing MS-associated disability when the medication is started earlier in the course of the disease. Avonex is often chosen as a first-line MS therapy because it only requires one injection per week; other DMTs may require between three to seven injections per week. This makes Avonex a convenient choice for people who are working full-time, are caring for small children, or don't want to experience too much downtime from side effects. How It Works Avonex modulates the immune system by interacting with proteins that are involved in the body's immune responses, such as interleukins and growth factor. It may also have other effects and is believed to work in a way that is similar to the other interferons. Effectiveness All of the interferons (Copaxone, Rebif, Avonex, Betaseron) reduce the risk of relapses in people with RRMS by about a third. Newer agents are usually studied in comparison to the benchmarks set by interferons when it comes to efficacy, and interferons tend to be safer than many other MS medications. Dosing Avonex is taken at a dose of 30 micrograms (mcg) per week. It is administered as an intramuscular (IM) injection, usually into a thigh muscle. Ideally, injections should be taken on the same day every week, although they can be as close as five days or as long as 10 days apart if needed. If you've been prescribed Avonex and absolutely can't give yourself an injection successfully, you can schedule office visits to have someone on your healthcare team inject the medication for you. Alternatively, ask a loved one to learn how to administer the shot. How to Give an IM Injection Side Effects The side effects of Avonex are similar to other interferon-based therapies and can often manifest as flu-like symptoms, including: FeverChillsSweatingMuscle AchesFatigue As many as 61 percent of people taking Avonex will experience these symptoms, which can last between 24 and 36 hours (on average). Many of the flu-like side effects subside over time, although they may last for six months or more. While Avonex is considered a safe DMT, Avonex can lead to liver damage or liver failure. Depression, suicide, and psychotic disorders have also been reported. Contraindications Avonex is not appropriate for everyone. Contraindications include: Pre-existing liver disease or cirrhosisPregnancy (or active planning to conceive)Breastfeeding (while on the drug or soon after its cessation)Seizure disordersCardiac problems Cost Avonex's average retail price range in 2019 is around $7,200 per month (approximately $86,400 per year). Many health insurance plans cover part of the cost of treatment, and copay and out-of-pocket costs can vary. There is no generic version of this medication. Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are available to assist with drug reimbursement or copay assistance. For more information, contact Biogen (the drug's manufacturer) at 800-456-2255, or visit AboveMS.com for more information. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get tips and advice on how you can live a full and happy life with MS. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Balasa R, Maier S, Voidazan S, Hutanu A, Bajko Z, Motataianu A.An Intricate Mechanism of Action of Avonex in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Variation of Serum Titre of Interleukin-17A, Interleukin-10 and Transforming Growth Factor-β.CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2015;14(6):804-10. FDA.gov Avonex (interferon beta 1-a) prescribing information. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/103628s5189lbl.pdf Zecca C, Pavelek Z, Přikrylová K, Ghielmetti M, Beeler A, Gobbi C.Tolerability, treatment satisfaction and quality of life outcomes in stable multiple sclerosispatients switched from injectable therapies to auto injected intramuscular interferon beta 1a: The SFERA study.Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2019 May;30:104-109. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2019.02.010. Epub 2019 Feb 6.