One of the most common ways to manage your MS is by taking an injectable therapy. There are several types of injection therapies designed to help reduce the frequency of relapses — some even slow disability progression. While all of these MS treatments are given by injection, they are administered differently — either into the muscle or under the skin.
Intramuscular (IM) Injection for Multiple Sclerosis
An IM injection is given directly into the muscle tissue of the body, such as the thigh or upper arm. People taking IM injections for MS report few injection-site reactions.
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A common assumption about IM injections is that they will be more painful because they use longer needles than injections under the skin, but the level of discomfort may be similar with both. Injection pain is caused by the high density of nerves at the skin surface, which all injections pass through.
IM injection pain can also be reduced by allowing the medication to come to room temperature before administering, and by icing the injection site before and after injection.
AVONEX, a once-a-week MS medication, is approved by the FDA to treat relapsing forms of MS, to decrease the number of relapses, and slow the progression of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS. AVONEX is approved for use as early as after a first attack when lesions consistent with MS are present on an MRI.
AVONEX can help you stay active and able longer.
Slows down progression of physical disability
Protects against flare-ups
Reduced brain lesions and rate of brain shrinkage
Easy to start on and stay on
Simple and convenient once-a-week dosing
Unlimited $10/month copay program
Access to a full network of personal support services
Common Side Effects with AVONEX® Injection Treatment
Some people may be able to deal with certain side effects better than others. The most common side effects of AVONEX are:
Flu-like symptoms
Fever
Chills
Sweating
Muscle aches
Tiredness
This is only a partial list of possible treatment side effects. Please refer to the AVONEX Patient Medication Guide for a full list. Always talk to your healthcare provider about any questions you may have about side effects.
If you experience any new or worsening side effects it is important to speak with your healthcare provider.
Information referenced on 5/2/2011 from AVONEX.com
No conclusions regarding comparative safety or efficacy of products can be drawn based on this information.
Some simple strategies that have helped patients better manage their symptoms are:
Staying well-hydrated.
Taking over-the-counter medicine for pain and fever-reduction.
Administering injections at night to sleep through any potential side effects.
Scheduling your injections over the weekend.
Subcutaneous MS Injection
Subcutaneous, or under-the-skin, injections use a needle to deliver medications into tissue just under the skin. A common side effect associated with subcutaneous injections is injection-site reaction such as swelling, redness, and pain.
Subcutaneous Treatments
BETASERON is approved to decrease the number of relapses and for use in people who have experienced a first attack and have lesions consistent with MS on their MRI.
Common Side Effects with BETASERON® Injection Treatment
Gradual dose titration and use of analgesics during treatment initiation may help reduce flu-like symptoms.
If you experience any new or worsening side effects it is important to speak with your healthcare provider.
Information referenced on 5/2/2011 from BETASERON.com
No conclusions regarding comparative safety or efficacy of products can be drawn based on this information.
If you experience injection-site reactions such as swelling, redness, and pain, you might try:
Rotating your injection site.
Leaving a healthy amount of room between your injection sites.
Placing something cold on the injection site before and after injection.
Avoiding using perfumes or creams near the injection site.
Washing your hands and the injection site with soap before injection.
COPAXONE is indicated for the reduction of the frequency of relapses in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, including patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis.
Some Side Effects with COPAXONE® Injection Treatment
If you experience any new or worsening side effects it is important to speak with your healthcare provider.
Information referenced on 5/2/2011 from COPAXONE.com
No conclusions regarding comparative safety or efficacy of products can be drawn based on this information.
Lipoatrophy photo courtesy: Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences,
Volume: 31, No. 1, February 2004, Page: 61
If you experience injection-site reactions such as swelling, redness, and pain, you might try:
Rotating your injection site.
Leaving a healthy amount of room between your injection sites.
Placing something cold on the injection site before and after injection.
Avoiding using perfumes or creams near the injection site.
Washing your hands and the injection site with soap before injection.
EXTAVIA is an interferon beta indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis.
Common Side Effects with EXTAVIA® Injection Treatment
If you experience any new or worsening side effects it is important to speak with your healthcare provider.
Information referenced on 5/2/2011 from EXTAVIA.com
No conclusions regarding comparative safety or efficacy of products can be drawn based on this information.
If you experience injection-site reactions such as swelling, redness, and pain, you might try:
Rotating your injection site.
Leaving a healthy amount of room between your injection sites.
Placing something cold on the injection site before and after injection.
Avoiding using perfumes or creams near the injection site.
Washing your hands and the injection site with soap before injection.
REBIF is approved to decrease the number of relapses of the disease and slow down the occurrence of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS.
Common Side Effects with REBIF® Injection Treatment
Let your doctor know if you have any of these symptoms or feel sad, tired, hot or cold, or experience hives, rashes, bruising, yellowing of the skin, or a change in body weight (gain or loss).
If you experience any new or worsening side effects it is important to speak with your healthcare provider.
Information referenced on 5/2/2011 from REBIF.com
No conclusions regarding comparative safety or efficacy of products can be drawn based on this information.
If you experience injection-site reactions such as swelling, redness, and pain, you might try:
Rotating your injection site.
Leaving a healthy amount of room between your injection sites.
Placing something cold on the injection site before and after injection.
Avoiding using perfumes or creams near the injection site.
Washing your hands and the injection site with soap before injection.
Low numbers of a certain kind of white blood cell
General weakness
A permanent indentation under the skin at the injection site due to a local destruction of fat tissue
Low numbers of a certain kind of white blood cell
An abnormally low number of white blood cells in the circulating blood
Difficulty in breathing
Muscular pain or tenderness
Bleeding from the uterus that is not associated with menstruation
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the arms or legs
A vague feeling of bodily discomfort
Low numbers of a certain kind of white blood cell
An abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes
High blood pressure
Extreme tension of the muscles or arteries
General weakness
Localized tissue death that occurs in groups of cells in response to injection injury
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