Snapshot of Avonex® (Interferon beta-1a)
| Avonex®: Descriptives1 |
| Method of administration |
Intramuscular (into the muscle) injection |
| Indication |
For the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of
multiple sclerosis to slow the accumulation of physical disability and decrease
the frequency of clinical exacerbations |
| Needle size |
1 ¼" length
1" needle available by prescription only |
| Delivery Information |
Lyophilized powder vials or prefilled syringes. Lyophilized powder vials require
reconstitution (mixing) and filling syringes before injection. |
| Injection aids(s) |
None |
|
Pregnancy category |
Category C1 (when administered to pregnant animals,
there was some harm to the fetus)2 |
| Black box warning |
No |
| Avonex®: Common side effects/reactions1 |
| Clinically significant difference in flu-like symptoms when compared to placebo (an inactive substance) |
Yes |
| Fatigue/Malaise (bodily discomfort) increased while on therapy |
Yes |
| Warning for use in people with depression |
Yes |
| Warning for use in people with suicidal thoughts |
Yes |
| Warning or precaution for liver impairment |
Yes |
| Recommended monitoring of liver function or complete blood count |
Yes |
| Associated with localized site reactions |
No |
| Associated with neutralizing antibodies (proteins produced by the body that may decrease the effectiveness of therapy) |
Yes |
Additional important information about Avonex®3
Avonex® can cause serious side effects, so before you start taking Avonex®, you should talk with your doctor about the possible benefits of Avonex® and its possible side effects to decide if Avonex® is right for you.
Sometimes interferons, including Avonex®, make people feel sad. If you are taking Avonex®, and feel unusually sad, you should tell a family member or friend right away and call your doctor as soon as possible.
Your liver may be affected by taking Avonex® and a few patients have developed severe liver injury. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to make sure that your liver is working properly. If your skin or the whites of your eyes become yellow or if you are bruising easily you should call your doctor immediately.
Some people have had severe allergic reactions, a drop in their red or white blood cell levels, heart problems, changes in their thyroid function, or seizures.
Avonex® has not been studied in pregnant women. If you become pregnant while taking Avonex®, you should stop taking Avonex® immediately, tell your doctor, and consider enrolling in the Avonex® Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-800-456-2255.
Most people who take Avonex® have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sweating, muscle aches, and tiredness) early during the course of therapy. For many people, these symptoms lessen or go away over time. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms continue longer than the first few months of therapy, or if they are difficult to manage.