Last Saturday, I was speaking with my sister-in-law about MS. Her daughter has it and she lives in the Chicago, IL area.
Her daughter recently had a relapse and naturally, my sister-in-law is a concerned parent. She described some of the issues that her daughter is having and said she's taking the shot that you take once a week.
Avonex is the only medication that's taken once a week. I take Rebif and you take that three times a week.
Both medications are interferon beta-1a, but there are some differences between the two....they are:
1) As I mentioned, Avonex is taken once a week and Rebif is taken three times a week.
2) The relapse rate is slightly less with Rebif as compared to Avonex.
3) Side effects are more common with Rebif than with Avonex.
4) Rebif is more costly than Avonex
5) Rebif does not require refrigeration
6) Rebif is given subcutaneously or under the skin (with a thinner needle 1/2 inch)and Avonex is given intramuscularly or in the muscle (with a thicker needle 1 1/4 inch).
7) Auto-injector (rebiject) is used to inject the Rebif shot, where you manually inject the Avonex medication.
8) Rebif is 44 mcg 3 times a week (high dose); Avonex is 30 mcg once a week (low dose).
My sister-in-law said she was going to speak with her daughter about looking into Rebif and to discuss with her doctor.
I've only used Rebif as my medication of choice, but overall, I would say that it's the better medication between the two...it works for me and that's my personal opinion!
Her daughter recently had a relapse and naturally, my sister-in-law is a concerned parent. She described some of the issues that her daughter is having and said she's taking the shot that you take once a week.
Avonex is the only medication that's taken once a week. I take Rebif and you take that three times a week.
Both medications are interferon beta-1a, but there are some differences between the two....they are:
1) As I mentioned, Avonex is taken once a week and Rebif is taken three times a week.
2) The relapse rate is slightly less with Rebif as compared to Avonex.
3) Side effects are more common with Rebif than with Avonex.
4) Rebif is more costly than Avonex
5) Rebif does not require refrigeration
6) Rebif is given subcutaneously or under the skin (with a thinner needle 1/2 inch)and Avonex is given intramuscularly or in the muscle (with a thicker needle 1 1/4 inch).
7) Auto-injector (rebiject) is used to inject the Rebif shot, where you manually inject the Avonex medication.
8) Rebif is 44 mcg 3 times a week (high dose); Avonex is 30 mcg once a week (low dose).
My sister-in-law said she was going to speak with her daughter about looking into Rebif and to discuss with her doctor.
I've only used Rebif as my medication of choice, but overall, I would say that it's the better medication between the two...it works for me and that's my personal opinion!