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The Daily Insight

How much is AVONEX a month

Author

Emily Dawson

Published Apr 07, 2026

Drug Name (Manufacturer)DoseWalgreen’s1 month supplyAubagio (Genzyme)14MG (30)$4,757.19Avonex (Biogen Idec)Prefill 30MCG/0.5ML Kit$5,058.19Betaseron (Bayer)0.3MG INJ (14)$5,809.69

How long should you take AVONEX?

When you begin treatment, your doctor may start you on a low dose of Avonex. This helps to minimize flu-like symptoms that can be a side effect of the injections. The dose is gradually increased over 4 weeks to help your body get used to the medication.

What happens if I miss my AVONEX injection?

Missed Dose Avonex®: If you miss a dose, give it as soon as you can. Go back to your regular schedule the following week. Do not use this medicine 2 days in a row. Rebif®: If you miss a dose, give it as soon as you can.

Does AVONEX weaken the immune system?

This medicine does not suppress the immune system, and patients taking it do not have an increased risk of infection.

Does Avonex cause weight gain?

But in some cases, weight change can be a symptom of other side effects of Avonex. For example, if you develop heart failure due to Avonex, you may gain weight. Changes in your thyroid is another possible side effect of Avonex. And thyroid changes may cause weight gain or weight loss.

Can you drink on AVONEX?

Things to be careful of Be careful drinking alcohol while you are on treatment with AVONEX. Rarely, people treated with interferons including AVONEX, have experienced serious liver problems. It is not known whether this risk is increased by alcohol but it is possible.

Is there a generic for Avonex?

Avonex (interferon beta-1a) helps to decrease the number of multiple sclerosis attacks and to slow physical disability in people with relapsing forms of the disease. The medicine does not cure multiple sclerosis. Avonex is more popular than comparable drugs. There are currently no generic alternatives for Avonex.

Is AVONEX self administered?

Avonex is injected once a week using one of three methods. In one method, the Avonex Pen allows patients to self-administer their medication using a prefilled syringe with a small covered needle provides patients with the exact dose they need.

How is AVONEX administered?

AVONEX is injected into the muscle (intramuscularly). AVONEX should be injected into the thigh or upper arm (See Figures G and H). Change (rotate) your injection sites for each dose. Do not use the same injection site for each injection.

How long can Avonex be unrefrigerated?

Official Answer. Avonex may be kept unrefrigerated for up to 7 days as long as the room temperature is not more than 25°C (77°F).

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How effective is Avonex?

Help slow disability progression At the end of the 2-year clinical trial (Study 1), 78% of people taking AVONEX had no increase in disability, compared with 65% of people taking placebo. People taking AVONEX were 37% less likely to have increased disability at 2 years.

What class of drug is Avonex?

Avonex belongs to a class of drugs called Immunomodulators; Multiple Sclerosis Treatments.

How do you give interferon beta-1a?

Interferon beta-1a subcutaneous injection comes as a solution (liquid) in a prefilled syringe or a prefilled automatic injection device to inject subcutaneously (under the skin). It is usually injected three times a week.

What ingredients are in Avonex?

The active substance is: Interferon beta-1a 30 micrograms/0.5 ml The other ingredients are: Sodium acetate, trihydrate; acetic acid glacial, arginine hydrochloride, polysorbate 20 and water for injections. Each individual pack contains one Avonex Pen, one needle and one pen cover.

Is coffee bad for MS?

No significant association was found between coffee or caffeine intake and the risk of MS.

How long can you live with MS without treatment?

Treatments are available to help manage a number of symptoms. Life expectancy for people with MS has increased considerably in the last 20 to 25 years. On average, however, a person with MS can expect to live seven fewer years than someone without this disease.

Does Avonex make you tired?

SIDE EFFECTS: Pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Flu-like symptoms such as headache, fatigue, fever, chills, and muscle aches may occur when you first start this medication.

Is Avonex the same as Rebif?

Although Avonex and Rebif are similar and both contain interferon beta-1a, they aren’t interchangeable. They’re injected differently, dosed differently, and they have a different frequency or pattern of dosing.

Who manufactures Avonex?

Financial and Insurance Assistance | AVONEX® (interferon beta-1a) At Biogen, our goal is for everyone to get the support they need so they can afford their treatment.

Is Avonex good for MS?

Avonex helps to inhibit inflammation that can cause MS flare-ups. Avonex may help slow the progression of physical disability associated with Multiple sclerosis (MS) in people with MRI results that contain features consistent with MS lesions.

Can you drink alcohol while taking interferon?

Alcohol (Ethanol) interferon beta-1a Interferon beta-1a may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as ethanol may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications.

How do I get AVONEX prescribed?

To reduce the incidence and severity of flu-like symptoms that may occur when initiating AVONEX therapy at a dose of 30 micrograms, AVONEX may be started at a dose of 7.5 micrograms and the dose may be increased by 7.5 micrograms each week for the next three weeks until the recommended dose of 30 micrograms is achieved …

How do you dispose of AVONEX Pens?

AVONEX, throw away the AVONEX PEN in a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container and call your healthcare provider. Do not re-use the AVONEX PEN.

How is AVONEX supplied?

30 mcg Lyophilized Powder Vial A vial of AVONEX® is formulated as a sterile, white to off-white lyophilized powder for intramuscular injection after reconstitution with supplied diluent (Sterile Water for Injection, USP).

Does Avonex contain peg?

PEG-IFNs for the treatment of MS Distributed Avonex and Rebif contain a relatively small 166 amino acid single-chain glycoprotein of 22.5 kDa, which offers a relatively small half-life of 10 hours.

How do you give a Copaxone injection?

  1. Ready to begin? …
  2. Apply a warm compress to the injection site (with a cloth barrier between the warm compress and bare skin) for 5 minutes to help relax the tissue before cleaning the site and injecting.
  3. Next, follow proper injection technique.

What is dimethyl fumarate used for?

Dimethyl fumarate is used to treat the relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease. This medicine will not cure MS, but it may slow some disabling effects and decrease the number of relapses of the disease.

Does Kesimpta have to be refrigerated?

*KESIMPTA Sensoready pens must be refrigerated at 2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF). Keep product in the original carton to protect from light until the time of use. Do not freeze.

Can Interferon be frozen?

Do not freeze interferon beta-1a, and throw away the medicine if it has become frozen. Each vial, syringe, or autoinjector is for one use only. Throw it away after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.

Does interferon need to be refrigerated?

How do I store interferon alfa? Store the compounded liquid forms of this medication according to the label. It is usually refrigerated.

How much does AVONEX cost in the UK?

Active ingredientsSizeNHS indicative priceInterferon beta-1a 12 mega unit per 1 ml4£654.0012£1962.00