Avonex is once weekly injection given into the muscle. Avonex is a low dose interferon.
Avonex works in multiple sclerosis by minimizing the movement of active immune cells who lead to pro-inflammatory effect in the brain and spinal cord.
Interferon side effects: flu like symptoms characterized by fever, chills, muscle aches, and overall feeling of malaise. In addition potentially patients may have mood changes and interferons may affect you systemically requiring blood tests to monitor the liver, blood counts, and thyroid test. Injections site reactions related to a deep muscle (into the muscle) are uncommon and include muscle pain and rarely severe damage to the muscle.