Does Avonex suppress the immune system?

[lstrl]

I feel stupid for not knowing the answer to this, but I can't find any clear cut answers. I don't get sick a lot, but I was wondering if Avonex could possibly change that. The reason I wonder is because I just got diagnosed with a uti last week, finished my antibiotics Tuesday night, and then woke up this morning with a horrible sore throat. I'm guessing that means I caught a cold, but I don't hardly ever leave home to catch a sickness (I really wonder if it's from using a contaminated grocery store pen to sign a credit card receipt since I've been making sure the cart handles have been sanitized).

I'm really thinking all this stuff happening so close together is a total coincidence (I haven't had a cold in over a year, so I was overdue anyway), but I only started on Avonex 2 months ago, so I don't know if it would have any kind of effects on me or not at this point. I do know some MS meds do suppress the immune system. Is Avonex one of them?

[BigA]

So if you ask your neuro, Avonex modulates the immune system. Immune suppression is something more serious.

Does one get sick more often on Avonex? I think it's possible and it's in the prescribing instructions, but I also think it's mostly no. You're on the smallest dose of Interferon and it's been in use for many years. Were you due for a cold? Is it a virus or a bacterial infection. Did you take a full course of Antibotics or did you stop in the middle?

I think you'll just have to wait and see, but be reassured that you're not taking a strong immune-suppressant that's even as strong as Gilenya or many of the arthritis medications lots of people are taking.

[MierryLea]

I've only been on Avonex 5ish months but for me it hasn't caused me to get sick any more often. Before Avonex I would get sick about once/yr with a few UTIs here and there (despite doing everything I can to prevent them).

Since starting Avonex I haven't gotten sick and I've only had 1 UTI so for me it hasn't made me more vulnerable to illness.

That was one of the things I was worried about when I started on it.

[Justsayyes]

I used to hesitate to do my shot if I felt an illness coming on, but now I make sure I do the shot. Avonex has some anti -viral properties. I have had a cold and done the shot and woke up with no cold. I have definitely been sick less often on Avonex, but that could be just my immune system being a little hyped up.

[RoyalOne]

For me at least Avonex does not and has not suppressed my immune system. I rarely get colds. I did have a stomach virus a couple of years ago, but that's about it.
If Avonex supressed my immune system I would have had lots of maladies years ago,

[Shaky]

I've been on Avonex since the spring of 2001 and have had no more illnesses than I think I would have had anyway.

[RowenaCHeffner]

I feel stupid for not knowing the answer to this, but I can't find any clear cut answers. I don't get sick a lot, but I was wondering if Avonex could possibly change that. The reason I wonder is because I just got diagnosed with a uti last week, finished my antibiotics Tuesday night, and then woke up this morning with a horrible sore throat. I'm guessing that means I caught a cold, but I don't hardly ever leave home to catch a sickness (I really wonder if it's from using a contaminated grocery store pen to sign a credit card receipt since I've been making sure the cart handles have been sanitized).



I'm really thinking all this stuff happening so close together is a total coincidence (I haven't had a cold in over a year, so I was overdue anyway), but I only started on Avonex 2 months ago, so I don't know if it would have any kind of effects on me or not at this point. I do know some MS meds do suppress the immune system. Is Avonex one of them?

Again and again getting sick is because of low immunity. I was struggling with same problem and my doctor suggested me oks 20, its a powerful medicine which affected my immunity system. He also suggested me regular exercise and to eat three times a day i.e breakfast, lunch and dinner. Honestly these measures helped me to increase my immunity system.