If you are interested in receiving training on how to administer injections of AVONEX in a prefilled syringe, please call MS ActiveSource at 1-800-456-2255. People who are allergic to latex may or may not be allergic to dry natural rubber. You should tell your doctor about your latex allergy and discuss natural rubber sensitivity since the AVONEX prefilled syringe cap contains dry natural rubber, which may cause allergic reactions.

No. Do not freeze prefilled syringes of AVONEX. If a prefilled syringe freezes, throw it away in a puncture resistant container and call MS ActiveSource at 1-800-456-2255 for a replacement dose.

The pH of the prefilled syringe of AVONEX is 4.8. The pH of the lyophilized powdered form of AVONEX is 7.3. A pH of 4.8 is the optimum pH for physical and chemical stability of AVONEX in a prefilled syringe.

Since AVONEX in a prefilled syringe is the same medication as the powdered form, your current experience with AVONEX should be similar. Most people who take AVONEX have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sweating, muscle aches, and tiredness) early during the course of therapy. These symptoms may be a result of the body's natural reaction to interferon, the active ingredient in AVONEX.

The time required for the solution in the prefilled syringe to warm to room temperature is dependent upon both the refrigeration temperature (which can range from 2?-8?C or 36?-46?F) and the ambient room temperature (which can vary widely from 15-30?C or 59?-86?F); however, 30 minutes should be sufficient in most situations, or hold the syringe in your hand for 5 minutes. Do not use accelerated warming methods, such as placing it under warm water or in a microwave or oven.

Prior to use, the prefilled syringes must be stored in a 2?-8?C (36?-46?F) refrigerator. Once removed from the refrigerator, the prefilled syringes are stable for 12 hours at room temperature. Protect prefilled syringes of AVONEX from light. In order to protect AVONEX from light, keep the prefilled syringes in their original packaging until use. Do not expose AVONEX to extreme hot or cold temperatures. Also, do not freeze AVONEX.

Yes. Do not use prefilled syringes after the expiration date stated on the label. The first two numbers indicate the month after which the product can no longer be used, and the last four numbers indicate the year of expiration.

Each package of prefilled syringes of AVONEX (Interferon beta-1a) contains: 4 Administration Dose Packs each containing:

In order to maintain product stability and integrity, prefilled syringes of AVONEX must be made of glass and not plastic. If you encounter any problems concerning the administration of AVONEX in a prefilled syringe, please call MS ActiveSource(SM) at 1-800-456-2255.

AVONEX in a prefilled syringe is administered intramuscularly; therefore the needle is still the same size. The length of the needle is 1 1/4 inch and the gauge, or "thickness" of the needle, is 23. Prefilled syringes of AVONEX require less diluent or "mixing solution" therefore the syringe is slightly smaller than the one used with the powdered form.

Yes. Prefilled syringes of AVONEX should be protected from light. It is best to keep the prefilled syringes stored in their original packaging until use.

Yes. AVONEX in a prefilled syringe may be kept outside of a refrigerator at room temperature (77? F or 25? C) for up to 12 hours. AVONEX in the powder form may be kept outside a refrigerator for up to 30 days at room temperature (77? F or 25? C). It is important to protect AVONEX from extreme hot or freezing temperatures. Extreme hot, such as glove compartments in the summer, or freezing conditions such as an unheated car in the winter, may reduce the stability of the drug.

Like any other university, we do not guarantee practical training jobs for all students since the U.S. economy and job market are subject to change.

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center does not offer courses or training in herbal medicine. Our institution provides training in conventional treatment approaches, basic science and research methodology that could be applied to the evaluation of these modalities. Schools that offer training in herbal therapy may be located through the American Botanical Council.

AVONEX is an interferon therapy. Interferons are naturally occurring proteins and glycoproteins produced by cells in response to biological triggers. They are part of the body's natural defense system. In the case of multiple sclerosis (MS), the body's immune system attacks the myelin in the central nervous system. Interferon beta can help limit that assault on the brain and spinal cord, and help control damage to the nerve cells.

In clinical trials AVONEX, administered once a week has been shown to have similar efficacy to drugs administered more frequently. Another advantage of an IM injection is that it can reduce the chance of having painful and unsightly injection-site reactions such as redness, swelling, and tissue death (necrosis) that may appear at SC injection sites.

AVONEX is a protein that, like protein-containing foods, would be broken down by digestion if swallowed and lose its active properties before it could provide any treatment benefits. This would be true of all the interferon-based therapies. That's why AVONEX is injected into muscle tissue, where your body gets the right amount of medication in a form it can use.

Most people who take AVONEX have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sweating, muscle aches, and tiredness) early during the course of therapy. These symptoms may be a result of the body's natural reaction to interferon, the active ingredient in AVONEX. The flu-like symptoms usually go away within 24 hours after the injection, and tend to diminish with continued use. Please see Important Information About AVONEX at the bottom of the page for more information about side effects.

You may not know. Unlike pain relievers or allergy medications, currently approved MS therapies are not designed to be symptom relief products. So you may not feel any better. AVONEX works by attacking your underlying disease to ultimately reduce the total number of relapses you may experience and to slow the progression of physical disability.

The Bureau of Radiation Control has two full time radiological trainers certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Department of Energy. Radiological training can be provided at your choice of location free of cost. Courses include "Radiological Incident Response for County Government" (2 hours), "First Response to Radiological Accidents and Weapons of Mass Destruction" (4 hours) and "Advanced Course For Radiological Response" (16 hours).