What is the difference between the MS drugs Avonex and Copaxone?

My son has been taking Avonex for his MS for 3 years now. He has had 3 episodes where he has had to be admitted to the hospital for IV therapy. I noticed that a couple of yahoo members are taking Copaxone and have been on it for 4 years symptom-free. I was wondering if maybe my son should change medications. Another reason for changing is this - after each injection, he gets very ill with a 104 degree fever and flu like symptoms, which last for about 24 hours. We have talked to his doctor about this and he said some people just get sick after their injections. He tried to give him 2 or 3 different medicatoins, hoping they would help with the sick feeling, but none of them worked. Has anyone on the Copaxone ever gotten sick after their injections? I would appreciate everyone who has been on Avonex or Copaxone helping me. My son really needs the help.

The main difference between Avonex (interferon beta-1a) and Copaxone (glatiramer acetate for injection) is that Avonex was designed to treat a first MS attack, to slow the accumulation of physical disability and to decrease the clinical worsening in those patients with relapsing forms of MS. Copaxone was designed to reduce the frequency of relapse in those patients with relapsing-remitting MS.

The two drugs share many of the same common adverse reactions - nausea, diarrhea, abdominal upset to name three. Fever is a common adverse effect of Avenox and a less common adverse reaction to Copaxone. Consider that.

Speak to his doctor about the advisability of changing.

Please see the web pages for more details on Interferon beta-1a (generic name) Avonex (brand name), Glatiramer (generic name) Copaxone (brand name).
Interferon beta-1a is a drug in the interferon family used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It is produced by mammalian cells while Interferon beta-1b is produced in modified E. coli. Interferons have been shown to have about a 30鈥?5% reduction in the rate of MS relapses, and to slow the progression of disability in MS patients. None of the products on the market is a cure, but patients today who start early on Interferons may beneficially alter the natural course of the disease.
Glatiramer is used to reduce episodes of symptoms in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Glatiramer is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. It works by stopping the body from damaging its own nerve cells (myelin).
A recent study by the Department of Neurology at The University of Texas Health Science Center argues that a double-blind three year study failed to demonstrate a treatment effect of Glatiramer acetate on Primary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

My husband and his brother both have MS. They both use Copaxone. My husband hasn't had a flare in over a year, his brother has.

Everyone reacts differently to different drugs. It's something that should be discussed with the neuro.