| Multiple Sclerosis
Ampyra vs Avonex
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for multiple sclerosis.Deep comparison between: Ampyra vs Avonex with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsAvonex has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Ampyra based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Avonex but not Ampyra, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Ampyra
Avonex
At A Glance
Oral
Twice daily
Potassium channel blocker
IM injection
Once weekly
Interferon beta
Indications
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Multiple Sclerosis
Dosing
Multiple Sclerosis 10 mg tablet twice daily approximately 12 hours apart; do not exceed 10 mg twice daily; swallow tablets whole; may be taken with or without food.
Multiple Sclerosis 30 micrograms once weekly by IM injection; may titrate starting at 7.5 micrograms in week 1, increasing by 7.5 micrograms weekly for 3 weeks to reach the recommended 30 microgram dose.
Contraindications
- History of seizure
- Moderate or severe renal impairment (CrCl <=50 mL/min)
- History of hypersensitivity to AMPYRA or 4-aminopyridine, including anaphylaxis
- History of hypersensitivity to natural or recombinant interferon beta or any other component of the formulation
- History of hypersensitivity to albumin (human) [lyophilized vial formulation only]
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=2%) Urinary tract infection, insomnia, dizziness, headache, nausea, asthenia, back pain, balance disorder, multiple sclerosis relapse, paresthesia, nasopharyngitis, constipation, dyspepsia, pharyngolaryngeal pain
Serious Seizures, anaphylaxis
Postmarketing Vomiting, vertigo
Most common (>=5% more than placebo) Flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, myalgia, asthenia
Serious Depression, hepatic injury, anaphylaxis and other allergic reactions, injection site necrosis, congestive heart failure, decreased peripheral blood counts, thrombotic microangiopathy, pulmonary arterial hypertension, seizures, autoimmune disorders
Postmarketing Hemolytic anemia, menorrhagia and metrorrhagia, pulmonary arterial hypertension, rash including vesicular rash, injection site abscess or cellulitis
Pharmacology
Dalfampridine is a broad spectrum potassium channel blocker that increases conduction of action potentials in demyelinated axons through inhibition of potassium channels; the mechanism by which it improves walking in MS has not been fully elucidated.
Interferon beta-1a is a recombinant type I interferon that binds to specific receptors on human cell surfaces, initiating a cascade of intracellular events leading to expression of interferon-induced gene products; its mechanism of action in multiple sclerosis is unknown.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Ampyra
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
Avonex
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (9/12) · Step Therapy (1/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Ampyra
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (1/8)
Avonex
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (6/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (4/8)
Humana
Ampyra
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Avonex
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (1/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
Cost estimate not availableAccessia Health: Multiple Sclerosis - Private Insurance: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
Cost estimate not availableAccessia Health: Multiple Sclerosis - Private Insurance: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.