Interferon beta-1a Subcutaneous Injection

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Brand name(s): Rebif®

How should this medicine be used?

Interferon beta-1a subcutaneous injection comes as a solution to inject subcutaneously (under the skin) three times a week. You should inject this medication on the same 3 days every week, for example, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The injections should be spaced at least 48 hours apart, so it is best to inject your medication around the same time of day on each of your injection days. The best time to inject this medication is in the late afternoon or evening. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use interferon beta-1a exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of interferon beta-1a and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 2 weeks.

Interferon beta-1a controls symptoms of MS, but does not cure it. Continue to take interferon beta-1a even if you feel well. Do not stop taking interferon beta-1a without talking to your doctor.

You will receive your first dose of interferon beta-1a in your doctor's office. After that, you can inject interferon beta-1a yourself or have a friend or relative perform the injections. Before you use interferon beta-1a yourself the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you or the person who will be injecting the medication how to inject it.

Interferon beta-1a comes in prefilled syringes. Use each syringe and needle only once and inject all the solution in the syringe. Even if there is still some solution left in the syringe after you inject, do not inject again. Throw away used syringes and needles in a puncture-resistant container kept out of reach of children. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to throw away the puncture-resistant container.

You can inject interferon beta-1a in areas of your body with a layer of fat between the skin and muscle, such as your thigh, the outer surface of your upper arms, your stomach, or your buttocks. If you are very thin, only inject in your thigh or the outer surface of your arm for injection. Use a different spot for each injection. Keep a record of the date and spot of each injection. Do not use the same spot two times in a row. Do not inject near your navel (belly button) or waistline or into an area where the skin is sore, red, bruised, scarred, infected, or abnormal in any way.

To inject interferon beta-1a, follow these steps:

• Remove the prefilled syringe from the refrigerator and allow it to warm to room temperature for about 30 minutes before using. Do not use a heat source such as hot water or a microwave to warm the syringe.
• Check the syringe to be sure it is safe to use. The syringe should be labeled with the correct name of the medication and an expiration date that has not passed and should contain a clear to slightly yellow solution. If the syringe is expired, or the solution is cloudy, discolored, or contains particles, do not use it and call your pharmacist.
• Set-up a clean, well-lit, flat work surface, like a table, to collect all the supplies you will need to inject interferon beta-1a. Assemble these supplies: alcohol wipes, gauze pad, small adhesive bandage, and puncture-resistant container for disposal of used syringes and needles.
• Wash your hands well with antibacterial soap.
• Choose a spot to inject interferon beta-1a and clean it with an alcohol wipe, using a circular motion. Let the skin air dry.
• Remove the cap from the syringe needle.
• The syringe should be filled with interferon beta-1a to the 0.5 mL mark. This is a full dose. If your doctor has told you to use less than the full dose, slowly push the syringe plunger in until the amount of medication left in the syringe is the amount your doctor told you to use.
• Use your thumb and forefinger to pinch up a pad of skin around the spot where you will inject interferon beta-1a. Hold the syringe like a pencil with your other hand.
• Hold the syringe at a 90-degree angle (straight up and down), and push the needle straight into your skin, stopping just underneath the skin.
• When the needle is in, let go of the pinched skin and slowly push down on the syringe plunger until the syringe is empty.
• Hold a gauze pad near the needle and pull the needle straight out of the skin. Use the gauze pad to apply pressure to the spot for a few seconds. You may cover the spot with a bandage.
• Throw away the used syringe, needle, and gauze pad properly.
• Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the injection spot to help reduce redness, swelling, or tenderness that may occur.
• After 2 hours, check the injection spot for redness, swelling, or tenderness. If you have redness, swelling, or tenderness that does not go away in a few days or is severe, call your doctor.

Last Revised: 04/01/2004

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