Practical Tips For Taking Rebif® (interferon beta‐1a)
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PRACTICAL TIPS

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Practical tips for people taking Rebif

Here’s some practical, everyday information that everyone taking Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) should become familiar with. While incorporating these tips into your daily routine, it’s important to remember to keep taking treatment as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

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 5 TIPS FOR TAKING REBIF

  1. Set reminders
    On injection days, set an alarm on your cell phone or other mobile devices that can remind you when it’s time to inject. There are also many apps available that may help you remember.

  2. Don't go it alone
    Giving yourself injections takes some getting used to. Over time and with practice, you may feel more confident. You can ask your MS LifeLines® Nurse to teach a friend or family member about injection techniques so he or she can assist you.

  3. Find your happy place
    It may help to think about something relaxing before you inject. Breathing slowly, listening to music or soothing sounds, or imagining your favorite place can put you in the right state of mind.

  4. Schedule a refresher
    If you’ve been injecting for a while, it’s sometimes helpful to brush up on your injection technique. Set up some time with your MS LifeLines Nurse, who may be able to give you some new tips.

  5. Feel good about what you’re doing
    Know that you’re doing what you can to help manage MS. Consider rewarding yourself, just for fun—for example, if you put a dollar in a jar each time you inject on schedule, you can treat yourself to something nice after a few months!

Please see Important Safety Information below and links to the Rebif Medication Guide and Prescribing Information at the top of this website, and speak with your healthcare provider for more information.

Speak to an MS LifeLines Nurse, who can tell you more about taking Rebif →

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5 TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH REBIF

  1. MS LifeLines provides a free travel kit for anyone taking Rebif. This travel kit includes an insulated container to keep your Rebif cool while you travel. If you do not have a travel kit, call MS LifeLines, toll-free, at 1-877-447-3243, and we will send one to you.

    Remember that you may want to pack a little more medication than you think you’ll need in order to cover any travel delays.

  2. You should always store your Rebif in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C). Do not freeze. You should check the temperature of the refrigerator that you are using while traveling to avoid unintentionally freezing Rebif. For small hotel refrigerators, store Rebif away from the unit's cooling element and small freezer compartment. If a refrigerator is not available, Rebif may be stored for up to 30 days between 36°F and 77°F (2°C and 25°C), away from heat and light.
Storage temperature for Rebif
  1. If you're traveling by car, don't leave your supplies on the dashboard, in the glove compartment, in the trunk, or in a parked car. Keep your supplies with you in the climate-controlled area of the car.

  2. If you are flying, keep your supplies with you in your carry-on bag so that they remain with you in case of lost luggage! It is safe to pass Rebif and Rebif® Rebidose® through screening devices. Don’t keep Rebif in the overhead rack—the lights can make the storage space too warm.

    Prior to flying, be sure to check with your airline and the latest TSA regulations regarding traveling with injectable medicines. These rules are subject to change and may require certain documentation, such as a note from your doctor that describes the medication and why you take it. You can also print a card from the TSA website that identifies you as someone with MS. This card may help expedite things at the TSA screening checkpoint. Go to TSA.gov, click on “Disabilities and Medical Conditions,” and follow instructions for the “TSA Notification Card."

  3. Remember to bring along an empty biohazard (sharps) container and an extra ice pack. The Rebif Travel Kit includes a reusable ice pack.
suitcase

REBIF CAN GO WHERE YOU GO

However you choose to inject your Rebif, your medicine can travel with you. Request your free Rebif® Rebidose® Travel Kit—compliments of MS LifeLines—which can hold up to a 1-month supply.

Call MS LifeLines at 1-877-447-3243 →

The people in these photos are not actual Rebif patients.

Next: Possible side effects →

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Before beginning treatment, you should discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with Rebif with your healthcare provider.

Rebif can cause serious side effects. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms listed below while taking Rebif.

  • Behavioral health problems including depression and suicidal thoughts. You may have mood problems including depression (feeling hopeless or feeling bad about yourself), and thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide
  • Liver problems or worsening of liver problems including liver failure. Symptoms may include nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, dark colored urine and pale stools, yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eye, bleeding more easily than normal, confusion, and sleepiness. During your treatment with Rebif you will need to see your healthcare provider regularly and have regular blood tests to check for side effects
  • Serious allergic and skin reactions. Symptoms may include itching, swelling of your face, eyes, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, anxiousness, feeling faint, skin rash, hives, sores in your mouth, or skin blisters and peels
  • Injection site problems. Symptoms at the injection site may include redness, pain, swelling, color changes (blue or black), and drainage of fluid
  • Blood problems. Rebif can affect your bone marrow and cause low red and white blood cell and platelet counts. In some people, these blood cell counts may fall to dangerously low levels. If your blood cell counts become very low, you can get infections and problems with bleeding and bruising. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to check for blood problems
  • Seizures. Some people have had seizures while taking Rebif

Rebif will not cure your MS but may decrease the number of flare-ups of the disease and slow the occurrence of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS.

Do not take Rebif if you are allergic to interferon beta, human albumin, or any of the ingredients in Rebif.

Before you take Rebif, tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any of the following conditions:

  • mental illness, including depression and suicidal behavior
  • liver problems, bleeding problems or blood clots, low blood cell counts, seizures (epilepsy), or thyroid problems
  • you drink alcohol
  • you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Rebif will harm your unborn baby
  • you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Rebif may pass into your breastmilk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take Rebif

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

 

The most common side effects of Rebif include:

  • flu-like symptoms. You may have flu-like symptoms when you first start taking Rebif. You may be able to manage these flu-like symptoms by taking over-the-counter pain and fever reducers. For many people, these symptoms lessen or go away over time. Symptoms may include muscle aches, fever, tiredness, and chills
  • stomach pain
  • change in liver blood tests

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Rebif. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Before beginning treatment, you should discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with Rebif with your healthcare provider.

Rebif can cause serious side effects. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms listed below while taking Rebif.

  • Behavioral health problems including depression and suicidal thoughts. You may have mood problems including depression (feeling hopeless or feeling bad about yourself), and thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide
  • Liver problems or worsening of liver problems including liver failure. Symptoms may include nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, dark colored urine and pale stools, yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eye, bleeding more easily than normal, confusion, and sleepiness. During your treatment with Rebif you will need to see your healthcare provider regularly and have regular blood tests to check for side effects
  • Serious allergic and skin reactions. Symptoms may include itching, swelling of your face, eyes, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, anxiousness, feeling faint, skin rash, hives, sores in your mouth, or skin blisters and peels
  • Injection site problems. Symptoms at the injection site may include redness, pain, swelling, color changes (blue or black), and drainage of fluid
  • Blood problems. Rebif can affect your bone marrow and cause low red and white blood cell and platelet counts. In some people, these blood cell counts may fall to dangerously low levels. If your blood cell counts become very low, you can get infections and problems with bleeding and bruising. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to check for blood problems
  • Seizures. Some people have had seizures while taking Rebif

Rebif will not cure your MS but may decrease the number of flare-ups of the disease and slow the occurrence of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS.

Do not take Rebif if you are allergic to interferon beta, human albumin, or any of the ingredients in Rebif.

Before you take Rebif, tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any of the following conditions:

  • mental illness, including depression and suicidal behavior
  • liver problems, bleeding problems or blood clots, low blood cell counts, seizures (epilepsy), or thyroid problems
  • you drink alcohol
  • you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Rebif will harm your unborn baby
  • you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Rebif may pass into your breastmilk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take Rebif

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

 

The most common side effects of Rebif include:

  • flu-like symptoms. You may have flu-like symptoms when you first start taking Rebif. You may be able to manage these flu-like symptoms by taking over-the-counter pain and fever reducers. For many people, these symptoms lessen or go away over time. Symptoms may include muscle aches, fever, tiredness, and chills
  • stomach pain
  • change in liver blood tests

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Rebif. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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