If you have relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) and are thinking about starting a family, it’s important to plan ahead. Talk with your healthcare provider about your options for treating RMS while you are trying to conceive, and ask if Rebif® may be a good choice for you.
The possible effects of interferon beta during pregnancy were evaluated in a pregnancy registry. This registry tracked the outcomes of 2,831 pregnancies of women with multiple sclerosis in Finland from 1996-2014 and Sweden from 2005-2014.
Early in their pregnancies, some women were exposed to interferon beta, including Rebif® (n=797 pregnancies), while others were not exposed to any disease-modifying drugs (n=1,647 pregnancies). The data:
Whether you’re planning to get pregnant or restarting treatment after childbirth, talk with your healthcare provider to see if Rebif® may be the right treatment for your RMS.
Rebif® may be able to treat your RMS even when you’re trying to become pregnant. If you’re thinking about conceiving, ask your doctor whether Rebif® may be an option for you.
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant. Although the Rebif® Pregnancy Registry data did not identify a drug-associated risk of major birth defects with interferon beta use during early pregnancy, it is not known if Rebif® may harm your unborn baby.
Your healthcare provider can help you decide when it’s the right time to start (or restart) Rebif® after giving birth. Talk to them about the risk of relapse after birth and how soon you should consider starting treatment.
You should talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take Rebif®, as it may pass into your breastmilk.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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:
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:
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.