Interferon Beta-1b injection

What is interferon beta-1b injection?

INTERFERON BETA-1b (Betaseron®) is a man-made drug that acts like a substance in your body called interferon beta. Interferon beta helps to control your immune system. Interferon beta-1b helps to decrease the number and severity of attacks in multiple sclerosis. Interferon betas are occasionally used to treat other diseases. Generic interferon beta-1b injections are not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I receive interferon beta-1b?

• depression

• heart disease or irregular heart beats

• liver disease

• low blood counts

• previous heart attack

• thyroid disease

• an unusual or allergic reaction to interferon, albumin, mannitol, or other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Interferon beta-1b is for injection under the skin. Before you try to use this injection, carefully read the instructions provided. Make sure you understand how to prepare, inject, and store interferon beta-1b. Before preparing an injection always wash your hands well with soap and water. Do not shake the solution before measuring or injecting a dose. Do not use more than the prescribed dose. Using larger or more frequent doses increases the risk of getting serious side effects. Do not inject into infected, red, or damaged skin. Also, rotate injection sites. Use a different injection site for each injection.

Do not reuse needles or syringes. Discard needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant container provided to you by your health care professional.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you can. Reschedule your next dose about 48 hours later. Contact your prescriber or health care professional if you have questions about adjusting your schedule.

What drug(s) may interact with interferon beta-1b?

• zidovudine, AZT

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines that you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking interferon beta-1b?

Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are feeling depressed.

Females of child-bearing age should use a reliable method of birth control. If you do get pregnant, stop using interferon beta-1b at once and contact your prescriber or health care professional.

Reactions at the site of injection are common. Ask your prescriber or health care professional to suggest a series of injection sites, so that you do not have to use the same site repeatedly. You can use an injection site again after one week, providing the skin is not tender, red, or hard. Serious reactions at the injection site may occur in a small number of patients. Contact your prescriber or health care professional immediately if an injection site becomes black-blue, swells, or starts to drain fluid.

Flu-like symptoms are common with interferon beta-1b therapy. Using this medicine at night can reduce the impact of these symptoms. Your prescriber or health care professional may suggest taking acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®, etc) before your dose and for 24 hours after you receive your injection.

Use disposable syringes only once, and throw away syringes and needles in a closed container to prevent accidental needle sticks.

What side effects may I notice from receiving interferon beta-1b?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

• a skin sore with a black-blue color, swelling, or drainage

• confusion

• depression or nervousness

• difficulty breathing

• fever, sore throat, or symptoms of an infection

• irregular or rapid heartbeat (palpitations)

• mood changes, anxiety

• unusual bruising or bleeding

• rash, hives, face or tongue swelling

• severe abdominal pain

• swelling of the feet or ankles

• yellowing of the skin or eyes

• weight loss or gain

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• constipation or diarrhea

• drowsiness, dizziness

• fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms

• headache

• increased sweating

• menstrual changes

• muscle aches

• nausea, vomiting

• pain, redness, and irritation at the injection site

• unusual weakness or tiredness

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15—30 degrees C (59—86 degrees F). After mixing, if not used immediately, the product should be refrigerated and used within 3 hours. Avoid freezing. Throw away any unused diluted injection.