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Multiple Sclerosis - MS LifeLines

An educational and supportive community for people living with multiple sclerosis.

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"The best piece of advice that I've received to manage my MS is to take care of myself."

Shiela, MS LifeLines Ambassador

Living with RRMS

MS LifeLines Nurses

MS LifeLines® Nurses

The Experience You Need, the Support You're Looking for

MS LifeLines is more than an educational support service—it's a community. Our mission is to offer support to people with relapsing MS, people on or considering Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) therapy, and the friends and family who support them. MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialists are Registered Nurses who are MS–certified. Located across the country and in the MS LifeLines call center, MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialists are available to help you with education, training, and support. Learn more about MS LifeLines including tips, strategies, and insights from their own experiences.

"We have a positive philosophy at MS LifeLines. It's a philosophy of hope: that there will someday be a cure for MS. We encourage callers to maintain their therapy and help delay progression of this disease. Then when the cure hopefully comes, they can take advantage of it. In the meantime, we'll do everything we can to empower them and help them stay the course of therapy. Our feeling is, when you do encounter a bump in the road, call us. We're here to help. You don't have to do this alone."

—Jo Scanzillo, RN MS LifeLines Nursing Manager

MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialists

MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialists have a unique role at MS LifeLines: to try and improve patients' outlook on their disease state by helping them to manage their treatment.

MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialists provide education, support and encouragement to help you stay motivated with your Rebif therapy. These nurses form a dynamic, supportive team who truly care and are always seeking solutions for their callers. This team is not a replacement for your health care provider, but they do offer immediate help and understanding without an appointment.

MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialists can assist you in making positive decisions, along with your health care provider; they can optimize your MS management so you can live well with relapsing MS.

A dedicated team of MS-certified nurses are available, toll free, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 10 PM ET, Saturday and Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM ET, at 1-877-44-REBIF (1-877-447-3243). The team at MS LifeLines can answer your questions about relapsing MS and your treatment options, and can provide information about your Rebif therapy.

MS LifeLines Field Nurses

One-on-one home training

A dedicated team of MS LifeLines Field Nurses is now available in many areas across the United States to help you get started on Rebif therapy. The MS LifeLines Field Nurses will teach you proper injection technique and share tips for managing side effects in the comfort of your own home - and the program is free.

If an MS LifeLines Field Nurse is not available in your area, MS LifeLines also has an extensive network of home health agency nurses who can get you started on Rebif.

Inspirations from MS LifeLines Nurses

MS LifeLines Field Nurses and Nurse Support Specialists share their insights, including tips for living well with MS, as well as words of inspiration and hope. Click on the links below to read more about their experiences.

Annemarie, MS LifeLines Field Nurse

"My greatest reward has been seeing the patients after they've been on Rebif for several months and they greet me with a smile and a hug!"

Corrie, MS LifeLines Field Nurse

After being diagnosed with relapsing MS herself, Corrie wanted to make sure that whoever got this diagnosis had a nurse to support them. "I didn't want anyone to have to go through this alone."

Jacqueline, MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialist

As an MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialist, what particularly impresses Jacqueline is "the perseverance of MS patients who have struggled and the nurses who never leave their sides."

Julie, MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialist

Julie tries to instill hope in every patient she talks to and lives by a simple motto: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and the present is a special gift."

Nancy, MS LifeLines Nurse Support Specialist

"Being told by patients that I make a difference on a daily basis puts a smile on my face; they, in turn, have impacted my life. I look forward to calling them!"

Yanette, MS LifeLines Field Nurse

"I encourage my patients to keep up the good work fighting this disease."

Brought to you by EMD Serono, Inc. and Pfizer Inc, the co-marketers of Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) in the US EMD SeronoPfizer

Prescribing Information - Medication Guide

This information is intended only for residents of the United States.

Indication

Rebif is used to treat relapsing forms of MS to decrease the frequency of relapses and delay the occurrence of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS. Rebif is not approved for treatment of chronic progressive MS. Rebif is available in 22 mcg and 44 mcg prefilled, preassembled syringes and a titration pack by prescription only.

Important Safety Information

Before beginning treatment, patients should discuss with their doctor the potential benefits and risks associated with Rebif. Let your doctor know if you have a history of depression, seizures, liver disease, thyroid problems, or blood cell count or bleeding problems, or if you have had previous allergic reactions to medications. Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Rebif and other medicines may affect each other causing serious side effects. Talk to your doctor before you take any new medicines. Rebif is not recommended for women who are or plan to become pregnant.

Potential serious side effects of Rebif include depression and risk of suicide, liver problems, risk to pregnancy, injection-site problems, and severe allergic reactions. Allergic reactions are rare and may be associated with difficulty in breathing and loss of consciousness, which require immediate medical attention.

The most common side effects with Rebif are injection-site reactions, flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, tiredness), depression, abdominal pain, increased liver enzymes, and blood cell count decreases. Let your doctor know if you have any of these symptoms or feel sad, tired, hot or cold, or experience hives, rashes, bruising, yellowing of the skin, or a change in body weight (gain or loss).

Compared with Avonex, side effects were generally similar despite the higher, more frequent dosing of Rebif. Differences included people taking Avonex had more flulike symptoms than those taking Rebif. People taking Rebif had a greater number of injection-site reactions, elevated liver enzymes, and decreased white blood cell counts; these events also occurred more frequently with Rebif posttransition versus prior use of Avonex.

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

This information is not intended to replace discussions with your doctor. For additional information about Rebif, please consult the Prescribing Information and Medication Guide and talk to your doctor. You can also visit www.mslifelines.com or call toll-free 1-877-44-REBIF (1-877-447-3243). Rebif is available by prescription only.

MS LifeLines is an educational support service for people living with MS and their families. MS LifeLines and MS LifeLines Ambassadors are sponsored by EMD Serono, Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

Rebif, Rebiject II and MS LifeLines are registered trademarks and the Rebif logo is a trademark of EMD Serono, Inc. or its affiliates.

MS in Balance Your Life in Full is a service mark of EMD Serono, Inc. or its affiliates.

Copyright 2010 EMD Serono, Inc. All rights reserved.