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"Balance...a medication that works for you, a support system and a doctor you trust."

Side Effects

Understanding Possible Side Effects

Before you choose a treatment for relapsing MS, you should know that all disease modifying drugs, including Rebif® (interferon beta-1a), have potential side effects. Some are common and may diminish over time. Other side effects can be potentially serious and require immediate medical attention. Knowing what these side effects are, and what to do if you experience them, can help you to feel more in control.

Common side effects usually mild to moderate, and manageable

Injection-site reactions and flu-like symptoms are the most common side effects with all interferon-beta therapies, including Rebif. But with a little guidance and planning, these side effects can be a lot more manageable.

Managing injection-site reactions

Redness, pain, swelling and irritation may occur at the injection site. Talk to your health care provider about how to minimize these reactions.

Some suggestions include:

  1. Before injecting Rebif, bring the syringe to room temperature. This may help reduce irritation. Remove the syringe from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before the injection. Note that Rebif can be stored at room temperature (77ºF/25ºC) or below for up to 30 days away from heat and light.
  2. Use the proper injection technique as instructed by your health care provider. You can also watch our online Rebif injection-training video. Please see the Rebif Medication Guide.
  3. Rotate the injection site and inject only into healthy tissue. Do not inject in the same place twice in a row. Wait at least 7 days before using a particular spot again. Do not inject into an area where you feel lumps, firm knots, or pain.
  4. Thoroughly clean the injection site with an alcohol swab or cotton ball prior to injection. If using alcohol on the site, allow it to dry before injecting. You can also try soap and water instead of alcohol.
  5. Gently massage the area for at least 2 minutes afterward to help disperse the medicine and reduce irritation.
  6. Some people prefer to apply a warm cloth or compress after injecting*. If a warm compress does not help, try ice instead. Apply ice or an ice pack to the area for approximately 2 minutes before and after the injection. This may help reduce swelling. If the cold sensation becomes uncomfortable, remove ice promptly.
  7. Two hours after the injection, check the site for redness, swelling, or tenderness. Contact your doctor if the skin reaction does not clear up in a few days.
  8. Some over-the-counter products may help soothe redness, swelling, or itching. Aloe vera, hydrocortisone, anesthetic creams, and oatmeal products may all help reduce itching and redness. Check with your health care provider to see what might be right for you*.

*These tips have been recommended by some health care providers. While some patients have reported success with these tips, there have been no clinical studies to test their benefits or risks.

Managing flu-like symptoms

These tend to be more obvious when you first start taking Rebif. Then they may taper off as your body becomes more used to treatment.

  • Injecting before bedtime is recommended to allow you to sleep through many of these symptoms
  • Take a nonprescription analgesic/fever reducer as recommended by your health care provider before injecting Rebif to help reduce symptoms

"In my mind, efficacy is the most important consideration for any MS therapy. But you should also know about side effects associated with this therapy. For example, when I was taking Avonex® (interferon beta-1a) I found that flu-like symptoms really interfered with my life. With Rebif, I find flu-like symptoms to be manageable. I do experience reactions at the injection site, but these are also manageable."

—Valerie, MS LifeLines® Ambassador

This reflects the personal experience of one person, and others can be different. Results and experiences vary from patient to patient. It is best to contact your doctor to discuss what's best for you. Valerie is an MS LifeLines Ambassador and has chosen to share her story with other people living with MS.

Before Taking Rebif® (interferon beta-1a)

Here's some useful information you should read before taking Rebif

Medication Guide

Prescribing Information

Video Interviews

Watch MS LifeLines Ambassadors as they answer questions about diagnosis, family and friends, lifestyle changes and managing their relapsing MS treatment.

View Now

Serious side effects to consider

Potential serious side effects of Rebif include depression, 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. A few Rebif patients have developed severe liver injury. Your health care provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to make sure that your liver is working properly. These tests are recommended at 1, 3, and 6 months after starting Rebif. However, based on your individual needs and health status, your healthcare provider may perform these tests more or less frequently, or at different times. If your skin or the whites of your eyes become yellow or if you are bruising easily you should call your doctor right away.

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.

Depression

If you are feeling noticeably sadder or helpless, or feel like hurting yourself or others, you should tell a family member or friend right away and call your doctor as soon as possible. Inform your doctor if you have ever had any mental illness, including depression, and if you take any medications for depression.

Liver problems

Your liver may be affected by taking Rebif and a few patients have developed severe liver injury. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to make sure that your liver is working properly. If your skin or the whites of your eyes become yellow or if you are bruising easily you should call your doctor right away.

Blood abnormalities

Rebif may affect your blood cell counts, so you may be asked to have regular blood tests to make sure your blood cell levels have not dropped. If you have difficulty fighting an infection, feel tired or sluggish, or bruise or bleed easily, contact your doctor.

Rebif has not been associated with PML

Some drugs may weaken your body's ability to fight infections. PML is a serious viral infection of the brain that can occur when a person's immune system is very weak. There is no cure, and in many cases, it can lead to death. PML can sometimes occur in patients with weak immune systems (e.g., patients with AIDS or cancer) or in patients who are on drugs that weaken the immune system. There is a lot of information on Rebif from medical journals, clinical studies, and patients who are already taking Rebif. Although Rebif affects the immune system, none of the safety information on Rebif to date shows that it will increase your risk of PML when used as directed.

Avonex is a registered trademark of Biogen Idec.

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.

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 the treatment of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. Rebif is available by prescription only in 22 mcg and 44 mcg pre-filled syringes and a titration pack.

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, and blood 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, liver problems, risk to pregnancy, injection site problems and severe allergic reactions. Allergic reactions are rare and may be associated with difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness, which requires 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 immediately if you have any of these symptoms or feel sad, tired, hot or cold, experience hives, rashes, bruising, yellowing of the skin, or a change in body weight (gain or loss).

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 healthcare provider. For additional information about Rebif, please consult the Medication Guide or Prescribing Information and talk to your doctor. You can also 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 of EMD Serono, Inc. or its affiliates.

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

Copyright 2008 EMD Serono, Inc. All rights reserved.