Forgot password?

Multiple Sclerosis - MS LifeLines

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

TEXT SIZE

aaa

I wish I could find a relapsing MS treatment that's right for me

Why Rebif

Making a Choice

You've taken an important first step by choosing to fight your relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Now you have to choose a therapy. This is an important decision because MS therapies are not all the same.

Worried about the cost of your MS therapy?

Learn about the MS LifeLines Access Made Simple Program.

Click here

Join the Monthly Webevent Series

Our next program:
It's a Marathon: Strategies to Help Maintain Your Treatment Regimen
Wednesday, 11/18/2009

Learn More

MS LifeLines Nurses

Learn how they can help you with your Rebif therapy.

Need help tracking your injections?

MS Treatment Journal

How is Rebif® (interferon beta-1a ) different from other MS therapies? Once you know the facts, it is up to you and your doctor to choose the therapy that is right for you.

What MS treatments are available?

There is no cure yet for MS. But there are several treatments. Some, like corticosteroids , only work on the symptoms of MS. Others may change the course of the disease. This is great news for people like you who are actively managing their MS.

Therapies used for treating relapsing MS include:

  • Rebif® (interferon beta-1a)
  • Avonex® (interferon beta-1a)
  • Betaseron® (interferon beta-1b)
  • Copaxone® (glatiramer acetate injection)
  • Tysabri® (natalizumab)

MS symptoms can affect people differently. So can the drugs used to treat MS. For instance, a drug may be right for one person, but it may not be the best choice for another. Talk to your doctor. Together, you can choose the right drug for you.

How they work

There are 2 different types of therapies for relapsing MS: interferons and non-interferons.

Interferon beta is a protein that exists naturally in the body. It may help the body's immune system by fighting disease activity and reducing inflammation . Rebif, Avonex, and Betaseron are interferon beta therapies.

They are thought to fight MS by:

  • Regulating immune cells outside the CNS
  • Stopping immune cells from crossing the BBB
  • Reducing inflammation in the CNS

Rebif and Avonex contain interferon beta-1a. This type of interferon is identical to the body's own natural human interferon beta. The interferon beta-1b in Betaseron differs slightly from natural human interferon beta.

Other available MS therapies do not resemble any of the body's naturally occurring proteins. Copaxone and Tysabri are not interferon therapies. Copaxone is made up of 4 amino acids. It is thought to reduce inflammation within the brain and spinal cord.

Tysabri is a humanized monoclonal antibody. Humanized monoclonal antibodies originate in another species and are altered in a laboratory so they can be used in humans. Tysabri is thought to work by binding to immune cells and interfering with their movement from the bloodstream into the brain and spinal cord.

Not all MS therapies are proven to delay disability

No head-to-head study comparing an interferon therapy with a noninterferon therapy has currently been completed. However, only interferon beta-1a (Rebif, Avonex) and natalizumab (Tysabri) have been shown to delay disability progression in MS.

Avonex is a registered trademark of Biogen Idec.

Betaseron is a registered trademark of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.

Copaxone is a registered trademark of Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

Tysabri is a registered trademark of Elan Corporation, Inc.

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. Efficacy has been established in controlled studies up to 2 years in duration. 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 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 2009 EMD Serono, Inc. All rights reserved.