Multiple Sclerosis - MS LifeLines
"Balance...a medication that works for you, a support system and a doctor you trust."
How safe & effective is your MS therapy?
Take confidence in the experience of Rebif® (interferon beta-1a)
Now more than ever, people want to know that treatments for MS are proven effective, with long-term safety information to support their use. The following are frequently asked questions about the safety and effectiveness of Rebif. If you have questions about your MS treatment, speak with your doctor.
How effective is Rebif?
Rebif was studied in one of the largest placebo-controlled clinical trials of interferon beta-1a in relapsing-remitting MS to date. In this 2-year study, patients who received Rebif did significantly better than those who did not receive Rebif. Rebif was proven to work on all 3 key measures of MS disease activity: disability progression, frequency of relapses, and activity and area of brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The exact correlation between MRI findings and the current or future clinical status of patients, including disability progression, is unknown.
Has Rebif been proven to work better than another treatment for relapsing forms of MS?
In a head-to-head 48-week study, Rebif 44 mcg taken 3 times a week has been proven to reduce MRI activity* and relapses more than Avonex® (interferon beta-1a) 30 mcg taken once a week in relapsing forms of MS.
How long has Rebif been used by patients?
Rebif has been studied in clinical trials of relapsing MS since 1994 and has been available since 1998 in Europe and since 2002 in the United States (US). It is the #1-prescribed MS drug outside the US.
What are the most important things I need to know about the side effects of Rebif?
You should know that no drug is without side effects. You and your doctor should weigh all the risks and benefits before starting a therapy.
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 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 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).
Tell you 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.
Has the safety of Rebif been evaluated in clinical trials?
The safety of Rebif has been evaluated in a 2-year placebo-controlled trial and a 48-week trial versus a competitor. Patients who returned for a follow up visit after up to 8 years of treatment with Rebif reported no new types of serious safety issues. Along with this clinical trial experience, Rebif has over 12 years of patient experience worldwide. So you can feel confident that the safety of Rebif is supported by long-term information.
More about Rebif and pivotal studies
Compare Rebif with other therapy options
Avonex is a registered trademark of Biogen Idec.
