Additional Information
* The online pharmacies to which you may be referred from this website will only dispense a controlled substance to a person who has a valid prescription issued for a legitimate medical purpose based upon a medical relationship with the prescribing practitioner. This includes at least one prior in-person medical evaluation or medical evaluation via telemedicine in accordance with applicable requirements of section 309 of the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Act.
Why is this medication prescribed
Interferon beta-1a is used to prevent episodes of symptoms and slow the development of disability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS, a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and patients may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control). Interferon beta-1a has not been shown to help patients with chronic progressive MS. Interferon beta-1a is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. It is not known how interferon beta-1a works to treat MS.
Proper Use of This Medicine
If you are injecting this medicine yourself, use it exactly as directed by your doctor.
Special patient directions come with interferon beta-1a injection. Read the directions carefully before using the medicine. Make sure you understand:
- How to prepare the injection.
- Proper use of disposable syringes.
- How to give the injection.
- How long the injection is stable.
If you have any questions about any of this, check with your health care professional.
Dosing
If you are receiving interferon beta-1a at home, follow your doctors orders or the directions on the label . If you have any questions about the proper dose of interferon beta-1a, ask your doctor.
- For injection dosage form:
- For multiple sclerosis (MS):
- Adults
- For Avonex
- 30 micrograms (mcg) once a week, injected into a muscle.
- For Rebif
- 22 micrograms (mcg) or 44 mcg 3 times a week, injected under the skin; your doctor may start you at a lower dose at first.
- Children Use and dose must be determined by the physician.
- For genital warts:
- Adults
- For Rebif
- 3.67 micrograms (mcg) per lesion 3 times a week for 3 weeks
Missed dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as remembered. The next injection should be scheduled at least 48 hours later.
Storage
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from direct light.
- Store prefilled syringes or vials of interferon beta-1a in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. If refrigeration is not available, the vials that have not been mixed with diluent may be kept for up to 30 days at room temperature, as long as the temperature does not go above 77 °F.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Other uses for this medicine
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What other information should I know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to interferon beta-1a.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For interferon beta-1a, the following should be considered:
Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to interferons or human albumin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy Interferon beta-1a has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that interferon beta-1a may cause miscarriages. Be sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding It is not known whether interferon beta-1a passes into breast milk. Because of the possibility of serious unwanted effects in the nursing infant, it is important that you discuss the use of this medicine with your doctor if you wish to breast-feed.
Children Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of interferon beta-1a in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of interferon beta-1a in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of interferon beta-1a. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Alcohol abuse or
- Higher concentration of a liver enzyme called SGPT
- Liver disease, active or in the past This medicine should be used cautiously. You should tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions. If you start having symptoms of liver problems such as jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), tell your doctor right away; your medicine may need to be stopped.
- Heart disease Some side effects of this medicine may be harmful to patients with serious heart problems
- Mental depression or thoughts of suicide This medicine may make the condition worse
- Seizure disorder The risk of seizures may be increased
In case of emergency overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
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