What is Rebif: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

How to take Rebif

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin or into a muscle.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• Injection routeYou may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to. A nurse or other trained health professional should watch the first Avonex® injection you give yourself.

• Rebif® comes as an autoinjector pen or a prefilled syringe. It works best if you use it at the same time on the same 3 days each week, at least 48 hours apart.

• Avonex® comes as a prefilled autoinjector pen, a prefilled syringe, or a powder. The powder must be mixed with sterile water before it is given. Follow instructions to mix. Use the medicine as soon as possible after you mix it. If you cannot give your shot right away, you can keep the syringe in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours. After 6 hours, throw the medicine away and mix another dose.

• Injection routeYou will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.

• Injection routeUse a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine. Do not use any other needle for the prefilled autoinjector pen.

• After you have used a dose of the prefilled syringe or Rebif® Rebidose® autoinjector, throw away any medicine that is leftover. Do not reuse needles or syringes.

• Missed dose: Avonex®: Give the dose as soon as you remember. Go back to your regular schedule the following week. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Do not use this medicine 2 days in a row.Rebif®: Give the dose as soon as you remember. Skip the next day and give your next regular dose 48 hours later. Go back to your regular schedule the following week. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Do not use this medicine 2 days in a row.

• Keep this medicine in the refrigerator if you store it at home. Do not freeze. You may allow the prefilled autoinjector pens and prefilled syringes to warm to room temperature for 30 minutes before injection. Do not heat in a microwave oven or in hot water.

• If refrigeration is not available, Rebif® prefilled syringes and Avonex® powder vials may be kept for up to 30 days at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Avonex® prefilled autoinjector pens and prefilled syringes may be stored for up to 7 days at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.

• Injection routeThrow away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

• Injection routeYou may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to. A nurse or other trained health professional should watch the first Avonex® injection you give yourself.

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin or into a muscle.

• Keep this medicine in the refrigerator if you store it at home. Do not freeze. You may allow the prefilled autoinjector pens and prefilled syringes to warm to room temperature for 30 minutes before injection. Do not heat in a microwave oven or in hot water.

• Injection routeThrow away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

• Injection routeYou will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.

• Missed dose: Avonex®: Give the dose as soon as you remember. Go back to your regular schedule the following week. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Do not use this medicine 2 days in a row.Rebif®: Give the dose as soon as you remember. Skip the next day and give your next regular dose 48 hours later. Go back to your regular schedule the following week. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Do not use this medicine 2 days in a row.

• Avonex® comes as a prefilled autoinjector pen, a prefilled syringe, or a powder. The powder must be mixed with sterile water before it is given. Follow instructions to mix. Use the medicine as soon as possible after you mix it. If you cannot give your shot right away, you can keep the syringe in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours. After 6 hours, throw the medicine away and mix another dose.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• After you have used a dose of the prefilled syringe or Rebif® Rebidose® autoinjector, throw away any medicine that is leftover. Do not reuse needles or syringes.

• If refrigeration is not available, Rebif® prefilled syringes and Avonex® powder vials may be kept for up to 30 days at room temperature, away from heat and direct light. Avonex® prefilled autoinjector pens and prefilled syringes may be stored for up to 7 days at room temperature, away from heat and direct light.

• Injection routeUse a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine. Do not use any other needle for the prefilled autoinjector pen.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Rebif® comes as an autoinjector pen or a prefilled syringe. It works best if you use it at the same time on the same 3 days each week, at least 48 hours apart.

What to do if you miss a dose of Rebif

Rebif contraindications

• This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to interferon beta or human albumin.

Rebif warnings

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, bone marrow or bleeding problems, heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm problems, or thyroid problems. Tell your doctor if you have a history of alcohol abuse, depression, or seizures. Tell your doctor if you have a latex allergy.

• This medicine may increase depression or thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed or think about hurting yourself.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:Liver problemsSeizures

• This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

• Some forms of this medicine are made from donated human blood. All donated blood is tested for certain viruses. Although your risk for getting a virus from the medicine is very low, talk with your doctor if you have concerns.

• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

• Unusual moods or behaviors, depression, thoughts of hurting yourself or others

Rebif interactions

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, bone marrow or bleeding problems, heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm problems, or thyroid problems. Tell your doctor if you have a history of alcohol abuse, depression, or seizures. Tell your doctor if you have a latex allergy.

• This medicine may increase depression or thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed or think about hurting yourself.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:Liver problemsSeizures

• This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

• Some forms of this medicine are made from donated human blood. All donated blood is tested for certain viruses. Although your risk for getting a virus from the medicine is very low, talk with your doctor if you have concerns.

• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.