What is the most important information I should know about interferon beta-1b?
Some people have depression or thoughts about suicide while using interferon beta-1b. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, trouble sleeping, hallucinations, or if you feel impulsive, hostile, aggressive, depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Interferon beta-1b can harm your liver. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, vomiting, tiredness, itching, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).
What is interferon beta-1b?
Interferon beta-1b is used to treat is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). This medicine will not cure MS, it will only decrease the frequency of relapse symptoms.
Interferon beta-1b may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using interferon beta-1b?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to interferon beta, albumin, or mannitol.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease;
- congestive heart failure;
- a seizure;
- depression, anxiety, or suicidal behavior;
- a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder;
- low white blood cell (WBC) counts; or
- anemia (lack of red blood cells).
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It may not be safe to breast-feed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
How should I use interferon beta-1b?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Interferon beta-1b is injected under the skin, usually every other day. A healthcare provider may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Do not use interferon beta-1b if you don't understand all instructions for proper use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
You will need frequent medical tests.
Store unmixed medicine at cool room temperature away from moisture and heat.
After mixing interferon beta-1b, store in the refrigerator and use within 3 hours. Do not freeze.
Each single-use vial (bottle) of this medicine is for one use only. Throw it away after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.
Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Then wait at least 48 hours before using another injection, and restart your dosing schedule at that time. Do not use more than one injection every 48 hours (2 days).
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using interferon beta-1b?
Avoid injecting this medicine into skin that is sore, red, or infected.
Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause serious side effects.
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
What are the possible side effects of interferon beta-1b?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Some patients using interferon medicines have become very depressed or had thoughts of suicide. Report any new or worsening symptoms of depression to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, trouble sleeping, hallucinations, or if you feel impulsive, hostile, aggressive, depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Stop using interferon beta-1b and call your doctor at once if you have:
- fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
- a seizure;
- pain, swelling, redness, or skin changes where an injection was given;
- easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin;
-
heart problems --swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;
-
liver problems --nausea, vomiting, tiredness, itching, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes); or
-
new or worsening symptoms of lupus --joint pain, and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight.
Common side effects may include:
- headache, weakness;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- stomach pain;
- muscle pain;
- abnormal liver function tests;
- skin rash;
- flu symptoms; or
- a skin reaction where the medicine was injected.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect interferon beta-1b?
Other drugs may affect interferon beta-1b, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about interferon beta-1b.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 10/3/2018.
