About your treatment  

Your doctor has ordered interferon beta-1b, a biologic response modifier. This medication is used to treat patients with 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. This medication will be injected subcutaneously (under the skin) every other day. Your health care provider will show you how to prepare and give the injection.

Interferon beta-1b is a man-made version of a naturally occuring protein. It is used to treat patients with relapsing forms of MS (course of disease where symptoms flare up for a short time, then go away). Interferon beta-1b does not cure MS but may reduce the number of disease flare-ups.Interferon beta-1b may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication.

Storing your medication  

• Your health care provider probably will give you a several-day supply of interferon beta-1b at a time and provide you with directions on how to prepare each dose. Store the vials at room temperature.
• You should use a prepared dose immediately after mixing and allowing any foam in the solution to settle. If you must wait to give the injection, you may refrigerate the prepared dose and use it within 3 hours after bringing it to room temperature before injecting. Avoid shaking the vial. Use a vial and syringe only once, and do not reenter a needle into the vial. Throw away any unused portion of medication.
• Do not allow interferon beta-1b to freeze.

Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand what you need to store your medication properly.

Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of reach of children. Do not throw needles or syringes in the household trash or recycle. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles and syringes in a puncture-proof container to avoid accidental injury.

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.

Signs of infection  

If you are receiving interferon beta-1b under your skin, you need to know the signs of an injection area infection (an infection at the area where you have given your medication subcutaneously). If you experience any of these signs near an injection area, call your health care provider as soon as possible:

• swelling
• lump
• pain
• irritation
• redness
• bruising
• drainage
• dark discoloration
• other skin problems

Brand names