Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection
Interferon beta-1a is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. It works by decreasing inflammation and preventing nerve damage that may cause symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
🔔 How should this medicine be used?
Interferon beta-1a intramuscular injection comes as a powder in vials to be mixed into a solution for injection. Interferon beta-1a intramuscular injection also comes as a solution (liquid) in prefilled injection syringes and in a prefilled automatic injection pen. This medication is injected into a muscle, usually once a week, on the same day each week. Inject interferon beta-1a intramuscular at around the same time of day on your injection days. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use interferon beta-1a exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Interferon beta-1a controls the symptoms of MS but does not cure it. Continue to use interferon beta-1a even if you feel well. Do not stop using interferon beta-1a without talking to your doctor.
You will receive your first dose of interferon beta-1a intramuscular in your doctor’s office. After that, you can inject interferon beta-1a intramuscular yourself or have a friend or relative perform the injections. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you or the person who will be injecting the medication how to inject it. Before you use interferon beta-1a intramuscular for the first time, you or the person who will be giving the injections should also read the manufacturer’s information for the patient that comes with it. Follow the directions carefully.
Be sure you know what type of container your interferon beta 1b comes in and what other supplies, such as needles or syringes, you will need to inject your medication. If your interferon beta 1b intramuscular comes in vials, you will need to use a syringe and needle to inject your dose.
Always use a new, unopened vial, prefilled syringe and needle, or prefilled automatic injection pen for each injection. Never reuse vials, syringes, needles, or automatic injection pens. Discard used syringes, needles, and injection pens in a puncture-resistant container, kept out of reach of children. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to discard the puncture-resistant container.
Even with health insurance, patients in the U. S. have a hard time affording their medical care. About one in five working-age Americans with health insurance, and more than half of those without health insurance, reported having trouble paying their medical bills in the last year, according to S. News & World Report.
Always look at the medication in your vial, prefilled syringe, or automatic injection pen before you use it. If you are using a vial, the solution in the vial should be clear to slightly yellow after mixing. If you are using a prefilled syringe or automatic injection pen, the solution should be clear and colorless. If the solution is cloudy, discolored, or contains particles or if the expiration date marked on the vial, prefilled syringe, or automatic injection pen has passed, do not use that vial, prefilled syringe, or automatic injection pen.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about where on your body you should inject interferon beta-1a intramuscular. If you are using a syringe or prefilled syringe, you can inject interferon beta-1a intramuscular in your upper arms or thighs. If you are using a prefilled autoinjection pen, you can inject interferon beta-1a intramuscular in the outer surface of your upper thighs. Use a different spot for each injection. Do not use the same spot two times in a row. Do not inject into an area where the skin is sore, red, bruised, scarred, infected, irritated, or abnormal in any way.
