Guest guest Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Dear Sherrie, I am on rebif. Have been since Oct 25th. I have not noticed hair loss... hope that is not one of the nasty side effects! I do have quite a severe burning during and after injections a lot of the time. I also feel quite like a truck hit me for about 16 hours afterwards! How long have you been using rebif? What side effects are you experiencing? Martha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Sherrie & Martha, I've been on Avonex for three years. My reason for replying to your question. Rebif and Avonex are practically, if not the exact, same formulation. I always keep handy, my trusted copy of "The Pillbook". I posed the questione of hair loss, that I've experienced, to my Avonex nurse (I don't remember which one, I get calls from two.. one the Avonex Alliance, the other from McKeeson, the supplier). I've been told by whichever one I asked about it, that no, hair loss isn't a side-effect. LOL.. WRONG.. My trusty handy dandy pillbook tells me, that hair loss is a less common side-effect of interferon beta-1a, but it is still a side-effect. Oh, and 75% of people who take interferon beta are likely to develop flu-like symptoms. So I guess we didn't fall into the 25% who don't feel like a mack truck hit them after the injections. Reading a bit further.. I KNOW that one of our group is pregnant, due any day, but for the life of me (though I know I know who you are) I can't remember who right this minute... It's not known if interferon beta passes into breast milk... And it advises that nursing mothers should consider bottle feeding, if you need to take interferon beta. There's a bunch more info in this book, if anybody's interested let me know, and I'll post it. |)onna Re anyone taking rebif? Dear Sherrie, I am on rebif. Have been since Oct 25th. I have not noticed hair loss... hope that is not one of the nasty side effects! I do have quite a severe burning during and after injections a lot of the time. I also feel quite like a truck hit me for about 16 hours afterwards! How long have you been using rebif? What side effects are you experiencing? Martha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 It is me that is pregnant! I am not sure whether I will breast or bottle feed, but I absolutely will not take any medication if I decide to breast feed! They say they are not sure, but I figure it is best to be safe! I think it would be ok for me to wait a few more months to start treatment if I do decide to breast feed. Part of me would love to breastfeed forever if it would get me out of the shots! I am not looking forward to that! Tori Re: Re anyone taking rebif? Sherrie & Martha, I've been on Avonex for three years. My reason for replying to your question. Rebif and Avonex are practically, if not the exact, same formulation. I always keep handy, my trusted copy of "The Pillbook". I posed the questione of hair loss, that I've experienced, to my Avonex nurse (I don't remember which one, I get calls from two.. one the Avonex Alliance, the other from McKeeson, the supplier). I've been told by whichever one I asked about it, that no, hair loss isn't a side-effect. LOL.. WRONG.. My trusty handy dandy pillbook tells me, that hair loss is a less common side-effect of interferon beta-1a, but it is still a side-effect. Oh, and 75% of people who take interferon beta are likely to develop flu-like symptoms. So I guess we didn't fall into the 25% who don't feel like a mack truck hit them after the injections. Reading a bit further.. I KNOW that one of our group is pregnant, due any day, but for the life of me (though I know I know who you are) I can't remember who right this minute... It's not known if interferon beta passes into breast milk... And it advises that nursing mothers should consider bottle feeding, if you need to take interferon beta. There's a bunch more info in this book, if anybody's interested let me know, and I'll post it. |)onna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Andreia, It's going to be a long one.............. LOL Interferon Beta (in-ter-FEER-on BAY-tuh) Brand Names: Avonex - Interferon Beta-1a (Rebif would go here if the book were up to date) Betaseron - Interferon Beta-1b Type of Drug: Multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy Prescribed for: MS General Information: MS is an inflammatory disease in which protective myelin sheaths of the central nervous system are broken down by immune-system abnormalities. This leads to gradual and progressive loss of muscle tone and function, progressive weakness, and paralysis. Exacerbations - episodes of MS in which the disease worsens - develop slowly and may not reacede for weeks or months. Interferon beta drugs are used to treat the replasing-remitting form of the disease - about 66% of MS sufferers have it - in which stable periods are followed by periods of worsening. Until now, MS treatment has been aimed at controlling symptoms. Interferon beta can help reduce the number and severity of MS flare-ups. Interferon beta is also being studied for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, cancer, herpes and hepatitis. Cautions and Warnings: Do not take interferon beta if you are allergic to it or human albumin. The safety and benefit of interferon beta in chronic progressive MS is unproven. People taking interferon beta in studies had potentially severe depression and suicidal tendencies, but the drug was judged not to be the cause. People with seizure disorders may be more likely to develop a seizure while taking interferon beta. Up to 75% of people who take interferon beta are likely to develop flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches, sweating, and feeling unwell. These symptoms may prove stressful to people with heart disease. Interferon beta may cause increased sensitivity to the sun. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. Possible Side Effects In general, interferon beta-1a (Avonex) has fewer side effects than interferon beta-1b (Betaseron) Most common: respiratory infections, sinusitis, headache, fever, weakness, chills, dizziness, muscle aches, abdominal pain, flu-like symptoms, painful menstruation, diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach, and sleeping difficulties Less common: swelling, pelvic pain, cyst, thyroid goiter, heart palpitations, bleeding, laryngitis, breathing difficulties, joint pain, stiffness, tiredness, speech problems, convulsions, uncontrolled movements, hair loss, urinary urgency, and cystitis, Pain, burning or stinging at the injection site may also occur. Rare: Rare side effects can occur in almost any part of the body. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effects not listed above. Possible Side Effects - Interferon beta-1b Most Common: pain, burning, or stinging at the injection site, sinusitis, headache, migraine, fever, weakness, chills, muscle aches, abdominal pain, flu-like symptoms, menstrual disorders, painful menstruation, constipation, vomiting, liver inflammation, sweating, and reduced white blood cell count. Less common: itching, swelling, pelvic pain, cyst, thyroid goiter, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, bleeding, laryngitis, breathing difficulties, muscle weakness, stiffness, tiredness, speech problems, convulsions, uncontrolled movements, visual disturbances, or conjuctivits (pinkeye), urinary urgency, cystitis, breast pain, cystic breast disease, breast cancer, and weight changes. Rare: Rare side effects can occur in almost any part of the body. Contact your doctor if you experience any side effect not listed above. Food and Drug Interactions: None known. Usual Dose: Interferon Beta-1a 30 mcg once a week, by intramuscular injection. Interferon Beta-1b 8 million units (250 mcg) every other day by subcutaneous injection. Overdoseage: Little is known about the effects of interferon beta overdose. Symptoms may include exaggerated side effects. Call your local poison control cneter or a hospital emergency room for more information. If you seek treatment, ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container. Special Information: Interferon beta-1a and interferon beta-1b may be associated with severe depression. Mood swings or changes, lack of interest in daily activites, excessive sleep, and other possible signs of depression should be reported to your dotor at once. If you forget to administer a dose, do so as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one your forgot and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose. Special Populations: Pregnancy/Breast-feeding Animal studies show that interferon beta may cause abortion. Women who are or might be pregnant should not use this drug. It is not known if interferon beta passes into breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take it should consider bottle-feeding. Seniors: Seniors may use this drug without special restriction. The Pillbook - Bantam - 10th revised edition - May 2002 I do like this book.. it's good reference material.. |)onna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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