Rebif Dosage: An Introduction
The dose of
Rebif® (
interferon beta-1a) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- How you respond to Rebif
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be currently taking.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Rebif Dosage for Multiple Sclerosis
The recommended dose of Rebif for treating
multiple sclerosis (
MS) is 22 mcg or 44 mcg, injected three times a week. Both doses are safe and effective. You will likely start at a lower dose and slowly work up to the full dose over a four-week period. Your healthcare provider will instruct you on how to increase your dose.
Your healthcare provider may recommend that you take a non-prescription pain reliever, such as
Tylenol® (
acetaminophen) before, at the same time, or after each Rebif injection. This can help prevent some of
the flu-like symptoms (such as fever, chills, and muscle aches) that are common with Rebif.
General Information on Dosing With Rebif
Considerations for people taking Rebif include the following:
- The medication comes as an injection. It is injected subcutaneously (just under the skin) three times a week. You will start at a low dose and slowly work up to a full dose.
- Inject Rebif on the same three days each week (for instance, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), making sure there are at least 48 hours between injections. Try to take the injections at the same time of the day, preferably in the late afternoon or evening.
- It is best to inject Rebif into areas of the skin that have a layer of fat underneath. This includes the thigh, outer upper arm, stomach (away from the navel), or buttocks. Try to rotate the injection sites (do not inject in the same place twice in a row).
- Make sure your healthcare provider teaches you exactly how to inject Rebif. This includes how to prepare the skin, how to insert the needle and inject the medication, and what to do with your used needles (this may vary, depending on the local laws and regulations).
- Rebif comes in prefilled, premeasured syringes with needles attached. The needles are very thin, as the injection just needs to go under the skin, not into muscle.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Rebif will not work if you stop taking it.
- If you are unsure about anything related to your Rebif dosage, please talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking the drug without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
