Interferon Beta-1b

What is interferon beta-1b?

Interferon beta-1b works on the immune system. It is like the interferon made by your child's body. Interferon beta-1b is a preventer medicine. It reduces the number of flare-ups of multiple sclerosis. Interferon beta-1b will not cure multiple sclerosis.

You may also hear interferon beta-1b called by its brand names, Betaseron or Extavia.

Before giving interferon beta-1b to your child?

Tell your child's doctor if your child is allergic to interferon beta or any other ingredient in the formulation or if they are allergic to albumin blood products.

Talk with your child's doctor or pharmacist if your child has the following condition. This medicine may not be right for your child if they have:

• Liver disease

How should you give your child interferon beta-1b?

• Interferon beta-1b is given by needle under the skin. This is called a subcutaneous injection. You may hear it called a sub-Q injection. If you give your child the injections at home, do it exactly as your child's nurse or doctor showed you.
• Give your child interferon beta-1b every other day (every 2 days). Pick a time near bedtime that is easy for you so that you do not miss a dose. Giving interferon beta-1b at bedtime will help decrease the side effects your child may feel.
• Give interferon beta-1b in special spots on your child's body. These spots are called injection sites. A site can be used only 1 time per week. A diary can be used to help you keep track of the injections. Using a site more than once per week can cause the site to become hard and sore, or dimpled. Choose a site that looks healthy. Do not use a site that is sore, hard, red, lumpy, or black and blue in colour.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of interferon beta-1b?

If your child misses a dose of interferon beta-1b:

• Give your child the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If you remember the next day, give the missed dose.
• Give your child the next dose in 2 days, and every 2 days after that. Do not give your child a dose two days in a row.

What are the possible side effects of interferon beta-1b?

Your child may have some side effects while they receive interferon beta-1b. Usually your child will not need to see a doctor about them.

These side effects may go away after 2 or 3 months as your child's body gets used to interferon beta-1b. Check with your child's doctor if your child has any of these signs or symptoms and they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• flu-like symptoms (common), such as fever, chills, sweating, feeling tired, muscle ache
• injection site redness, itching, pain, lump, black and blue colour
• stomach pain
• headache
• monthly period of bleeding (in girls) that is not normal or "spotting" between periods
• sore breasts (in girls)
• constipation

Call your child's doctor right away or go to Emergency if your child has any of these signs:

• difficulty breathing
• feeling very sad or depressed
• white patches in the mouth
• pain while eating or swallowing
• rash from the sun
• itchy, blotchy swelling of the skin (hives)
• yellow eyes or skin
• dizziness
• irregular, pounding or rapid heart beat
• hair loss
• unexplained fever
• severe pain at the injection site
• muscle tightness
• seizures
• swelling in arms or legs

What safety measures should you take when your child is using interferon beta-1b?

Interferon beta-1b may make your child's skin more likely to sunburn. Make sure your child covers their skin and head with clothing and a hat when outside. You child should also use sunscreen (a cream that protects the skin from the sun). Look for a sunscreen that says it protects against the sun's ultraviolet rays, called UVA and UVB rays. The sunscreen should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Ask your pharmacist to help you pick the right sunscreen.

If appropriate, your child should use birth control while getting interferon beta-1b. Tell your child's doctor right away if your child may be pregnant.

What other important information should you know about interferon beta-1b?

• It will take time for you or your child to notice any benefit from interferon beta-1b.
• Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before you give your child any other medicine, even medicines that you can buy without a doctor's order (prescription).Vials of interferon beta-1b powder may be stored at room temperature or in the fridge. Do not freeze. The liquid used to mix the interferon beta-1b may be kept at room temperature.
• Use the vial as soon as it has been mixed (reconstituted). If not used right away, refrigerate vial until use. Do not use the interferon beta-1b if it has been mixed for longer than 3 hours. Do not shake vial after being mixed.
• Give interferon beta-1b when it is at room temperature. After mixing, wait about 5 minutes before giving the injection. Room temperature injections do not hurt as much as cold injections.
• After you give your child the injection, throw away the needles and syringes in the special container that was given to you. If you did not receive a special container or if your container is full, an empty large plastic container with a small opening may be used, such as an empty liquid laundry detergent container.
• Throw away the vial in the special container that was provided after the dose has been taken from the vial. Throw away the vial even if there is medicine left in the vial. Talk to your child's doctor before stopping interferon beta-1b.
• Make sure you have enough interferon beta-1b for weekends and holidays.
• Keep interferon beta-1b out of your child's sight and reach.
  

Keep interferon beta-1b out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much interferon beta-1b, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.