130 patient evaluations for Interferon beta-1a SubQ injection

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Apr 24, 2014 (Started Feb 14, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for General health)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (dizziness, optic nerve inflammation (optic neuritis), headaches, injection site redness, injection site pain, injection site itching, muscle aches, burning pain at injection site)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg 3 times a week
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: dizziness, injection site itching, injection site redness, headaches, injection site pain, optic nerve inflammation (optic neuritis), burning pain at injection site, muscle aches

Jan 9, 2013 (Started Feb 14, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for General health)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (dizziness, optic nerve inflammation (optic neuritis), headaches, injection site redness, injection site pain, injection site itching, muscle aches, burning pain at injection site)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg 3 times a week
Advice & Tips: I'm so over these shots but Don't think I can get into anything else any time soon. My goal is to be off Rebif in 2013... I hope.
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: dizziness, injection site itching, injection site redness, headaches, injection site pain, optic nerve inflammation (optic neuritis), burning pain at injection site, muscle aches

Jul 27, 2009 (Started Feb 14, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for General health)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (dizziness, optic nerve inflammation (optic neuritis), headaches, injection site redness, injection site pain, injection site itching, muscle aches, burning pain at injection site)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg 3 times a week
Cost: $50-99 monthly
Side effects: dizziness, injection site itching, injection site redness, headaches, injection site pain, optic nerve inflammation (optic neuritis), burning pain at injection site, muscle aches

Apr 7, 2009 (Started Feb 14, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for General health)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (dizziness, optic nerve inflammation (optic neuritis), injection site redness, injection site pain)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg 3 times a week
Advice & Tips: Looking back over the last year I have had some ups and downs but over all I feel very lucky to have started treatment so quickly. I feel better everyday and if I have to deal with minor dizzy spells from time to time, so be it. I hope next year when I update my profile and can report even more progress.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: dizziness, injection site itching, injection site redness, headaches, injection site pain, optic nerve inflammation (optic neuritis), burning pain at injection site, muscle aches
  • 0 helpful marks

Jun 15, 2013 (Started Jul 01, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Advice & Tips: I started taking Rebif after I'd had RRMS for about 17 years. I had an exacerbation that led my PA to call my condition Secondary Progressive. Though Rebif is Rx'd for RRMS, I took it for 7 years into 2nd Prog. I discontinued on my own about 1 tear ago as of this writing. My condition has declined a bit. Don't know if because no Rebif. Dunno.
  • 0 helpful marks

Apr 13, 2014 (Started Feb 07, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (injection site infection)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Advice & Tips: After 10 years of positive results, I had to discontinue Rebif. Soon will be taking Tecfidera.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Apr 7, 2014 (Started Feb 07, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (injection site infection)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Cost: < $25 monthly

Mar 27, 2014 (Started Feb 07, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (injection site infection)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Cost: < $25 monthly

May 22, 2012 (Started Feb 07, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Feb 25, 2014 (Started Sep 15, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (MS hug (tight chest or torso))
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Cost: < $25 monthly

Mar 4, 2012 (Started Sep 15, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (MS hug (tight chest or torso))
  • Adherence
    Sometimes
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
  • 0 helpful marks

Oct 27, 2013 (Started Dec 02, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (elevated blood pressure)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 3 x 44 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: Having injected Rebif three times a week for the last seven years, I have finally found an effective oral medication that has zero side effects.
Cost: $200+ monthly
Side effects: elevated blood pressure

May 27, 2012 (Started Dec 02, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (elevated blood pressure)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 3 x 44 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: I'm still pleased with how well Rebif has and continues to work for me (zero new lesions - for 7 years now)!! I'm also reporting the true cost of this medication instead of my out of pocket cost, since I only have copays for the month of January each year, after which I pay zero copays for the rest of the year (because my Medicare extra- help is the full not partial low-income-subsidy). If your state allows it, you can deduct the cost of your health insurance (excluding your drug coverage cost) from your income. This is called the Medicare Savings Program aka Medicaid-Buy-In. You must be able to lower your income to 135% of the federal poverty level, in order to use this program. Then your state pays your Medicare Part B monthly premium and CMS deems you a dual eligible for Medicare Part D benefits for the rest of that year. You must apply for this (Extra-Help) through your county's Medicaid office, but you cannot be receiving Medicaid.
Cost: $200+ monthly
Side effects: elevated blood pressure

Jan 27, 2012 (Started Dec 02, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (elevated blood pressure)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 3 x 44 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: The slight increase in my blood pressure is a very tiny cost, compared too finally having a clear MRI (my 7th imaging session). This was my first MRI that showed NO MS progression, no new enhancing lesions and no increased cortical atrophy. The cervical scan was also clear of new activity and most of my recently acquired new spinal symptoms also cleared up.
Cost: $200+ monthly
Side effects: elevated blood pressure

Sep 21, 2008 (Started Dec 02, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (elevated blood pressure)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 3 x 44 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: I started Rebif during a severe MS attack, to date that was my quickest resolving attack, the L'hermitte's sign totally disappeared, and it has not returned--almost three years now.
Cost: $200+ monthly
Side effects: elevated blood pressure
  • 0 helpful marks

Mar 22, 2013 (Started Aug 13, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (very low white blood cell count)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Oct 1, 2012 (Started Jan 15, 2002)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Advice & Tips: check antibodies
  • 0 helpful marks

Oct 2, 2013 (Started Nov 01, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Advice & Tips: I've been in a clinical study & all the labels on the shots said "Could be Rebif, could be Placebo" Like my other medications, I never had any noticeable side affects that I can think of.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Aug 31, 2013 (Started Jan 03, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Advice & Tips: According to my mri, it wasn't doing anything so she moved me back to Tsayarbi
Cost: < $25 monthly

Feb 1, 2011 (Started Jan 03, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL 3 times a week
Advice & Tips: I had problem with my Neuro. But I was into the groove with the medicine.
  • 0 helpful marks

Aug 7, 2013 (Started Dec 05, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for multiple sclerosis)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (limbs tingling, flu like symptoms)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 44 mcg/0.5 mL Weekly
Advice & Tips: Make sure you drink A LOT of water. Even with all that water I would still take ibuprofen before going to bed to try and avoid the flu like symptoms. Most of the rime this would work but not always.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks
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