Rebif and Injection Site Pain: What Users Say

• TiB...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 2, 2018

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2006. I was nearly immediately put on Rebif. The worst reaction I have ever had are site reactions. I have learned to manage those by massaging the injection site before and after each injection. Ice helps if it is stinging after the injection, heat if it is aching. I had a pretty severe relapse in 2015, my new neuro put me on Tecfidera, which was awful. I would (exactly) 1 hour after taking the medication in the morning throw up for 1 hour (exactly), the flushing was miserable. I would flush so hard I would look nearly purple. I had so many physical issues, weight gain, etc. Not to mention I had low levels of JC virus and was still put on Tecfidera (that combination causes a brain infection). In 2017 I started seeing another new neuro. His first order of business was taking me off of Tecfidera for 1 month and starting me back on Rebif. I have had no issues since. I feel like I am human (with standard MS issues)."

• hwa...
• February 21, 2011

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was diagnosed with MS in 07/2009 and started this medication in 11/2009. I was titrated up to 22 mg and then titrated up to the 44 mg within 4 months of starting medicines. I got an emergency phone call from the neuro office after routine blood work came back telling me to immediately move back down to 22 mg dose. I had elevated liver enzymes for an entire year on this medication. Finally, the levels dropped to normal range. Four months after the liver enzymes normalized, I stopped having the flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, general unwell feeling). I take a naproxen about an hour before each shot. I still get site reactions and some bruising at the injection site (and burning when the medicine is going in). I use the RebiSmart Injector."

• Fre...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 29, 2020

For Multiple Sclerosis "I was on Rebif for 9 years. The first 8.5 years were fine. The side effects were basically minimal and easy to handle. I eventually developed injection site reactions at 5 of the 8 recommended sites. These were essentially knot-like masses below the skin surface, kind of like a weird reaction. I stopped taking it about 4 years ago. The masses are very slowly shrinking, one is gone as far as I can tell. If I could do it over again - would I? Yes, in my opinion, it worked for 9 years."