Interferon Injection Site/ Reaction

[doncheery]

It is not a big deal but I am curious. Six days after my first injection I have a 2-21/2 inch diameter raised circle at the injection site. Looks angry. Slightly sensitive. Is this par for the course or are some people more sensitive to Interferon than others. Thanks in advance.

[adamben101]

I get some red irritation at the injection site.  I learned that if I inject deeper like at a 90deg angle instead of 45deg, it helps.

[doncheery]

Thanks to all for responses. Pooh55811 your description sounds bang on. I have an appointment with case manager Monday morning. It will be on the top of my list of questions. Unless something drastic happens I'm sure it can wait.
Pooh thank you so much for the time you took to write such an extensive and informative reply. It is Huge to know that there is support like this so readily available. I'm very grateful.

[brianmo]

I was having a reaction at first with raised purple rings on belly, showed them to doctor and she was not concerned. I did have her go over with me again as to how to do the shot. She thinks I was pulling it out to fast. It has never been a proplem.

[pooh55811]

I might also add that because of those reactions it was/is sometimes hard to find places to inject. The old sites stay red and inflammed so long that eventually I canot find a place to inject. I don't want to inject on top of the red sites. If I recall correctly, I injected left outer upper thigh, then right outer upper thigh. Then I moved down my thighs a bit and did the same. Then I moved down again. So that is 6 injections. Then I moved my injection sites a little towards the center of my thighs and repeated 6 more injections in the same pattern, just more to the center of the thighs. That makes 12 injections. When it came to my 13th injection, those thigh sites were all still red, way too red for me to be comfortable injecting near them. Well, they all ran together by then, the older ones not so red and the newer ones quite red and warm and raised. So, I moved to my abdomen for shots 13 and 14 but they got so inflamed (at least 2.5 inches in diameter and red and itchy and raised) I had to go back to my thighs for injections 15 and 16 and 17. I often wonder where I will be putting the next 31 injections, lol. I will say that the earliest thigh injections are now fine and I can inject in several thigh areas again.

[pooh55811]

I think everyone reacts a little differently to the injections and some have a more pronounced reaction.

When you said circle, I am assuming you mean the entire area inside the circle is red and raised and that it is not a two inch ring (red ring, normal skin inside).

I noticed that my injection site looks okay for a few days after the injection, maybe very slight redness or maybe none. About 6 days after an injection the site, including the surrounding area about 2 inches in diameter, gets pretty pink-red and a little raised. It also itches like crazy. It feels warm to the touch (warmer than the rest of me). The site stays that way for at least a week or more and then gradually fades and quits itching (over 3-4 weeks time).

I have kept an eye on the injection sites just because they are red, warm, and raised, but they have all been okay and all have eventually faded.

I have many sensitivities and allergies so I actually was not surprised by this reaction. I figured I would react by getting red and raised areas. But I don't think one has to have allergies to get these reactions. Several people have posted about their injection sites. My case manager even told me some of the discoloring may stay a long time.

I just mainly watched the injection site areas but I did apply hydrocortizone cream to the itchy site (but not until a week after I had used that site).

Personally, I think it is probably a normal reaction but only you know how extensive and severe it is. If it was me, I would be concerned if it blistered, accumulated fluid, or drained or if the skin started to break down. I would also be concerned if I was running a fever or felt like I had an infection.  Perhaps it is best to let your case manager or doctor know and see what they say.

[oceanblue701]

I believe it should not be looking like that. Two and a half inches is a big reaction area. Angry also means red and swollen to me. Is it warmer to touch also? I would put in a call to your physician and just give a quick heads up on this. Six days is long enough for something simple like a big hive to fade away. It is possible you have a skin infection at the injection site and need maybe just even a little topical antibiotic or you could need more. Don't let it get any bigger.

[suezeeque]

I've seen many post (myself included) about injection site irritation.  However, I don't recall anyone saying that the site looked angry...  I think I'd have it looked at.  Could be infection?  Better safe than sorry.  :)

Did you get the needle good and deep, into fat?  Just wondering if it may have not been deep enough and the medication is pooling under your skin?