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1140169 tn?1370185076

Rebif injection site issues

I've been on Rebif since the begining of Aug, and lately I'm having some miner issues (i was going to add to Cali1892's post, but I didn't want to hyjack it).

- For the last 5  or 6 weeks, I've noticed I get a red mark at the injection site the day after injecting (I never got any marks for the first few weeks)

- The red spots seem to be lasting longer and longer as time goes on, about 8 or 10 days now

- These spots seem to be getting larger as time goes on (the one on the back of my arm is about 3" around)

- Sometimes I get pain around the red area, feels like a bruise (eg, butt and back of arm feel bruised, shot butt 8 days ago and arm 3 days ago)

- Usually the needle isn't painful (usually) but lately the Rebif hurts/burns while it is being injected. I'm using the Rebismart injector, and I have the injection speed set on slow. The Rebif is at room temperature. I am cleaning with alcohal swabs, and I wait 20 to 30 seconds before I inject.

- I am still getting flue like symptoms, headaches, fever, etc., but they are less and less severe.

Any tips? Comments? Suggestions?

Thanks

Mike
5 Responses
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1140169 tn?1370185076
Thanks folks, I figured these issues were pretty standard.

Jen, no peeling skin or anything like that (yet).

MsmsinFl, I wish I was thin enough to have trouble finding a fat spot to inject ;)

Bob, i don't think these are skin problems from the alcohal, but I'll try not using them.

Shell, the rebismart has a lot of settings to adjust it how you like. When I put the unit on my skin the "go" button turns green.

I push the button and the needle goes in (I have it set on fast, with the depth set on 10 [ depth choices are 8 and 10]) and the injection begins (I have the injection speed set on slow) The "go" button flashes green.

After 25 or 30 seconds I can feel the needle retracting and the "go" button light turns off and the unit beeps.

I had a real painful injection once when we were camping and the Rebif got quite cold, so now if I know the med is cold I'll hold the vial in my hand for a couple minutes to warm it up.

Anyhow, thanks everyone and take care

Mike



Helpful - 0
198419 tn?1360242356
Hi Mike,

Like mentioned I too get the red marks about the size of a silver dollar and they do come out about a day or two or even three later.  Sometimes I get a sore spot  especially on my hips. I tend to rub it out mostly and find that helps. Usually as long as it doesn't get bumped it doesn't hurt.

The rebismart is still not available to us.
I straight up inject. It's less invasive and abrupt for me. But, I wonder how slow the med is being pushed in w/that rebismart you have? Can you describe it from skin contact on? I don't inject the needle super slow but I do push the med out slowly. I'm just wondering if this would help you out.

I remember the headaches, and I hope they pass. I do get achey still from time-to-time but I'm fairly use to it. As for tips... I rub the spot before and after to kind of get it warm. I take naproxen which helps the lot of it out i.e., headache or body ache.  I still get that burn/sting sometimes worse than others. There may not be much to do w/that issue as the med itself is acidic.

Hope this helps...
`shell
Helpful - 0
1453990 tn?1329231426
Some folks develop a skin sensitivity to the commercial alcohol pads.  Try Everclear (Ethanol) and a cotton ball, or acetone.  Both will kill the bugs but no isopropyl alcohol.

Bob

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been on Rebif a little over a year -- 22mcg, not 44 mcg.

I never get the flu symptoms, but get the red spot every time.  It's about the size of a quarter or a little more, and doesn't show up until a day or 2 after the shot -- then it stays for a couple of weeks.  Never hurts or itches, just marks the injection site (so I don't have to keep up with that -- I just stay an inch or 2 away from the spots).

I use the Rebiject set on "2" (fairly shallow ) -- and don't have the "speed" adjustment you have, so it's the fast injection for me.
I apply warm heating pad before & after the injection, and apply pressure & gentle massage for a couple of minutes after.
The only time i get a bruise (very rare), I can tell immediately that I've hit a small blood vessel which turns blue instantly.

I don't inject my arms, just rotate thigh, butt & belly (I'm pretty thin, so finding the fat for injection is a trial).  

From my reading at this & other web sites, this painless "bullseye" is almost universal with Rebif.  
The Rebif nurse suggested applying witch hazel or aloe the day after injecting, but I never do -- it just doesn't bother me.
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
I had two weeks of the flu-like symptoms, and I'm still much more spastic than I was before I started on Betaseron.  (another interferon, but administered every other day.)

The only advice the nurse gave me was to massage the injection site afterwards.  I've done so, but I still end up with a red spot every now and then.  They're better than the copaxone red spot, though!  

Well, what the neuro always tells me is to call the help line first, and see what they say.  But my experience is that if you're suffering any adverse reaction, they aren't going to tell you it's the drug.  Not very much help.

Many people have site reactions from the interferon, and some have to discontinue because of it.  Keep an eye on the sites for skin necrosis, and if it looks like you're developing some cellulitis (red, peeling skin) discontinue and call the neuro.
Helpful - 0
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