Interferon Beta-1a Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you have bleeding problems, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider. The flu-like side effects of interferon may be stressful to heart patients.

• If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have mental illness, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have seizures, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have thyroid disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).

• You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen; wear protective clothing and eyewear.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.

• Flu-like symptoms. These include headache, weakness, fever, shakes, aches, pains, and sweating. Mild pain medicine may help.

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Belly pain.

• Change in vision.

• Low white blood cell count.

• Irritation where the shot is given.

• Liver damage can rarely occur.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.

• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

• Chest pain or pressure or fast heartbeat.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Seizures.

• Severe dizziness or passing out.

• Severe swelling.

• Unusual bruising or bleeding.

• Not able to eat.

• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.

• For females, if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.