This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I've started taking Rebif this week, using the Rebiject II. I've been sent 4 weeks supply of 44mg syringes, but really need 22mg. The MS nurse that came to show me how to inject opened each syringe and simply squirted out half, put the needle cap back on, and put them back into the fridge.

When I did my second injection (stung a LOT more that the first one), I noticed that the needle (when I removed it from the auto-injector) looked like it had started to rust !

Has anyone else 'squirted' a months supply to reduce the initial dose?

Chris.

Hi Chris,
I started with a one month's supply of 22 mg (they make syringes with this dose) before I went to the 44mg dose so didn't have to manually titrate. But I certainly have never noticed any "rusting" on the needle! That said, my injections are indeed often painful. Bringing the medicine up to body temperature helps alot, and I definitely make sure the alchohol has dried on my prepped skin.

More often than not, when I remove the needle cap, there is droplet of Rebif on the end of the needle. I've heard this can lead to more pain and skin reactions so I make sure I shake the droplet off, and I go one step farther and clean it off with a clean dry cotton ball. Doing this with the autoinjector is awkward, so my method now is to not use the autoinjector's needle cap remover. I remove the needle cap manually, clean the needle, and then drop the naked needle into the autoinjector very carefully. It's not an "approved" technique, but it's what I do.

carolsue

FYI- there is a new titration pack available. If I were you, I would call MS Lifelines and explain the situaiton. They may send you another month of drug.

What! First of all that sounds like a major breach of the sterile technique. Second of all, why did she assume that you couldn't do that yourself? I would've been mad about her screwing with my $1000+ box of Rebif.