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Dealing with MS

3/12/2017

I have often heard that we should live in the present. This is so very true. Like the saying goes the past is gone and the future has yet to come. Dealing with MS can be so difficult at times, but all we really have is the hear and now. Dealing with emotions and a chronic disease is sometimes so hard that it's necessary to live minute by minute or hour by hour. Remember life can change in a second.

We all know this because it changed the day you got this diagnosis. I remember that day so well. I was devastated. I am a nurse. My mind went to places I never ever want to see. We can't predict the future. So after a few weeks of crying and feeling bad for myself, I picked myself up and decided to live one day at a time. Some days are great and some not so much. Sure I still have a bucket list and think about the future. I just try not to put pressure on myself. If I plan something it's in the back of my mind, this might not happen. If it does, I'm elated and if not, there will be other times. I know this all sounds rosy and yes I still have horrible depressing days. However, that's when I lean on my loved ones, my friends and yes all the amazing people who I've met along this MS road.

There are so many resources out there and wonderful people trying to make a difference and find a cure. So if you can, please live one day at a time, or one minute at a time if that's the kind of day it is. I know it's cliche, but stop and smell the roses.

Susan

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Important Safety Information

Before beginning treatment, you should discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with Rebif with your healthcare provider.

Rebif can cause serious side effects. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms listed below while taking Rebif.

Behavioral health problems, including depression and suicidal thoughts. You may have mood problems including depression (feeling hopeless or feeling bad about yourself), and thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide
Liver problems or worsening of liver problems, including liver failure. Symptoms may include nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, dark colored urine and pale stools, yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eye, bleeding more easily than normal, confusion, and sleepiness. During your treatment with Rebif you will need to see your healthcare provider regularly and have regular blood tests to check for side effects
Serious allergic and skin reactions. Symptoms may include itching, swelling of your face, eyes, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, anxiousness, feeling faint, skin rash, hives, sores in your mouth, or skin blisters and peels
Injection site problems. Symptoms at the injection site may include redness, pain, swelling, color changes (blue or black), and drainage of fluid
Blood problems. Rebif can affect your bone marrow and cause low red and white blood cell and platelet counts. In some people, these blood cell counts may fall to dangerously low levels. If your blood cell counts become very low, you can get infections and problems with bleeding and bruising. Your healthcare provider may ask you to have regular blood tests to check for blood problems
Seizures. Some people have had seizures while taking Rebif

Rebif will not cure your MS but may decrease the number of flare-ups of the disease and slow the occurrence of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS.

Do not take Rebif if you are allergic to interferon beta, human albumin, or any of the ingredients in Rebif.

Before you take Rebif, tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any of the following conditions:

mental illness, including depression and suicidal behavior
liver problems, bleeding problems or blood clots, low blood cell counts, seizures (epilepsy), or thyroid problems
you drink alcohol
you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Rebif will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during your treatment with Rebif
you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Rebif passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use Rebif or breastfeed. You should not do both

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of Rebif include:

flu-like symptoms. You may have flu-like symptoms when you first start taking Rebif. You may be able to manage these flu-like symptoms by taking over-the-counter pain and fever reducers. For many people, these symptoms lessen or go away over time. Symptoms may include muscle aches, fever, tiredness, and chills
stomach pain
change in liver blood tests

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Rebif. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Indication

Rebif is used to treat relapsing forms of MS to decrease the frequency of relapses and delay the occurrence of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS.

US-INF-0814-0017A
RBU680907-01