Interferon beta-1b Medication Record
Injection site rotation – Manual injection
It is important that you rotate the injection sites with every Interferon beta-1b injection. Alternating sites will allow for a recovery over time and will help to minimise injection site reactions. By following the recommendations outlined below, you can vary the injection sites adequately and will only come back to your first area after eight injections (i.e. 16 days).
Choosing an injection site:
- Choose your injection area and site before preparing the syringe.
- Interferon beta-1b is injected into the fatty layer between the skin and muscle, i.e. subcutaneously. The recommended injection depth is 12 mm under the skin but in some cases (for example for people with very little body fat) you can also inject 8 or 10 mm under the skin. Talk to your doctor or nurse about the best solution for you.
Rotating injection sites:
- Keep a record of the date and exact site of your injections with the help of the Interferon beta-1b Patient Diary available from your local Interferon beta-1b nurse or health care provider.
- Follow the rotation schedule as follows:
- Eight areas suitable for injection are shown in the diagrams on pages 38 and 39 (areas 1–8). Within each area there are six injection sites, representing a total of 48 possible injection sites.
- Move through the 48 sites as follows: e.g. during eight consecutive injections, use the upper left part of all eight injection areas. Then return to the first injection area on the ninth injection and inject the lower right part of each area in the following rotation cycle, and so on.
Rotation schedule
We recommend the following rotation schedule:
Rotation cycle 1: Your first eight injections should be given in sequence from area 1 to area 8, using only the upper left section of each area.
Rotation cycle 2: Your next eight injections should start again in area 1, but be given in the lower right
section of each area.
Rotation cycle 3: Your following eight injections in series should start in area 1 and rotate through the middle left section of each area.
By following this sequence you give each injection site a chance to fully recover before receiving another injection.
- If one area becomes sore, speak to a medical professional about choosing another injection area.
- Some areas might seem hard to reach and require assistance from a friend or family member. You may find it easier to inject in these areas with an autoinjector.
Please ask your doctor or nurse for more information.
