Plegridy
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) is an interferon beta. It's used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. It's given either as an injection under the skin or into the muscle once every 2 weeks. Some of the more common side effects of Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) include redness at the injection site and flu-like symptoms. Though rare, it can also cause more serious side effects like depression and liver damage, so it's best to avoid drinking alcohol while taking Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a).
What is Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)?
What is Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) used for?
How Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) works
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an immune system that attacks their nervous system by mistake. This can lead to symptoms like vision problems, weakness, or numbness.
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) is a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) known as interferon beta. The exact way Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) treats MS isn't well-understood. But it's thought to work by calming down the immune system so that it's less likely to attack the nervous system.
Drug Facts
What are the side effects of Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)?
Common Side Effects
- Injection-site redness (62%)
- Flu-like symptoms (47%)
- Fever (45%)
- Headache (44%)
- Muscle pain (19%)
- Chills (17%)
- Injection-site pain and itching (up to 15%)
- Weakness (13%)
- Joint pain (11%)
Other Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- General pain and itching
- Overheating
- Injection-site rash, swelling, or warmth
Serious Side Effects
- Depression and thoughts of self-harm
- Seizures
- Serious allergic reactions: hives, itching, swelling of face or tongue, difficulty breathing
- Liver damage: swelling of your stomach, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, confusion
- Heart failure: shortness of breath, swelling in legs, ankles, or feet, coughing, fatigue, weakness
- High blood pressure in the lungs: shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling, chest pain, lips and fingers turning blue
- Low blood cell counts: fever, pale skin, fast heart rate, lightheadedness, easy bleeding or bruising
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Heart failure—shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands, sudden weight gain, unusual weakness or fatigue
- High thyroid levels (hyperthyroidism)—fast or irregular heartbeat, weight loss, excessive sweating or sensitivity to heat, tremors or shaking, anxiety, nervousness, irregular menstrual cycle or spotting
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Low red blood cell level—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing
- Low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism)—unusual weakness or fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, hair loss, dry skin, weight gain, feelings of depression
- Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)—shortness of breath, unusual weakness or fatigue, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, blue skin or lips
- Seizures
- Stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, pale skin, unusual weakness or fatigue, decrease in the amount of urine, which may be signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome
- TTP—purple spots on the skin or inside the mouth, pale skin, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue, fever, fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion, change in vision, trouble speaking, trouble walking
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Pros and cons of Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)
Pros
Works well as a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to treat relapsing forms of MS
Only has to be injected every 14 days
Can be kept at room temperature for up to 30 days, which can be convenient if you're traveling
Cons
Might be difficult for some people to administer correctly
Can potentially cause a lot of serious side effects like liver damage and mental health problems
It's not completely known if Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) is safe in pregnant or breastfeeding women
Pharmacist tips for Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)
Mark your calendar with your appointments to see your provider and get any blood work done. Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) can potentially cause a lot of side effects, so it's important to receive regular follow-up to see how you're responding to the medication and if you're having side effects.
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) commonly causes flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, weakness, fever, chills, muscle aches, joint pain, and headaches. If you experience these, make sure to stay hydrated and ask your provider about using medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to treat the symptoms.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) because it can worsen side effects (e.g., sleepiness, dizziness). In addition, doing so can also worsen liver injury.
Talk to your provider about family planning before starting Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) because it's not known how safe the medication is during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Let your provider know if you have a latex allergy. The rubber cap of the syringe cover contains natural latex.
More tips for how to inject Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a):
Make sure you know how to give yourself Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) to avoid accidentally hurting yourself or wasting the medication. Contact your provider or pharmacist if you have any questions on how to use this medication.
Store Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) in the refrigerator and keep in the original container to protect it from light. Or, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 30 days.
When you're ready to give yourself the medication, take it out of the refrigerator, lay it on a flat surface, and allow 30 minutes for it to reach room temperature. Don't shake the medication or try to warm it up any other way.
Always check the medication solution to make sure it's clear and colorless to slightly yellowish before using it. If it's cloudy or has particles, don't use it. Contact your provider or pharmacist about giving you a replacement.
The Plegridy Pen is given as an injection under the skin. The Plegridy prefilled syringe can be given either under the skin or into the muscle. Under-the-skin injections are given in either the stomach, back of the upper arm or thigh. Muscle injections are given into the thigh muscle.
Make sure to use a different injection site than the last to avoid pain or damaging your skin. Also, don't inject into skin that's irritated, reddened, bruised, infected, or scarred. Ask your provider if you're not sure whether or not you're supposed to administer Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) under the skin or into the muscle.
After giving yourself the medication, throw away the medication and syringe with needle by placing them in a sharps container or something made of heavy-duty plastic (e.g., empty milk carton, laundry detergent bottle). This lowers the risk of needlestick injuries. Don't throw them away in the trash. Visit the FDA's website to learn more about following your state regulations to dispose of your sharps safely.
Frequently asked questions about Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)
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What are the risks and warnings for Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)?
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Liver damage
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) can cause serious, and sometimes life-threatening, liver problems that can lead to liver failure. You might need to get regular blood tests done to make sure your liver is working properly. Seek medical attention right away if you notice swelling of your stomach, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, stool changes (black, tarry, or bloody stools), coughing or vomiting up blood, confusion, slurred speech, mood swings, or changes in personality.
Depression and suicide
Interferons, such as Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a), can cause serious, life-threatening mental health problems. Symptoms include thoughts of harming yourself or others, depression, aggressive behavior, and seeing things that aren't real. This can happen to anyone taking Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a). Let your provider know if you or your loved ones notice a change in your mood or behavior, or if you have thoughts of hurting yourself while you're taking Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a). Depending on how severe your symptoms are, your provider might have you stop taking the medication.
Severe allergic and injection-site reactions
Although rare, Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) can cause severe allergic and skin reactions. Get medical help right away if you experience hives, blisters, swelling or redness in any of your body parts, tightening of your chest, or trouble breathing.
Additionally, injection-site reactions (e.g., redness, itching, pain, swelling, rash) from under-the-skin injections are common. Make sure to check your injection site 2 hours after each injection to see if there's redness, swelling, tenderness, or broken skin that becomes black or blue. If any of these happen and they don't go away after a few days, contact your provider.
Congestive heart failure
Risk factors: History of heart conditions
People who've taken Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) have reported heart failure. Let your provider know if you have a history of heart conditions. They might want to monitor your heart health closely. If you have a cardiologist, let them know you're taking Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a). Get medical attention if you experience heart failure symptoms, such as trouble breathing, tiredness, and swelling the ankles and feet.
Lower blood cell counts
Risk factors: Taking other medications that lower blood cell counts
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) can lower the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your body. This can put you at risk for anemia, infections, or bleeding. Usually, this is temporary and your blood cell counts should return to the healthy range after Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) is stopped. During treatment, your provider might order blood draws to check your blood cell counts. Tell your provider if you experience symptoms of anemia (e.g., tiredness, headache, pale skin, fast heart rate), infection (e.g., fever, chills, tiredness, cough, body aches, runny nose), or bleeding that's difficult to stop.
High blood pressure in the lungs
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) can cause high blood pressure in the lungs (also known as pulmonary hypertension). This can happen at any time during treatment, including up to several years after starting treatment. Contact your provider if you experience shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling, chest pain, or lips and fingers turning blue, as these might be signs of high blood pressure in the lungs.
Autoimmune problems
Although rare, Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) can cause your body to make antibodies. These antibodies can attack different parts of your body (e.g., platelets in your blood, thyroid, liver), which can cause serious problems. As a precaution, your provider will regularly monitor your labs and organ health.
Seizures
Risk factors: History of seizure
Rarely, using Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) can cause seizures. Let your provider know if you have a history of seizures before starting Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a).
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) dosage forms
Typical dosing for Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) is given as either an injection under the skin (Plegridy Pen, Plegridy prefilled syringe) in the stomach, back of the upper arm or thigh, or as an injection into the thigh muscle (Plegridy prefilled syringe only).
Starting dose: The typical dose is 63 mcg injected on Day 1, then 94 mcg on Day 15.
Maintenance dose: Starting Day 29, the typical dose is to inject 125 mcg every 2 weeks.
Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) contraindications
Allergy to interferon beta or peginterferon products
What are alternatives to Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a)?
Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
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References
Best studies we foundBiogen. (n.d.). FAQ about Plegridy.
Biogen. (n.d.). How to take Plegridy.
Biogen Inc. (2023). Plegridy- peginterferon beta-1a injection, solution; Plegridy Pen- peginterferon beta-1a injection, solution; Plegridy- peginterferon beta-1a kit [package insert]. DailyMed.
Calabresi, P.A., et al. (2014). Pegylated interferon β-1a for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (ADVANCE): A randomised, phase 3, double-blind study. Lancet Neurology.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Safely using sharps (needles and syringes) at home, at work and on travel.
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