Key facts about Extavia
What is Extavia?
Extavia is the brand name for interferon beta-1b and is available as a subcutaneous injection.
What dosages is Extavia available in?
Extavia is available as 0.3 mg of lyophilized powder in a single-dose vial for reconstitution.
What is Extavia used for?
Extavia is a biologic medication that is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.
How does Extavia work?
Extavia is a biologic medication that affects your immune system. The exact way it works to treat multiple sclerosis is unknown.
How do I take Extavia?
The typical starting dose of Extavia is 0.0625 mg (equal to 0.25 mL) injected under the skin every other day. Your provider will raise your dose by 0.0625 mg every 2 weeks until you reach the full recommended dose of 0.25 mg (equal to 1 mL) every other day.
Is it safe for me to take Extavia?
Extavia is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you.
Extavia Common Side Effects
Common side effects of Extavia:
- Low blood cell counts
- Injection site reactions: pain, swelling, bleeding
- Flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, muscle pain, weakness, sweating
- Muscle weakness
- Headache
- Pain
- Stiff muscles
- Fever
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Difficulty sleeping
- Rash
- Loss of balance/coordination
- Stomach pain
- Swelling in legs or hands
Extavia Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Extavia. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Worsening liver problems or liver failure: swelling of your stomach, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, confusion
- Serious allergic reactions: hives, itching, swelling of face or tongue, difficulty breathing
- Heart failure: shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet, irregular heartbeat, unable to exercise, tiredness, weakness
- Injection site necrosis (skin cell death): blue-black discoloration, swelling, broken skin
- Serious infections: fever, tiredness, chills, cough, trouble breathing
- Blood problems: purple bruises or pin-point dots on the skin, pale skin, yellowing of the skin or whites of your eyes, fever, tiredness, confusion, difficulty breathing, not able to make urine
- Depression or suicidal ideation
- Seizures
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Extavia
There are no major drug interactions listed for Extavia. However, always let your physician and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking.
Who makes Extavia?
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Is Extavia safe in pregnancy?
Although there have been no well-controlled studies in pregnant women, available data, which include prospective
observational studies, have not generally indicated a drug-associated risk of major birth defects with interferon beta-1b
during pregnancy. Extavia should not be used during pregnancy unless only if the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
