The time has come

[conno61]

I start taking peg interferon early January. I've not got the greatest haemotologist in the world and he's simply told me to pick up the prescription from the hospital pharmacy and go to 2a, whatever that is, and they will teach me how to administer it. I know it's been asked before but what's the best time of day to inject, any tips and advice that goes along with taking this would be most welcome. 👍🏻

[hunter5582]

Time of day is really a personal preference. I inject besremi in the morning, on Wednesdays. Were someone to have a very short-term side effect from the injection, they might prefer the evening. I would suggest for your first dose, take the dose earlier in the week (Mon-Wed) and between 09:00-12:00. That way there will someone from your MPN care team on duty just in case you have a reaction. Also for your first injection, do it at the office when you are trained. That way you are in the right place in the very unlikely event that you have a severe sudden reaction.

Wishing you all the best moving forward.

[conno61 in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you I appreciate that.

[hall2]

A similar thing happened to me a few years ago. I usually inject it first thing in the morning and I’ve never had any problems.

[KC63]

Hi I've been taking since March on Wednesday evenings, no issues. Hope goes well for you too!

[Lyndjs]

Hi conno61 ,

I started in December. My first app was with an oncology nurse. She explained she'd never seen the drug before and then talked me through how to inject. I explained I'd been told I would do the first one in clinic. As it was afternoon, she told me, it needed to be in the morning and to take it home. Long story short, I did do my first injection in clinic. My haematologist wanted Monday mornings, so clinic staff would be at the end if a phone. He recommended paracetamol 30-45 min before as he had been advised, it helps.

I've had 5 injections now and I'm tolerating the drug & side effects much better. I'm on 45 but the haematologist wants to double the dose in January. They tried after injection 3 but we agreed to stay on the lower dose due to my initial side effects. I'm following guidance from the forum on low & slow 😊

Hope all goes well for you and Merry Christmas 🎄

[Bicsfriend]

Hi I started in November after a decade of venes. I take on Thursday evenings, work from home on Fridays and then have the weekend to take it gently. I think I have a pattern of highest fatigue on the third day but it is early days. I started on 45 weekly. Good and quick responses so on 65 now and waiting to see where the bloods are in early Jan. Good luck

[Fivecatsandcounting]

Good luck you can do this! I have done 15 now. My routine is about 6.30 on a Sunday evening. It makes me feel a bit 'drugged for a day or 2 but getting better each time as I get used to it I suppose. It doesn't seem to be working for me at the moment as my bloods actually increased (having blood tests every 2 weeks to monitor) but I hope it goes well for you!

[Scarlett500]

Hi. I take mine sunday morning and work from home on Monday. One week i did go in on the monday and felt so bad on the tuesday I went home an hour after getting in to work. Now work dont ever ask me to come in on a Monday! I am quite needle phobic but the injection is painless. My platelets have halved and i am hopeful I might be able to reduce the frequency of injections.

Good luck

[IsabelleHo]

Hello. I should also start Pegasys in January if everything goes according to plan (My specialist is waiting for the OK from the Quebec equivalent of the NHS as Pegasys is not a first line treatment) . My specialist told me that a lot of patients prefer doing the injection on Fridays in order to have the weekend should they feel tired or have flu-like symptoms.

[Hopetohelp]

I take mine midweek about 10.30am as that gives me all day to drink lots of water which is important. Start on a low dose like 45mcg if allowed. Let the body have time to get used to new drug. Personally I didn’t have any problems except first morning after first injection I felt like I had a small hangover as I hadn’t drunk enough water. I had to buy alcohol swabs myself and likewise spot plasters. I bought decent thermometers to put in fridge so meds are kept at 5 degrees. I hadn’t realised for a long time that the bottom draw of my fridge was colder at zero degrees and meds must be kept between 2 and 8 degrees. I have plenty of extra weight ha ha on my lower tummy so find that a good place to inject alternating weekly between left and right side. If you get a red blotch on injection site for a couple of weeks don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal. Ask any questions you like. We are all here to help and good luck.

[Janis12]

Hi, I have had my 6th dose now, 45mcg every two weeks, I take it Thursdays early evening and drink plenty of water before and after. The only immediate side effect is a bit shivery for about and hour but nothing else. The next day I go out cycling as normal. My platelets reduced very quickly within 8 weeks although I am still taking hydroxycarbomide but a reduced dose, it will no doubt be fine tuned in the next few months and hopefully off hydroxy for good. I found the prospect of the transition quite exciting (sad case!). So far so good, best wishes to you.

[MAP44]

Hi conno61,

When I started Pegasys I took it an hour before bed so that any issues with side effects they would be experienced while I slept. I also took the big 600 mg Arthritis Tylenol when I went to bed that night and if I was feeling off in the morning I took another one.

As I got use to the drugs I didn’t need the extra Tylenols and after a year I could take it any time of the day without any problems.

Every body is different. Good luck to you🍻

[gilded]

Hi conno61. I jab myself just before bedtime. Haha this often corresponds with a nightcap time of a glass of red wine.