Betaseron (Interferon Beta-1B) and/or alternatives

Betaseron (generic name: Interferon beta-1b) is used for treating relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis or MS. Interferon beta-1b is similar to a protein produced naturally in the body known as interferon. It works by affecting your immune system, adding more of the protein to help you fight multiple sclerosis. You need to remember that Betaseron cannot be used for curing the condition, but it helps in curbing weakness and the worsening of MS. Betaseron is administered subcutaneously in the thighs, buttocks, or stomach through an injection.

Side Effects for Betaseron

Reactions at the injection site may occur, such as pain, swelling, or redness. Other common symptoms that you may experience after using Betaseron include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and stomach upset. Some patients may also develop flu-like symptoms like headache, chills, tiredness, muscle aches, and fever. Most of these last only 24 hours after the shot and get better as your body gets used to the drug. Some serious side effects of Betaseron may include mood changes like depression, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts, feeling too cold or hot, gradual changes in weight, persistent tiredness, easy bruising or bleeding, persistent nausea or vomiting, stomach or abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and dark urine. If any of these symptoms surface, you need to immediately contact your doctor and inform him or her about the side effects. You also need to seek medical help if you experience chest pain or seizures.

Precautions

In order to reduce the side effects of Betaseron, you should administer the drug at bed time and use pain relievers or drugs for suppressing fever like ibuprofen and acetaminophen before taking the shot. Before using Betaseron, you should inform your doctor if you have an allergy to interferon or products that contain human albumin. You should also consult your doctor if you have a blood cell disorder like anemia, thrombocytopenia, or neutropenia, heart disease like angina, congestive heart failure, or irregular heartbeat, liver disease, seizure disorders, mood disorders like depression or psychosis, or thyroid problems. This drug also not meant for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as it may cause harm to the unborn or newborn baby. Sometimes, the drug can also cause miscarriage in a pregnant woman. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised not to use Betaseron unless they consult their doctor and really need to take the drug.

Betaseron Dosage

You will usually be recommended to take Betaseron 0.25mg, which is to be injected subcutaneously. Initially, you will be given Betaseron 0.0625mg, but this dose can be increased to Betaseron 0.25mg within a period of 6 weeks. The injection is usually given at bedtime at an interval of 48 hours. The injection sites are changed each time so that lumps are not formed under the skin where the drug is administered again and again.

Interactions

You should not buy Betaseron with other medicines that affect your immunity, such as cancer chemotherapy drugs and cyclosporine, hydroxyurea, and theophyllines like aminophylline and telbivudine. Other than these drugs, you should inform your doctor about all the medicines you are taking at present, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, herbal products, mineral and vitamin supplements, and topical applications.

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