I've got questions

MS can be deceiving. In the past, many MS experts considered it acceptable to delay multiple sclerosis therapy. But now we know that damage can begin to happen very early.^1,2 Remember, being free of MS symptoms doesn't mean you're free of MS.¹

Everyone is different, and there are many factors to consider when choosing an MS treatment. And some aspects of MS therapy may be intimidating, like the thought of having to inject yourself. But staying focused now is important. Making the right MS treatment choice will help make taking your MS therapy easier for you, which may help you achieve better results.

Here are some things you might want to discuss with your healthcare provider when choosing an MS therapy:

• Does it help delay MS relapses?
• What are the side effects and are any of them manageable?
• If the MS therapy is injectable, does it have to be refrigerated?
• Is there a program to help me if I have health insurance problems?
• Can I get financial assistance?
• Is there 24/7 support?

Bayer conducted a 2-year study evaluating the safety and efficacy of BETASERON in CIS patients. This study found that when used at the first signs of MS, BETASERON delayed the amount of time until patients progressed to clinically definite MS (CDMS).⁷

Other BETASERON benefits to consider:

• Every-other-day dosing⁷
• One of the thinnest needles available in MS therapy
• Refrigeration-free storage for easy traveling*⁷
• The BETAPLUS^® MS Patient Support program offers affordable therapy, copay help, and nurse access and training

*BETASERON is the only injectable immunomodulatory MS therapy that can be stored at room temperature until its expiration date and before reconstitution. If not used immediately after reconstitution, the product should be refrigerated and used within 3 hours.

Before beginning treatment, discuss with your healthcare provider the potential benefits and risks associated with BETASERON. Once you start therapy, be sure to tell your healthcare provider or BETA Nurse if you are experiencing any of the following:

• BETASERON should be used with caution in patients with depression. If you feel sad or hopeless, tell a friend or family member and call your doctor right away.
• Injection-site necrosis has been reported in 4% of patients in controlled trials. It is important to properly rotate your injection sites to minimize the likelihood of severe injection site reactions.
• Severe hepatic injury, including cases of hepatic failure, has been reported. You should be monitored for liver enzyme elevations while taking BETASERON.
• BETASERON should be used with caution if you have seizure disorders or cardiac disease.
• For women, there is a potential risk to pregnancy. If you become pregnant, stop taking BETASERON immediately and tell your doctor.
• Cases of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can cause difficulty breathing and swallowing, have been reported rarely. If you think you are having a severe allergic reaction, stop taking BETASERON and call your doctor immediately.
• The most commonly reported adverse reactions are lymphopenia (low numbers of a certain kind of white blood cell), injection-site reaction, asthenia (general weakness), flu-like symptom complex (flu syndrome and/or a combination of at least two Adverse Events from fever, chills, muscle aches, tiredness and sweating), headache and pain.
• Flu-like symptoms (eg, fever, body aches) may decrease over time and may be manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers and gradual dose titration.^7,8

Every person taking BETASERON can get personal injection training from an MS-trained BETA Nurse. Your BETA Nurse can make sure you're confident using and injecting BETASERON. It's like having your own MS expert on call. To schedule a time for a BETA Nurse to come to your home* or healthcare provider's office, call BETAPLUS at 1-800-788-1467.

*Where state law and your insurance allow.

One thing you can do to help reduce injection-site reactions (ISRs) is to rotate your injection sites. Never use the same injection site twice in a row. If an area is sore, red, infected, or swollen, use another area and call your healthcare provider.

The important thing is to make taking your BETASERON a part of your routine. Taking it at the same time every other day can help you remember. After you inject, massage the injection area with a cotton ball or gauze pad for a minute or so. This helps the medication spread out.

There are many things you can do to help make some side effects more manageable⁷:

• Titrate (gradually increasing your dose)
  Your doctor may start you on a lower dose and then increase the dose gradually as your body adjusts to the therapy. This may help reduce flu-like symptoms.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
  Before injecting BETASERON, take an over-the-counter pain reliever as recommended by your doctor. This may help reduce flu-like symptoms.
• Rotate your injection sites
  To help reduce injection-site reactions, you should always rotate your injection sites. Never use the same injection site twice in a row. If an area is sore, red, infected, or swollen, use another area.

BETASERON is an MS medication that can be stored refrigeration-free^*. That means no traveling with a cooler or having to keep it in a cold hotel room. And because BETASERON can be stored at room temperature (77°F, 25°C), there's no waiting for it to warm up before injecting.

^*BETASERON is the only injectable immunomodulatory MS therapy that can be stored at room temperature until its expiration date and before reconstitution. If not used immediately after reconstitution, the product should be refrigerated and used within 3 hours.