Do you or someone you care about have MS? MS PathwaysSM is the source for personalized B.E.T.A.SM Nurse support for BETASERON patients and those considering BETASERON therapy. Take advantage of the many helpful tools offered by MS PathwaysSM.
Overview of BETASERON and other MS treatments or disease-modifying therapies
Although there is still no cure for MS, it is a treatable condition. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are drugs that may change the course of MS. These treatments work by controlling a patient's immune system from attacking and damaging nerve fibers.
If you are either currently taking BETASERON or thinking of starting treatment, it's important to know the differences between each of the DMTs. The chart below gives you some basic information about some of the available DMTs for MS that you may wish to discuss with your doctor.
What is your current MS therapy? Learn more about disease-modifying treatments. Take the Treatment Challenge. Get a printable doctor-patient discussion guide to help prepare you for speaking with your healthcare professional about choosing a disease-modifying therapy.
Avonex is a registered trademark of Biogen Idec, Inc.; Rebif is a registered trademark of EMD Serono, Inc. Copaxone is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. See package inserts for each product.
BETASERON® (Interferon beta-1b) is indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations. Patients with multiple sclerosis in whom efficacy has been demonstrated include patients who have experienced a first clinical episode and have MRI features consistent with multiple sclerosis.
Important Safety Information
The most commonly reported adverse reactions are lymphopenia, injection-site reaction, asthenia, flu-like symptom complex, headache and pain. Gradual dose titration and use of analgesics during treatment initiation may help reduce flu-like symptoms. BETASERON should be used with caution in patients with depression. Injection-site necrosis has been reported in 4% of patients in controlled trials. Patients should be advised of the importance of rotating injection sites. Female patients should be warned about the potential risk to pregnancy. Cases of anaphylaxis have been reported rarely. See "Warnings," "Precautions," and "Adverse Reactions" sections of full Prescribing Information.
