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What is Interferon beta-1a IM Injection?

Interferon beta-1a is a drug in the interferon family used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). It is produced by mammalian cells while Interferon beta-1b is produced in modified E. coli. Interferons have been shown to have about a 30–35% reduction in the rate of MS relapses, and to slow the progression of disability in MS patients.

Reported Purpose & Efficacy

Reasons and Efficacy
Purpose # of patients
# of patients with evaluations Efficacy
Major
Moderate
Slight
None
Can’t tell
MS (Multiple Sclerosis) 2462 802 Efficacy_major Efficacy_moderate Efficacy_slight Efficacy_none Efficacy_cant_tell
Other 54 11 Efficacy_major Efficacy_moderate Efficacy_none Efficacy_cant_tell
General health 24 10 Efficacy_major Efficacy_moderate Efficacy_slight Efficacy_none Efficacy_cant_tell
Don't know 14 4 Efficacy_slight Efficacy_none Efficacy_cant_tell
Fatigue 14 2 Efficacy_major Efficacy_slight
Improve mobility 12 5 Efficacy_slight Efficacy_none Efficacy_cant_tell

See all 1522 patients currently taking Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

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Reported Side Effects

Side effects as an overall problem

Severe
 217
Moderate
 289
Mild
 254
None
 68

Commonly reported side effects, conditions, and hospitalizations associated with Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

Flu like symptoms 326
Generalized muscle aches 222
Chills/fever 213
Body Aches 177
Headaches 119
Joint pain 88
See all 198 reported side effects ▼ See top 6 reported side effects ▲

Reported Dosages

Frequently reported dosages based on patients currently taking Interferon beta-1a IM Injection. See all 87 dosages ►

  weekly 1 mg weekly 1 mcg weekly 30 mcg/0.5 mL every other week 22 mcg/0.5 mL weekly 30 mg weekly 30 mcg weekly 30 mcg/0.5 mL weekly 30 mcg/0.5 mL daily 30 mcg daily
  148 Number of Patients: 148 13 Number of Patients: 13 20 Number of Patients: 20 16 Number of Patients: 16 11 Number of Patients: 11 22 Number of Patients: 22 418 Number of Patients: 418 613 Number of Patients: 613 74 Number of Patients: 74 27 Number of Patients: 27  

Reported Stop Reasons

Why Patients Stopped Taking Interferon beta-1a IM Injection (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Side effects too severe 655   Side effects too severe: 43%
Did not seem to work 512   Did not seem to work: 34%
Doctor's advice 454   Doctor's advice: 30%
Other 247   Other: 16%
Expense 71   Expense: 5%
Personal research 52   Personal research: 3%
Change in health plan coverage 30   Change in health plan coverage: 2%
Course of treatment ended 29   Course of treatment ended: 2%
Not indicated 25   Not indicated: 2%

See all 1440 patients who’ve stopped taking Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

Reported Duration See details about how long patients take this treatment ▼

Currently Taking Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

A bar graph

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more

Stopped Taking Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

A bar graph

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more

Reported Adherence, Burden & Cost See details from patient evaluations ▼

Adherence

Taking treatment as prescribed

Adherence of Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

Always
 678 82%
Usually
 112 14%
Sometimes
 10 1%
Never
 28 3%

Burden

Difficulty being on treatment

Burden of Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

Very
 134 16%
Somewhat
 251 30%
A little
 263 32%
Not at all
 180 22%

Cost

Paid out of pocket

Cost of Interferon beta-1a IM Injection

$200+
 66 11%
$100-199
 48 8%
$50-99
 72 12%
$25-49
 135 22%
< $25
 282 46%

See more information, including instructions, precautions, side effects, and interactions.

Report created on May 27, 2012.