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What is Betaseron? Betaseron® is a brand name for Interferon beta-1b, a drug in the interferon family used to treat multiple sclerosis. It is administered by sub-cutaneous injection and has been shown to slow the advance of the affliction as well as reduce the frequency of attacks.

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

Bayer's Betaseron site


Reasons Taken

374 patients in the community are taking or have taken Betaseron.

Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Slow my MS progress 334 89%
Other 11 2%
Don't know 4 1%
Fatigue 4 1%
General health 3 <1%
Stiffness/spasticity 2 <1%
disease-related symptoms 2 <1%
Sexual dysfunction 1 <1%
Excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) 1 <1%
Brain fog 1 <1%
Bladder problems 1 <1%
Pain 1 <1%
Headaches/ Migraines 1 <1%
Cognition 1 <1%
Vision 1 <1%
Difficulty walking 1 <1%

Dosages

Based on the patients currently taking Betaseron.

Top 10 (Show all)

All (Show Top 10)

  0 mcg day 0 mg day 0 day 0 mg none 0 mg week 0.3 mg week 0.25 mg week 0.04 mg day 0.3 mg week 0.075 mg day 0.15 mg day 0.25 mcg day 0.25 mg day 0.9 mg week 1 mg week 0 mg none 0.15 mg day 0.3 mcg day 0.3 mg day 0.25 other day 0.5 mg day 0.5 day 0 mg none 0.3 mg day 0.75 mcg day 0.75 mg day 3 mg week 1 g day 1 mcg day 1 mg day 1 day 4 mg week 1.3 mg day 1.5 mg day 6.29987400251995 mg week 1 mg day 2 mg day 3 mg day 15 mg week 2.5 mcg day 3 mg day 20 mg day 21 mcg day 12.5 mg day 25 mg day 30 mg day 44 mg day 300 mg week 100 mg day 200 mcg day 200 mg day 200 day 125 mcg day
  10 Number of Patients: 10 48 Number of Patients: 48 14 Number of Patients: 14 5 Number of Patients: 5 8 Number of Patients: 8 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 4 Number of Patients: 4 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 13 Number of Patients: 13 4 Number of Patients: 4 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 9 Number of Patients: 9 2 Number of Patients: 2 45 Number of Patients: 45 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 20 Number of Patients: 20 1 Number of Patients: 1 4 Number of Patients: 4 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 27 Number of Patients: 27 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 3 Number of Patients: 3 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1 3 Number of Patients: 3 1 Number of Patients: 1 2 Number of Patients: 2 1 Number of Patients: 1 1 Number of Patients: 1  

Duration

How long current patients have been taking Betaseron or how long patients were taking Betaseron before stopping.

Currently taking Betaseron

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
4
4
15
28
31
79

Stopped taking Betaseron

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
3
7
16
13
10
51
Why Patients Stopped Taking Betaseron (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Side effects too severe 38 38% Side effects too severe: 38%
Did not seem to work 34 34% Did not seem to work: 34%
Doctor's advice 32 32% Doctor's advice: 32%
Other 23 23% Other: 23%
Not indicated 3 3% Not indicated: 3%
Course of treatment ended 2 2% Course of treatment ended: 2%
Personal research 1 1% Personal research: 1%
Expense 1 1% Expense: 1%

Patient Reported Evaluations

Results from 19 patient evaluations. See the overall results and all individual evaluations.

Efficacy (Effect based on reason taken)

Major 6% 1
Slight 29% 5
None 24% 4
Can't tell 41% 7

Slow my MS progress

Side-effects (as an overall problem)

Severe 16% 3
Moderate 32% 6
Mild 42% 8
None 11% 2

Top reported side-effects include: flu like symtoms, Depression, Bruising

Summary results are based on 19 individual responses. For more information, see overall results for Adherence, Burden and Cost.

Individual Patient Reported Evaluations (2 of 19)

  • feathers4me
    Sensation: Severe
    Overall: Moderate
    Cognition: moderate
    Vision: moderate
    Speech: mild
    Swallowing: mild
    Upper limb: moderate
    Walking: severe
    See profile
  • feathers4me
  • by feathers4me
    Feb 04, 2008
  • EfficacySlight
  • Side-effectsModerate
  • Slow my MS progress

  • Gypsy
    Sensation: Severe
    Overall: Moderate
    Cognition: moderate
    Vision: mild
    Speech: mild
    Swallowing: mild
    Upper limb: moderate
    Walking: moderate
    See profile
  • Gypsy
  • by Gypsy
    Aug 20, 2008
  • EfficacyModerate
  • Side-effectsMild
  • Other
Advice/Tips
If you're new to Betaseron, use their "titration" method to reach full dosage. It should take no LESS than 4 weeks, that way your body can adjust to the medication- less side effects. Another tip: In the beginning, pre-medicate w/ Advil, etc. about 20 before injection; the injection isn't painful, it helps with the mild flu-like symptoms. In addition, I took an Advil to my bedside table w/ a glass of water so when I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom I could take it. I woke up feeling better than if I didn't take it! If I didn't make a bathroom run in night, the water & Advil were waiting for me.

See all evaluation results for Betaseron



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