MS Strength

Betaseron, or beta – 1b, is an interferon medication that is manufactured and used for the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. Interferons are naturally-occurring proteins produced by the immune system and they help to ward off infections, although it is not fully understood how interferon medications aid against multiple sclerosis attacks.

Betaseron was the first disease-modifying medication to be approved for the use of slowing multiple sclerosis activity: on the market since 1993, it has proven to be approximately 30 to 40% effective against MS relapses and their resulting disability (in some patients.) Just like the other disease-modifying medications, *Betaseron is not a cure for multiple sclerosis, and it is not effective in every patient.

Betaseron Advantages

• Betaseron has the longest track record of effectiveness out of all the disease-modifying injectable medications

• This medication comes in easy-to-mix kits. Prior to assembly, it does not need to be refrigerated, so it is very easy to store and transport.

• Administration is every other day

• Betaseron has an ultra-thin needle, which makes injections less painful

Betaseron Drawbacks

• Because it is an interferon, Betaseron can produce temporary flu-like side-effects: fever, chills, body aches, nausea, and/or headaches. It can also cause depression, lowered immunity to certain infections, and liver and thyroid abnormalities. Patients need to be monitored while taking this medication.

• Betaseron has the second most administrations among the disease-modifying medications

• This medication can cause injection site reactions: pain, redness, itching, and swelling

*any decision to take medication should be thoroughly discussed with your doctor

References: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, The Nat’l MS Society, All About MS- Betaseron

Copaxone is a synthetic, injectable medication for relapsing-remitting MS. On the market since 1996, glatiramer acetate (its generic name) has been proven to reduce the rate of relapses in some multiple sclerosis patients by about 30 to 40%. It has also been proven to reduce the amount of new MS lesions a patient may develop, thereby slowing the amount of accumulated disability. Copaxone’s chemical composition is supposed to mimic actual proteins in the body, and it is thought to lure an immune system attack away from real protein-based myelin, or nerve coverings. Like any other MS medication, *Copaxone is not a cure for multiple sclerosis, and it is not always effective in every patient.

Copaxone Advantages

• this medication is not an interferon, so it does not create the flu-like side-effects that are common with interferon drugs (Avonex, Betaseron, and Rebif)

• injections come conveniently premade

• Copaxone has over 10 years’ worth of proven effectiveness

• this medication does not cause depression or liver/thyroid dysfunctions like interferon medications can

Copaxone Drawbacks

• Copaxone is a daily injectable– it has the most amount of administrations out of all the disease-modifying injectable meds

• Copaxone needs to be kept refrigerated during certain circumstances

• this medication can pose several (rare but brief) side-effects: chest tightening, anxiety, shortness of breath, and flushing just after administration. It can also cause injection site reactions: redness, swelling, itching, and pain

*any decision to take medication should be thoroughly discussed with your doctor

References: All About MS- Copaxone, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Nat’l MS Society (U.S.)

There are several injectable disease-modifying drugs on the market today to slow patients’ courses of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. These medications are defenses against the number and severity of future relapses and resulting disability. The drugs range in effectiveness and are therefore used for different severities of RRMS. At this time, these drugs are only indicated for relapsing-remitting MS and are not definitely proven to help progressive courses, although a couple of the medications are still used for this purpose. No medications are 100% effective and there is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis.

Avonex* is one of the said injectable drugs, and like all of the other medications, it comes with its advantages and its drawbacks. It is a manufactured interferon— specifically beta-1a— which is a protein that is also naturally produced by the body. Avonex has been proven to reduce the number and severity of MS relapses in patients, as well as the level of disability caused by relapses, and it has been on the market since 1996.

Avonex’s Advantages:

• The medication is only administered once a week, as opposed to the other drugs, one of which is injected daily
• Avonex can be received in prefilled syringes or easy packets which can be mixed by the patient
• The administration of Avonex causes less site reactions than most of the other medications
• Avonex has more than 10 years’ worth of proven results

Avonex’s Drawbacks:

• Being one of the interferon medications, Avonex can cause flu-like side-effects (fever, chills, nausea, and aches) for up to two days after a shot is administered
• Avonex is the only medication that is injected intramuscularly (IM), and so it has the longest needle
• Avonex can cause any of the following side-effects: depression, anemia, seizures (rare), heart abnormalities (rare), abnormal liver function readings, thyroid abnormalities, and reduced immunity to infections and illnesses
• Avonex is thought to be the least effective drug for MS because it has the lowest dose with the least amount of administrations. Rebif, another drug with the same chemical composition, is given at a higher dose (subcutaneously or just under the skin) several times a week.

*any decision to take medication should be thoroughly discussed with your doctor

• References:The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, The National MS Society