Betaferon

Betaferon – the immunomodulatory drug used at treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Form of release and structure

Betaferon release in the form of lyophilisate for preparation of solution for hypodermic introduction: the lyophilized white weight (in glass bottles complete with solvent (in the syringe), in plastic pallets, on 5 or 15 pallets in a box cardboard).

In 1 bottle:

• Active agent: recombinant interferon beta 1b – 9,6 million ME (0,3 mg);
• Excipients: albumine human, Mannitolum.

Solvent: solution of sodium of chloride of 0,54% (sterile).

Indications to use

• Clinically isolated syndrome (the only clinical episode of demyelination allowing, on condition of an exception of alternative diagnoses, to assume multiple sclerosis);
• The secondary progressing multiple sclerosis with the active disease including aggravations or the expressed deterioration in neurologic functions within the last several years (Betaferon's use allows to reduce the frequency and weight of such aggravations, and also to slow down rate of progressing of a disease);
• Remittiruyushchy multiple sclerosis. Drug is effective for decrease in frequency and weight of exacerbations of a disease at ambulatories (capable to move without assistance) in the presence in the anamnesis not less than two exacerbations of a disease in the last two years with the subsequent recovery (full or incomplete) neurologic symptomatology.

Contraindications

Betaferon's use is contraindicated at hypersensitivity to the components which are a part of medicine.

Drug is not appointed to the feeding and pregnant women.

Care is demanded by prescription of medicine by the patient with heart diseases, and also at thrombocytopenia, anemia, abnormal liver functions, a depression and suicide thoughts in the anamnesis.

Experience of use of Betaferon for children is limited.

Route of administration and dosage

It is necessary to begin treatment under observation of the experienced doctor.

The recommended drug dose – 250 mkg (1 ml of the prepared solution). Solution is entered subcutaneously every other day. Duration of therapy is defined by the doctor individually.

Side effects

At Betaferon's use there can be various side effects. From an organism in general they are usually shown as an adynamy, a febricula, reaction in the place of an injection, a headache, a stethalgia, fervescence, a fever, an abdominal pain, pains of various localization, a necrosis in the place of an injection, a complex of grippopodobny symptoms at which development the doctor can appoint non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Drug can cause some dermatological reactions which are shown usually as rash and damage of skin.

Besides, during treatment by Betaferon with various frequency there can be disturbances from cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, digestive, urinary, respiratory and sexual systems of an organism.

Special instructions

Betaferon contains human albumine therefore there is very insignificant risk of transfer of viral diseases.

Patients during performing treatment except standard laboratory analyses are recommended to carry out regularly developed blood test. More careful monitoring of the developed blood test including determination of quantity of leukocytes, erythrocytes, thrombocytes and a leukocytic formula can be also required by patients with anemia, a leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.

Analogs

Betaferon's analogs are:

• On active agent: Ronbetal, Infibeta, Ekstavia, Interferon beta 1b;
• On the action mechanism: Grippferon, Lokferon, Layfferon, Infagel, Alfaferon, Interferal, Diaferon, Reaferon, Avoneks, Altevir, Rebif, Pegasis, Inferon, Leykinferon, Sveferon, Genfakson, Viferon, Ingaron, Algeron.

Terms and storage conditions

Drug is released according to the recipe of the doctor. To store at a temperature up to 25 °C.

The lyophilisate period of validity – 2 years, solvent keeps the properties within 3 years.