From what I understand Betaseron and similar drugs are touted as reducing the number of relapses. Is that correct or can they slow disease progression as well?

I have never had relapses in my 15 years with MS so I never started taking any of those drugs.

Study supports long-term safety profile of Betaferon® for Multiple Sclerosis over 16 years



Results from the 16-year follow-up to the pivotal Betaferon® (interferon-beta-1b) trial, published today in the journal Neurology, provide the longest and most complete patient follow-up data and support the long-term safety profile of Betaferon in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Results demonstrated that no new or unexpected adverse events (AEs) emerged with long-term therapy, and the observed treatment-related AEs decreased over time.

"These ...

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals today launched a new tool using a technology that many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) already have in their pockets or purses – their iPhone.

The new iPhone application, myBETAapp™, provides tools that are customized for Betaseron® (interferon beta-1b) patients, making it the first application developed for use with a specific MS medication....

Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1902

Hi all. I imagine this may have been covered but please bear with me. I have been experiencing an increase in depression since I started Betaseron. It's been three months now and my mood has steadily declined. Can this be attributed to this medication? I do have bipolar disorder and it was stable prior to starting betaseron. I'm going to talk to my neuro ASAP but thought I'd see what other folks have exerienced. Thanks ...

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject: New Blood Test Predicts Who Will Benefit From Interferons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A simple blood test is now available to predict who will and who will not benefit by using Interferons. No more guess work. No more trying to figure out will it work for me, which one will work, is it working or not.

Ask your neurologist about this.

The underlines are mine. It's pretty extraordinary that ...

There are two very important studies of which everyone needs to be aware. The first shows that the use of interferons such as Betaseron results in gray matter atrophy (brain shrinkage). Here is a link:

<shortened url>

The second study shows that when the interferons cause the development of antibodies, these antibodies cause a worsening of MS symptoms -- even long after taking the medicine is stopped. Here's a link to that study:

...

Does anyone have any experience with the OCD- MS link.Our 16 year old deals with mild OCD and has just been diagnosed with MS after 2 bouts of optic neuritis. Any info on teens and disease modifying drugs success/failure or challenges also welcomed. Thanks to all .amc

Anyone ever heard about possibility of an oral / pill version of Betasaron instead of injections?

Has anyone found a generic version of this drug, to bring the costs down? Also, any tips on betting subsidized? We are trying to arrange some support from the Trillium Drug Program but it is very complicated and also ha a large deductible (inconjunction with my partial coverage through employee benefits).

Düsseldorf, Germany, September 10, 2009 –

The multiple sclerosis drug Betaferon® (interferon beta-1b) of Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, may play a role in the protection of brain tissue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This emerged from the results of two new studies presented today at the 25th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS).

“These novel findings suggest that Betaferon, in addition to its well-established anti-inflammatory properties, ...