Betaseron Side Effects

Weakness, flu-like symptoms, and pain at the injection site are some of the most common side effects reported with Betaseron. Side effects, in most cases, are minor and either require no treatment or can be treated easily. There are a number of potentially serious Betaseron side effects that should be reported to a healthcare provider immediately, including depression, difficulty breathing, or frequent infections.

 

An Introduction to Betaseron Side Effects

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Betaseron® (interferon beta-1b); however, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Betaseron. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of side effects with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Betaseron

Betaseron has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials.
 In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and are then compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
 
In these studies, the most common Betaseron side effects included:
 
  • Skin reactions at the injection site (such as redness or pain) -- in up to 78 percent of people
  • Flu-like symptoms (such as fever, chills, or muscle aches) -- up to 57 percent
  • Weakness -- up to 53 percent
  • Headaches -- up to 50 percent
  • Pain -- up to 42 percent
  • Muscle pain -- up to 23 percent
  • Insomnia -- up to 21 percent.
     
Other common Betaseron side effects (occurring in 4 to 20 percent of people) included:
 
  • Coordination problems
  • Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
  • An urgent need to urinate
  • Irregular menstrual bleeding
  • Impotence (also known as erectile dysfunction or ED)
  • A general ill feeling (malaise).
     
(Betaseron Side Effects Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;