is an injectable medication used in patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) who have had a first attack and showing lesions on an MRI scan. Injecting a patient with can help to reduce the number of flare-ups, as well as any MS disease progression.
is formulated from beta-1a. beta-1a is a protein that is found naturally in the human body. beta-1a is used for communication among cells as a signalling molecule that is produced by cells.
When is injected, the beta-1a in the drug helps to balance pro- and anti-inflammatory signals. In turn, this then helps to reduce the number of inflammatory cells that travel through the blood-brain barrier. Injecting also helps neurons to survive.
injections occur once a week. Patients can self-administer using several methods. The first is the Pen, which is a pre-filled syringe that has a small covered needle. The Pen contains the exact dose needed by the patient. The other method is the Prefilled Syringe. This is a larger injection device but is otherwise the same concept as the Pen.
Lastly, there is also Powder. This method cannot be self-administered; it must instead be administered by a doctor. A doctor will mix up the powder and inject the correct dose of the mixture into the patient.
was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. The Pen came about in 2012.
After two years of treatment, has been found to reduce the number of relapses by 32%.
The common side effects of include:
- flu-like symptoms
- injection site reactions
Talk to your doctor or a healthcare professional to find out if is right for you.
Featured image: sudok1 via DepositPhotos
Posted on March 24, 2023