Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. Betaseron comes as an injection that’s typically taken every other day.
Betaseron is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:
Betaseron is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called immunomodulators. Betaseron is not available in a biosimilar version.
This article describes the dosages of Betaseron, as well as its strength and how to inject it. To learn more about Betaseron, including its uses and side effects, see this in-depth Betaseron article.
Note:This article describes typical dosages for Betaseron provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Betaseron, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about Betaseron’s form, strength, and typically recommended dosage.
Betaseron form
Betaseron comes as a powder in a single-dose vial. The powder is mixed with a liquid to form a solution that’s given by subcutaneous injection. Your doctor or another healthcare professional may give you injections. Or they may teach you (or your caregiver) how to prepare and give the injections at home.
Betaseron strength
Betaseron comes in one strength. Each vial contains 0.3 milligrams (mg) of Betaseron powder. It comes with a prefilled syringe that contains 1.2 milliliters (mL) of 0.54% sodium chloride solution. This is mixed with the powder in the vial to make a solution containing 0.25 mg Betaseron per 1 mL.
Typical dosages
Typically, your doctor will prescribe a low dose of Betaseron injection to start with and will gradually increase this over the first 7 weeks of treatment.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly recommended in adults. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for multiple sclerosis (MS)
Doctors may prescribe Betaseron to treat RRMS, active SPMS, and CIS. The recommended dosage is the same for each of these conditions.
The table below shows the typical dosage schedule.
| Week of treatment | Dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | 0.0625 mg (0.25 mL of mixed solution) | every other day |
| 3 and 4 | 0.125 mg (0.5 mL) | every other day |
| 5 and 6 | 0.1875 mg (0.75 mL) | every other day |
| 7 and beyond | 0.25 mg (1 mL) | every other day |
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
How to take Betaseron
Betaseron comes as a powder in a single-dose vial. The powder is mixed with a liquid to form a solution that’s given by subcutaneous injection.
With a subcutaneous injection, the medication is injected under your skin. Your doctor or another healthcare professional may administer your injections. Or they may show you (or your caregiver) how to prepare and give the injections at home. Make sure to prepare and inject Betaseron according to your prescribed instructions.
You’ll store Betaseron vials either in the refrigerator or at room temperature. After mixing, if the vial isn’t used right away, it should be kept in the refrigerator (for up to 3 hours).
You can self-inject Betaseron into your abdomen or the top of your thigh. A caregiver can also inject Betaseron into your outer buttocks or the back of your upper arm. If you use your abdomen, do not inject Betaseron within 2 inches of your belly button.
Be sure to choose a different injection site each time you inject Betaseron. And avoid areas where your skin is tender, hard, discolored, bruised, swollen, or damaged. This will reduce your risk of injection-related side effects, such as swelling, pain, or skin damage at the injection site.
If you have questions about Betaseron administration, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. There’s also a patient support program for Betaseron, called Betaplus, which you can contact by calling 800-788-1467.
Long-term treatment
Betaseron is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Betaseron is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Before you start taking Betaseron, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
It’s important that you don’t take more Betaseron than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Betaseron
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Betaseron. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
