Betaseron interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Betaseron interactions with other medications

Before you start treatment with Betaseron, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Betaseron interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Betaseron and other interactions” section.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Betaseron. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Betaseron. Some of these interactions are described in detail in “Drug interactions in depth.”

When to avoid Betaseron

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Betaseron due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Betaseron include:

Having had an allergic reaction to Betaseron or any of its ingredients

If you have had an allergic reaction to Betaseron or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Betaseron. Treatment with the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Note:Before you start treatment with Betaseron, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Betaseron.

Betaseron interaction with alcohol

Your doctor will likely recommend that you not drink alcohol while taking Betaseron.

This is because consuming large amounts of alcohol can cause liver damage. Betaseron may also cause liver damage as a side effect. This means that drinking alcohol during Betaseron treatment may further increase this risk.

If you have concerns about avoiding alcohol during Betaseron treatment, talk with your doctor.

Drug interactions in depth

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Betaseron.

Certain HIV drugs

HIV drugs are prescribed to treat HIV.

Interaction result: Taking certain HIV drugs during treatment with Betaseron may increase the risk of liver damage.

Interaction explained: Betaseron and certain HIV drugs may cause liver damage as a side effect when used individually. This risk may be increased by using these medications together.

Examples of HIV drugs: Here are some HIV drugs that may interact with Betaseron:

• abacavir (Ziagen)
• atazanavir (Reyataz)
• darunavir (Prezista)
• emtricitabine (Emtriva)
• zidovudine (Retrovir)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Before starting Betaseron treatment, tell your doctor if you’re taking any HIV drugs. They can recommend whether it’s safe to take these medications together.

Your doctor will likely give you blood tests to check your liver function while you’re taking Betaseron. If your doctor prescribes Betaseron with certain HIV drugs, they may give you these tests more often than is typical.

To learn more about Betaseron and HIV drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Certain monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions. As with Betaseron, some monoclonal antibodies can be prescribed for multiple sclerosis.

Interaction result: Taking Betaseron with certain monoclonal antibodies may increase the risk of infection.

Interaction explained: Betaseron and certain monoclonal antibodies may raise the risk of infection when used individually. Your risk of infection may be increased by taking these medications together.

Examples of monoclonal antibody drugs: Here are some monoclonal antibody drugs that may interact with Betaseron:

• alemtuzumab (Campath, Lemtrada)
• natalizumab (Tysabri)
• ocrelizumab (Ocrevus)
• ofatumumab (Arzerra, Kesimpta)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Due to this risk, your doctor may advise you not to take Betaseron with certain monoclonal antibodies. They can recommend the right treatment options for your condition.

To learn more about Betaseron and monoclonal antibodies, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Ozanimod

As with Betaseron, ozanimod (Zeposia) is prescribed to treat certain types of multiple sclerosis.

Interaction result: Taking ozanimod during treatment with Betaseron may increase the risk of infection.

Interaction explained: When used individually, both Betaseron and ozanimod can increase the risk of infection. This risk may be increased by using these drugs together.

Steps you or your doctor may take: Due to this risk, your doctor is unlikely to prescribe Betaseron with ozanimod. They can tell you more about each treatment option and recommend which may be right for your condition.

To learn more about Betaseron and ozanimod, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Betaseron and other interactions

Betaseron may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details in the following section. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Betaseron.

Betaseron and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Betaseron and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Betaseron. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Betaseron treatment.

Betaseron and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Betaseron. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Betaseron.

Betaseron and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Betaseron. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Betaseron, talk with your doctor.

Betaseron and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Betaseron and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to see whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Betaseron and lab tests

Betaseron isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

BETASERON AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Betaseron. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Betaseron. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Betaseron treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Betaseron and health-related interactions

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Betaseron. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Betaseron may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Betaseron include:

• Mental health conditions: Before you start Betaseron treatment, tell your doctor if you have any mental health conditions. Examples include depression and anxiety. This factor may increase your risk of depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors as side effects of Betaseron. To learn more about your risk, talk with your doctor.
• Liver problems: Before starting Betaseron treatment, tell your doctor if you have a liver problem, such as liver failure. Betaseron may also cause liver damage as a side effect, which could worsen your liver problem. Your doctor can recommend whether Betaseron is a safe treatment option.
• Heart problems: Before you start Betaseron treatment, tell your doctor about any heart problems you have. Examples include cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Treatment with Betaseron may increase the risk of heart failure in people who already have a heart problem. Your doctor can tell you whether Betaseron is a safe treatment option.
• Seizures: Betaseron may cause seizures. Your risk of this side effect may be increased if you’ve ever had seizures in the past. Your doctor can advise you on whether Betaseron is a safe treatment option.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Betaseron or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Betaseron. Treatment with the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Betaseron while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Betaseron may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before using Betaseron. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed a child.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Betaseron is safe to use while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause pregnancy loss. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Betaseron. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Betaseron. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication listTrusted Source, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Betaseron label and other paperworkTrusted Source that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Betaseron doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

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.