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Interferon Beta 1a Brand Names
Avonex | Rebif | Rebif Rebidose
What is Interferon Beta 1a
Interferon beta 1a is available through recombinant DNA technology.
Interferon beta-1a had been shown to decrease both the number and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks (i.e., relapses) and to significantly slow the progression of physical disability associated with relapsing-remitting MS, such as clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease in adults.
Early treatment of MS with proper therapy may delay cognitive and physical disability. The interferon beta medications are generally considered the initial treatment options for pediatric patients with MS.
While this drug has been studied for hepatitis C, guidelines often recommend the use of a peginterferon product plus ribavirin as part of a combination regimen depending on patient factors and genotype.
Interferon beta-1a has also been studied in the treatment of various malignancies including non-small cell lung cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia, hairy cell leukemia, melanoma, and rheumatoid arthritis; many of these designations have been withdrawn.
Two products are available; the FDA approved Avonex in May 1996 and approved Rebif in March 2002.
Indications
- multiple sclerosis
For the treatment of remitting-relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) such as clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- alopecia
- anaphylactic shock
- anaphylactoid reactions
- anemia
- angioedema
- antibody formation
- arthralgia
- asthenia
- back pain
- bleeding
- cardiomyopathy
- chest pain (unspecified)
- chills
- depression
- dizziness
- dyspnea
- ecchymosis
- edema
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- erythema multiforme
- fatigue
- fever
- headache
- heart failure
- hemolytic anemia
- hemolytic-uremic syndrome
- hepatic failure
- hepatitis
- hyperbilirubinemia
- hyperhidrosis
- hyperthyroidism
- hypertonia
- hypoesthesia
- hypothyroidism
- increased urinary frequency
- infection
- injection site reaction
- jaundice
- leukopenia
- lupus-like symptoms
- lymphadenopathy
- maculopapular rash
- malaise
- menorrhagia
- menstrual irregularity
- migraine
- musculoskeletal pain
- myalgia
- myasthenia
- nausea
- pancytopenia
- paresthesias
- peripheral vasodilation
- psychosis
- rash
- retinopathy
- seizures
- sinusitis
- skin atrophy
- spontaneous fetal abortion
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- suicidal ideation
- thrombocytopenia
- thrombotic microangiopathy
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
- tissue necrosis
- urinary incontinence
- urticaria
- vesicular rash
- visual impairment
- weakness
- xerophthalmia
- xerostomia
Monitoring Parameters
- CBC with differential
- LFTs
- platelet count
Contraindications
- albumin hypersensitivity
- alcoholism
- angina
- autoimmune disease
- bone marrow suppression
- breast-feeding
- cardiac arrhythmias
- cardiac disease
- children
- depression
- hamster protein hypersensitivity
- heart failure
- hemolytic-uremic syndrome
- hepatic disease
- jaundice
- latex hypersensitivity
- myocardial infarction
- pregnancy
- psychosis
- seizure disorder
- subcutaneous administration
- suicidal ideation
- thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
- thyroid disease
Interactions
- Abacavir
- Abacavir; Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
- Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC
- Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
- Amprenavir
- Atazanavir
- Atazanavir; Cobicistat
- Bictegravir; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Chloroquine
- Darunavir
- Darunavir; Cobicistat
- Darunavir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Delavirdine
- Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
- Dolutegravir; Rilpivirine
- Doravirine; Lamivudine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
- Efavirenz
- Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
- Efavirenz; Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Emtricitabine
- Emtricitabine; Rilpivirine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Emtricitabine; Rilpivirine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
- Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Emtricitabine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
- Entecavir
- Ethanol
- Fosamprenavir
- Indinavir
- Lamivudine, 3TC
- Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
- Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Lopinavir; Ritonavir
- Natalizumab
- Nelfinavir
- Nevirapine
- Ocrelizumab
- Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Ozanimod
- Pexidartinib
- Protease inhibitors
- Rilpivirine
- Riluzole
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Stavudine, d4T
- Telbivudine
- Tipranavir
- Vigabatrin
- Zalcitabine, ddC
- Zidovudine, ZDV