| Copaxone<O:P> </O:P> Glatiramer Acetate<O:P></O:P> | Rebif Interferon Beta-1a<O:P></O:P> | Avonex<O:P> </O:P> Interferon Beta-1a<O:P></O:P> | Betaseron<O:P> </O:P> Interferon Beta-1b<O:P> </O:P> |
Manufacturer/Distributor | | | |
Teva Marion Partners
| Serono | Biogen<O:P></O:P> | Berlex<O:P></O:P> |
| FDA Approval<O:P></O:P> | | | |
| 1996 | 2002 | 1996 | 1993 |
| Frequency/Route of Delivery<O:P></O:P> | | | |
| Daily; subcutaneous (under the skin) injection<O:P></O:P> | 3xs a week; subcutaneous (under the skin) injection<O:P></O:P> | Weekly; intramuscular (into the muscle) injection<O:P></O:P> | Every other day; subcutaneous (under the skin) injection<O:P> </O:P> |
| Common Side Effects<O:P></O:P> | | | |
| Injection site reactions. Rarer: a reaction immediately after injection which includes anxiety, chest tightness, shortness of breath and flushing. This lasts 15-30 minutes and has no known long-term effects.<O:P></O:P> | Common side effects include flu-like symptoms (fatigue, chills, fever, muscle aches, and sweating) and injection site reactions (swelling, redness, discoloration, and pain) and depression. | Flu symptoms following injection, which lessen over time for many people. (See over for how to manage.) Rarer: mild anemia, elevated liver enzymes.<O:P></O:P> | Flu symptoms following injection, which lessen over time for many. (See over for how to manage.) Injection site reactions, about 5% of which need medical attention. Rarer: elevated liver enzymes, low white blood cell counts.<O:P></O:P> |
| Patient Information and Financial Support Programs<O:P></O:P> | | | |
| “Shared Solutions”:<O:P> </O:P> 800-887-8100<O:P> </O:P> www.copaxone.com<O:P></O:P> | "MS Lifeline" 1-877-44-Rebif www.rebif.com | “Avonex Alliance”:<O:P> </O:P> 800-456-2255<O:P> </O:P> www.avonex.com<O:P></O:P> | “Pathways”:<O:P> </O:P> 800-788-1467<O:P> </O:P> www.betaseron.com<O:P></O:P> |
