THERAPY

Storage :

•  Should be stored in a refrigerator but can be kept at room temperature for up to one week. Extremes temperature and exposure to ligth should be avoided

Patient Selection :

• Should be used with caution in patients with prior seizure disorder, liver disease, ongoing depression or concomitantly with other potentially liver toxic therapies

Adverse Events :

• Most frequent adverse event is flu like symptoms which tend to diminish in severity and frequency with time
• Decreased peripheral blood counts in all cell lines, including very rare pancytopenia and thrombocytopenia have been reported from post-marketing experience
• Elevated liver enzymes from hepatic injury or hepatitis including hepatic failure have been reported
• Can lead to autoimmune disorders such as drug induced SLE, autoimmune hepatitis, hyper or hypothyroidism, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura  and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. These events can may occur after several weeks to several years after starting treatment with interferon beta.
• Anaphylaxis has been reported as a rare complication. Other allergic reactions have included dyspnea, orolingual edema, skin rash and urticaria
• Cases of nephrotic syndrome with different underlying nephropathies including collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), minimal change disease (MCD), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) have been reported during treatment with interferon-beta products.
• Rare cases of secondary systemic capillary leak sydrome (Clarkson syndrome) has been reported with interferon beta administration to patients with underlying monoclonal gammopathy