| Mental disorders have been observed in patients using Betaseron.
Symptoms included depression, anxiety, emotional lability (mood swings),
depersonalization, suicide attempts, and confusion.
One suicide and four attempted suicides were also reported. There
were no attempted suicides in patients on study who did not receive
Betaseron ®.
It is not known whether these symptoms may be related to the underlying
neurological basis of MS, to Betaseron ® treatment, or to
a combination of both.
Some similar symptoms have been noted in patients receiving interferon
alpha, a different interferon to that used to treat multiple sclerosis
(interferon beta-1a) and both interferons are thought to act through
the same receptor.
Patients who experience these symptoms should be closely monitored
and cessation of therapy considered.
See also
Warnings on the safety of Interferons
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