http://health.msn.com/health-topics/...8254&GT1=31036

Found this article today. Interferon Beta is #8 on their top ten list.

Doesn't specifically say why but I take it has to do with depression and unknown on the long-term use. 1178 Deaths from 1998-2005 on people using Interferon Beta.

Other meds on the list are 2 (other)immune-system modulating drugs, painkillers and antipsychotics.


Sure wish they had more info for this claim.

Very interesting!

Stuff like oxy, you have to wonder how many of the deaths involved people who did not have a prescription. How many did, but why were they taking it. Their health issues might have been pretty serious to warrent the use of that drug.

The article made a good point about how they approved the AIDS and cancer drugs, and why that shouldn't be the way to do so for other meds.



Thanks for posting this.

Oh gosh, I take Betaseron. I wonder what caused the deaths of these people? This scares me!!

Glad to see Asprin wasn't on the list.

I googled the report that was listed at the end of the article:

Source: Moore TJ et al., Serious Adverse Drug Events Reported to the Food and Drug Administration, 1998-2005, Archives of Internal Medicine, Sept. 10., 2007; 167 (16): 1752-1759

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/...0198254&page=2

hoping to learn the cause(s) of death, for the people taking Betaseron.

I found this PDF:

[PDF] Confidential. Do not distribute. Pre-embargo material.

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat

Serious Adverse Drug Events Reported to the Food and Drug Administration, 1998-2005. Thomas J. Moore, AB; Michael R. Cohen, RPh, MS, ScD; Curt D. Furberg

www.ismp.org/pressroom/PR20070910_1.pdf

alas, the PDF doesn't say WHY people died, just explains how they gathered the information.

Thanks CayoKay.

It's still hard to come to a conclusion on this as more patients are on it now than in 1998 so numbers would increase.

Also, the outcome of people having serious health issues/disabilities and not death has also increased (see CayoKay's link on the findings). However, I would say (JMHO) it was the MS itself on the disability factor and not a contribution from the actual med that increased disability.

I still think since it is listed with multiple meds that can alter a person's thought process that the warning here is on the depression. This is generally expressed in almost anything you read on the Interferon-Beta. So just a warning for all to be aware of that potential and seek help if necessary.

Betaseron has been out for 17 years, so does anyone know how many years a med would have to be out for the FDA or other agency to find out the long term effects of a med? This is actually one of the reasons why I chose Betaseron as my mother has always drilled into me that if you have to take meds, to go w/the one that has been out longer (been successful)and has more info available.

Thanks!!!

the source info (see the PDF above) says they *ruled out* illegal drug use from the study, in their information gathering.

There are 3 drugs known as Interferon Beta -

Avonex (Interferon Beta -1a)
Betaseron (Interferon Beta -1b)
Rebif (Interferon Beta - 1a)

Anyone can read the FDA database on adverse events. Anyone can add to it, patients, caregivers, doctors, etc. Anyone can list whatever drug they think caused the adverse event.

That is why sometimes you see drugs listed without the dose size, or different drugs listed for the same event ( reported by different reporters)

The FDA may or may not investigate the adverse event reported, and if the do and they have a finding, they will list the drug they find responsible.

This is a fairly new search engine developed by TheBusyAnt.com:

http://www.fdable.com/


This is the official FDA AERS site:

http://www.fda.gov/cder/aers/default.htm

Just remember that this database lists ALL reported events, regardless of who posted the adverse event and take that with a grain of salt.

Hope this helps everyone! Knowledge is power.

Looked up Novantrone, outcomes, DE = equals death.

"Generally well tolerated", appears to be a generalization?