Uses
Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat a number of conditions.
Interferon alfa-2b injection is used alone or in combination with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, Ribasphere) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage, to treat chronic hepatitis B infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage, to treat hairy cell leukemia (a white blood cell cancer), to treat genital warts, to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma (a type of cancer that causes abnormal tissue to grow on different parts of the body) related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), to treat malignant melanoma (cancer that begins in certain skin cells) in certain people who have had surgery to remove cancer, along with another medication to treat follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL; a slow-growing blood cancer).
Interferon alfa-2b is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. Interferon alfa-2b works to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) by decreasing the amount of virus in the body. Interferon alfa-2b may not cure hepatitis B or hepatitis C or prevent you from developing complications from these infections such as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure, or liver cancer. It also may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B or C to other people. It is not known exactly how interferon alfa-2b works to treat cancer or genital warts.
Side Effects Of Interferon Alfa-2b Injection
Interferon alfa-2b injection may cause side effects.
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- bruising, bleeding, pain, redness, swelling, or irritation in the place you injected interferon alfa-2b
- muscle pain
- change in the ability to taste
- hair loss
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- concentration problems
- feeling cold or hot
- weight changes
- skin changes
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or any or those listed in the WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS sections, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
- rash
- hives
- skin peeling
- itching
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the eyes, face, mouth, tongue, or throat
- changes in vision
- stomach pain, tenderness, or swelling
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- extreme tiredness
- confusion
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- back pain
- loss of consciousness
- numbness, burning or tingling in the hands or feet
Interferon alfa-2b injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before receiving interferon alfa-2b injection:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to interferon alfa-2b injection, other interferon alfa medications including PEG-interferon alfa-2b (PEG-Intron) and PEG-interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys), any other medications, albumin, or any of the other ingredients in interferon alfa-2b injection. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: telbivudine (Tyzeka), theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron), or zidovudine (Retrovir, in Combivir, in Trizivir). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have severe liver disease or autoimmune hepatitis (a condition in which the cells of the immune system attack the liver). Your doctor will probably tell you not to use interferon alfa-2b injection.
- tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have ever had an organ transplant (surgery to replace an organ in the body) and are taking medications to suppress your immune system. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section or any of the following: anemia (low red blood cells) or low white blood cells, bleeding problems, or blood clots including a pulmonary embolism (PE; a blood clot in the lung), lung diseases such as pneumonia, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; high blood pressure in the vessels carrying blood to the lungs, causing shortness of breath, dizziness, and tiredness), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways), or eye problems.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while receiving interferon alfa-2b injection, call your doctor.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving interferon alfa-2b.
- you should know that you may have flu-like symptoms such as headache, sweating, muscle aches, and tiredness after you receive your injection. Your doctor may tell you to take acetaminophen (Tylenol), an over-the-counter pain and fever medication to help with these symptoms. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms are difficult to manage or become severe.
Dosage Of Interferon Alfa-2b Injection
- Interferon alfa-2b comes as a powder in a vial to mix with liquid and as a solution to inject either subcutaneously (just under the skin), intramuscularly (into a muscle), intravenous (into the vein), or intralesionally (into a lesion). It is best to inject the medication at around the same time of day on your injection days, usually in the late afternoon or evening.
If you have:
- HCV, inject the medication either subcutaneously or intramuscularly three times a week.
- HBV, inject the medication either subcutaneously or intramuscularly three times a week usually for 16 weeks.
- hairy cell leukemia, inject the medication either intramuscularly or subcutaneously 3 times a week for up to 6 months.
- malignant melanoma, inject the medication intravenously for 5 consecutive days for 4 weeks, then subcutaneously three times per week for 48 weeks.
- follicular melanoma, inject the medication subcutaneously three times per week for up to 18 months.
- genital warts, inject the medication intralesionally three times weekly on alternate days for 3 weeks, then treatment may be continued for up to 16 weeks.
- Kaposi’s sarcoma, inject the medication either subcutaneously or intramuscularly three times a week for 16 weeks.
- Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use interferon alfa-2b injection exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of this medication or use it more often or for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.
- Your doctor may decrease your dose if you experience serious side effects of the medication. Be sure to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the amount of medication you should use.
- You will receive your first dose of interferon alfa-2b in your doctor’s office. After that, you can inject interferon alfa-2b yourself or have a friend or relative give you the injections. Before you use interferon alfa-2b injection for the first time, you or the person who will be giving the injections should read the manufacturer’s information for the patient that comes with it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you or the person who will be injecting the medication how to inject it. If another person will be injecting the medication for you, be sure that he or she knows how to avoid accidental needle sticks.
- If you are injecting this medication subcutaneously, inject interferon alfa-2b anywhere on your stomach area, upper arms, or your thighs, except near your waistline or around your navel (belly button). Do not inject your medication into the skin that is irritated, bruised, reddened, infected, or scarred.
- If you are injecting this medication intramuscularly, inject interferon alfa-2b in your upper arms, thighs, or outer area of the buttocks. Do not use the same spot two times in a row. Do not inject your medication into the skin that is irritated, bruised, reddened, infected, or scarred.
- If you are injecting this medication intralesionally, inject in directly into the center of the base of the wart.
- Never reuse syringes, needles, or vials of interferon alfa-2b. Throw away used needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant container, and throw away used vials of medication in the trash. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to dispose of the puncture-resistant container.
- Before you use interferon alfa-2b injection, look at the solution in the vial. The medication should be clear and free of floating particles. Check the vial to make sure there are no leaks and check the expiration date. Do not use the solution if it is expired, cloudy contains particles, or is in a leaky vial.
- You should only mix one vial of interferon alfa-2b at a time. It is best to mix the medication right before you plan to inject it. However, you may mix the medication in advance, store it in the refrigerator, and use it within 24 hours. Be sure to take the medications out of the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature before you inject them.
- Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with interferon alfa-2b and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Other
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information have been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
