(IN ter FEAR on AL fa 2b) Brand: Intron A
• Interferon alfa-2b is often used in combination with other drug called ribavirin (Rebetol). Some of the information in this medicine manual applies to the use of both drugs in this combination.
• Interferon alfa-2b may be deleterious to an unborn child, or may reason a miscarriage. Do not use interferon alfa-2b if you are pregnant, especially if you also take ribavirin (Rebetol). Use 2 forms of effective birth control while you are using this drug combination and for at least 6 months after your treatment ends.
• If a man fathers a baby while using interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin, the child may have birth defects. Use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment and for at least 6 months after you stop using this drug combination..
• You must not use interferon alfa-2b if you are allergic to interferons, or if you have autoimmune hepatitis, or severe liver problems from causes another than hepatitis B or C.
• You must not use the combination of interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin if you have an allergy to either drug, or if you have severe kidney malady, a blood cell mess, if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your female sex partner is pregnant.
• Interferon alfa-2b is made from human proteins. Interferons help the body fight viral infections.
• Interferon alfa-2b is used to treat hairy cell leukemia, malignant melanoma, follicular lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma caused by AIDS, and determined types of genital warts. Interferon alfa-2b is also used to treat chronic hepatitis B or C.
• Interferon alfa-2b is often used in combination with other drug called ribavirin (Rebetol). Some of the information in this medicine manual applies to the use of both drugs in this combination.
• Interferon alfa-2b may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to interferons, or if you have autoimmune hepatitis, or severe liver problems from causes another than hepatitis B or C.
• You must not use the combination of interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin if you have:
· severe kidney disease;
· a blood cell mess such as thalassemia or sickle cell anemia;
· if you are allergic to interferons or ribavirin;
· if you are pregnant; or
· if you are a man and your female sex partner is pregnant.
• If you have any of these another conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular trials to safely use interferon alfa-2b:
· diabetes;
· cancer;
· bone marrow suppression;
· a bleeding disorder;
· a thyroid disorder;
· breathing problems;
· a history of depression, mental diseases, suicidal thoughts, or drug or alcohol addiction;
· heart malady, a heart rhythm mess, or history of a heart onslaught or blood clots;
· an autoimmune mess such as psoriasis, arthritis, or lupus;
· colitis or another intestinal mess; or
· if you have recently received an organ transplant.
• This medicine may be deleterious to an unborn child, or may reason a miscarriage. Do not use interferon alfa-2b if you are pregnant, especially if you also take ribavirin (Rebetol). The combination of interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin can reason birth defects. Speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Use 2 forms of effective birth control while you are using this drug combination and for at least 6 months after your treatment ends.
• If a man fathers a baby while using interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin, the child may have birth defects. Use a condom to prevent pregnancy during your treatment. Continue using condoms for at least 6 months after you stop using this drug combination..
• It is not known whether interferon alfa-2b passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• The powder form of interferon alfa-2b contains albumin, but the solution (liquid) form does not. Albumin comes from human plasma (part of the blood) and may contain viruses and another infectious agents that can reason malady. Although donated human plasma is screened, tested, and treated to reduce the risk of it containing anything that could reason malady, there is still a little possibility it could transmit malady. Conversation with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.
• Interferon alfa-2b is given as an injection into a muscle, under the skin, or directly into a genital wart. The medication may also be given through a needle placed into a vein.
• Your doctor, nurse, or another healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medication at house. Do not self-inject this medication if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
• Use every disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Hold this container out of the reach of children and pets.
• Do not shake the medicine vial (bottle). Vigorous shaking can ruin the medication. Do not draw your doze into a syringe or IV bag before you are ready to give yourself an injection.
• Interferon alfa-2b powder medication should be mixed with a liquid (diluent) till using it. If you are using the injections at house, be certain you understand how to properly mix and store the medicine. Do not use the mixture if it is not clear or easy yellow, or if it has any particles in it. Throw it away and mix other dose.
• The single-dose vial of interferon alfa-2b is for one use only. Throw the vial away after measuring your doze, even if there is still some medication in it. Do not save it for later use.
• Not all brands, forms, and strengths of interferon alfa-2b are used to treat the same medical conditions. Always check your refills to create certain you have received the correct brand and type of medication predesigned by your doctor. Ask the pharmacist if you have any questions about the medication you receive at the pharmacy.
• To be certain this medicine is not causing deleterious effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
• Store interferon alfa-2b in the refrigerator and do not let it to freeze. After mixing the powder medication with a diluent, you may store the mixture in the refrigerator but you should use it within 24 hours.
• To reduce or prevent determined side effects, your doctor may recommend you take acetaminophen (Tylenol) at the time of your interferon alfa-2b injection. Follow your doctor's instructions about the correct dose.
• Use the missed doze as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your following doze, wait before then to use the medication and skip the missed doze. Do not use extra medication to create up the missed dose.
• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medication. Symptoms of an interferon alfa-2b overdose are not known.
• If you are being treated for hepatitis or genital warts, avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this medicine will not prevent you from passing hepatitis or genital warts to another people. Conversation with your doctor about safety methods of preventing transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medication needles is never safety, even for a healthy person.
• Avoid drinking alcohol if you are also taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) while using interferon alfa-2b.
• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using interferon alfa-2b and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
· severe depression, aggressive behavior, or thoughts of hurting yourself or others;
· quick, slow, or uneven heart course, feeling like you might pass out;
· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, pale skin, light bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
· vision or hearing problems;
· urinating smaller than normal or not at all;
· severe stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
· cough with yellow or green mucus, feeling short of breath;
· chest pain, pain spreading to the hand or shoulder, nausea, sweating, common ill feeling;
· sudden numbness or weakness, headache, confusion, or problems with speech or balance; or
· a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· dizziness, spinning sensation;
· muscle pain, weary feeling;
· nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
· dry mouth, dry cough, sore throat, hair loss;
· mild itching or skin rash; or
· burning, bleeding, pain, itching, or skin changes where the medication was injected.
• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
• Speak your doctor about all another medications you use, especially:
· zidovudine (Retrovir);
· theophylline (Elixophyllin, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theobid, Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, and others); or
· medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, such as sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf).
• This list is not complete and there may be another drugs that can interact with interferon alfa-2b. Speak your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.
• Your pharmacist can provide more information about interferon alfa-2b.
Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.
Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.