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INTRON® A
(Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) for Injection
See also:
INTRON® A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) for Injection is proven to be effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. It is also approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. INTRON® A is used primarily in combination with REBETOL®. For more information, see REBETRON® Combination Therapy.
INTRON® A is a manufactured form of interferon, a protein made naturally by the body to boost immunity and regulate other cell functions. INTRON A therapy works by stimulating the immune system to fight the viral infection and by inhibiting the ability of the viruses to divide and reproduce.
Side Effects
Important Safety Information
WARNING
Alpha interferons, including INTRON® A, cause or aggravate fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. Patients should be monitored closely with periodic clinical and laboratory evaluations. Patients with persistently severe or worsening signs or symptoms of these conditions should be withdrawn from therapy. In many but not all cases these disorders resolve after stopping INTRON A therapy. |
All patients receiving INTRON A therapy experienced mild-to-moderate side effects. Some patients experienced more severe side effects, including neutropenia, fatigue, myalgia, headache, fever, chills, and increased SGOT. Other frequently occurring side effects were nausea, vomiting, depression, alopecia, diarrhea, and thrombocytopenia. DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING SUICIDAL IDEATION, SUICIDAL ATTEMPTS, AND COMPLETED SUICIDES, HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH TREATMENT WITH ALFA INTERFERONS, INCLUDING INTRON A THERAPY.
An Approach to Help Patients Manage Side Effects
Many patients can manage the side effects associated with INTRON A therapy by referring to this A-through-F guide:
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can prevent or relieve fever and headache.
- Bedtime or early evening administration of INTRON A therapy may allow you to sleep through the flu-like symptoms.
- Conserve your energy and get plenty of rest.
- Drink plenty of fluids before and during therapy.
- Eat balanced meals with an adequate number of calories.
- Focus on the positive!
Schering offers several programs to help manage your patients side effects. Please see,
Be In Charge® and
Clinical Consultants
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