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Facts About INTRON® A for Hepatitis B * If you have Hepatitis C, please see REBETRON® Combination Therapy What is interferon? What is INTRON A therapy? Why did my doctor prescribe INTRON A therapy for me? Will interferon cure chronic hepatitis B? How long will I have to take INTRON A therapy? Why do I have to take INTRON A by injection? What should I do if I miss an INTRON A injection? Are there any side effects I should know about? Will taking INTRON® A limit my normal activities? Q: What is interferon? A: Interferon is an immunity-boosting protein made by your body. It is naturally made by many different cells in your body, including liver cells, to help you fight off disease. Q: What is INTRON A therapy? A: Therapy with INTRON® A (a kind of interferon made by Schering Corporation) is used to treat chronic hepatitis B (also called HBV). The treatment involves giving yourself injections of alfa interferon, which helps your body fight the virus in a number of different ways. There are several brands of interferon, each slightly different and with different doses. Interferon may come in several forms (for example, powder or liquid). Q: Why did my doctor prescribe INTRON A therapy for me? A: Because you most likely have been infected with chronic hepatitis B for 6 months or more, your doctor feels that you require treatment, and without treatment, you run the risk of permanent liver damage. Your doctor recommended interferon therapy for you because there is scientific information showing it has helped other people with chronic hepatitis B. Q: Will interferon cure chronic hepatitis B? A: At this time, there is no guaranteed cure for chronic hepatitis B. However, with full treatment, about 45% of hepatitis B patients respond to INTRON A therapy. Q: How long will I have to take INTRON A therapy? A: The recommended length of treatment by the FDA is up to 4 months for hepatitis B. Your doctor will decide how long you need to stay on INTRON® A for it to be most beneficial to you. Q: Why do I have to take INTRON A by injection? A: INTRON® A is a protein that can be destroyed. If this protein were taken in pill form, the acids produced by your stomach would destroy it before it could enter your bloodstream. Taking INTRON® A by injection puts it directly into your bloodstream, where the medication works. Q: What should I do if I miss an INTRON A injection? A: Take your injection as soon as you remember (but don't take two together), then go back to your normal schedule as directed by your doctor. If you miss more than one injection, call your physician for instructions. Q: Are there any side effects I should know about? A:
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. Q: Will taking INTRON® A limit my normal activities? A: While on INTRON A therapy, many patients can go to work and even travel; some can't. Whether you stay at home or lead a more active life will depend on how you feel and how comfortable you are with your therapy. Just keep in mind the full course of treatment is key to getting all the benefits of INTRON A therapy. See also: |
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