Type of medicine: antiviral; biological response modulator; immune system booster
Generic and brand names: interferon alfa-2b, injection; Intron-A
This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat certain kinds of leukemia, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, genital warts, hepatitis, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This medicine, together with surgery, is also used to keep malignant melanoma (skin cancer) from coming back. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given during pregnancy because it may harm the baby. Women who take this medicine along with ribavirin, or whose partners take this medicine with ribavirin, must use 2 forms of birth control during treatment and for 6 months after treatment is stopped. Talk with your healthcare provider about this. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you think you have become pregnant during treatment. Do not breast-feed during treatment with this medicine.
This medicine comes as:
Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.
Your healthcare provider will decide your dose of medicine and how often you should receive it. These shots may be given by your healthcare provider. Sometimes you can give yourself these shots or have someone at home give them to you.
Your healthcare provider will show you how to prepare and measure your dose of medicine and how to inject yourself. If you are not sure of how to give yourself the shots, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help.
Carefully read and follow the directions that come in the package of medicine for preparing the shots. Inject the medicine exactly as prescribed. Be sure you know how and when to have shots and how much medicine to use. Do not change your dose or how you inject the medicine unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Do not change brands of this medicine without talking with your healthcare provider.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: decreased appetite, chills, fever, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, trouble urinating, unusual bruising or bleeding, chest pain.
This medicine can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. It can cause or worsen problems with:
You may also get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Make sure that you understand the possible risks before you start treatment with this medicine. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening side effects while taking this medicine.
You may have mild fever, chills, and muscle aches when you first start taking this medicine. These side effects usually get better with time. Ask your healthcare provider how to deal with them.
Since you may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine, stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.
This medicine may cause dizziness or affect your thinking. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and thinking clearly.
The powder form of this medicine contains albumin, which comes from human blood. It is tested for viruses such as hepatitis and HIV. The risk of getting an infection from this medicine is very low, but it is still possible. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell all healthcare providers and dentists that you are taking this medicine.
Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fast or irregular heartbeat; chest pain; severe dizziness or fainting; swelling, numbness, or tingling in hands or feet; unexplained fever; unusual bleeding or bruising; cough; sore throat; trouble urinating or urinating more than usual; trouble breathing; black or tarry stools; blood in urine; dark urine; yellowing of skin or eyes; confusion; unusual weakness or tiredness; loss of coordination or balance; sudden headache; trouble talking; vision change; thoughts of suicide or hurting others; nervousness; sudden mood changes; unusual behavior; worsening of depression; severe stomach pain; severe nausea or vomiting; increased thirst; weight or appetite changes; fruity breath.
Other: Muscle or joint pain, back pain, headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping, swelling or redness at injection site, dry skin, dry mouth, thinning hair.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store the unmixed medicine in the refrigerator. Do not let it freeze.
If you have the single-use vial, use the solution right after you mix it, or store the solution in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Throw away any medicine left in the vial after you withdraw 1 dose.
If you have the multidose form, discard any unused medicine after 4 weeks.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.
Do not share medicines with other people.
