interferon alfa-2b, recombinant
interferon alfa-2b, recombinant
Pharmacologic class: Biological response modifier
Therapeutic class: Antineoplastic, antiviral
Pregnancy risk category C
FDA Box Warning
• Drug may cause or worsen fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. Monitor patient closely with periodic clinical and laboratory evaluations. Discontinue drug in patients with persistently severe or worsening signs or symptoms of these conditions. In many cases, these disorders resolve after withdrawal.
Action
Unknown. Antitumor and antiviral activity may stem from direct antiproliferative action against tumor or viral cells, inhibition of viral replication, and modulation of host immune response.
Availability
Injection: 3 million international units/0.5-ml vial, 5 million international units/0.5-ml vial, 10 million international units/1-ml vial; 18 million international units/3.2-ml vial, 25 million international units/3.2-ml vial
Powder for injection (vial with diluent): 3 million, 5 million, 10 million, 18 million, 25 million, and 50 million international units
Indications and dosages
➣ Chronic hepatitis C
Adults: 3 million international units subcutaneously or I.M. three times weekly. If patient tolerates therapy and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level is normal after 16 weeks, continue for 18 to 24 weeks. If ALT doesn't normalize, drug may be withdrawn.
➣ Chronic hepatitis B
Adults: 30 to 35 million international units subcutaneously or I.M. weekly for 16 weeks, given as 5 million international units daily or 10 million international units three times weekly
➣ Hairy cell leukemia
Adults: 2 million international units/m2 I.M. or subcutaneously three times weekly for 6 months or longer
➣ AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma
Adults: 30 million international units/m2 subcutaneously or I.M. three times weekly. Continue dosage unless intolerance occurs or disease advances rapidly.
➣ Malignant melanoma (as adjunct to surgery)
Adults: 20 million international units/m2 I.V. for 5 consecutive days per week for 4 weeks; then a maintenance dosage of 10 million international units/m2 subcutaneously three times weekly for 48 weeks. Withhold drug if adverse reactions occur; when reactions ease, resume at half of previous dosage. Withdraw if reactions persist.
➣ Condyloma acuminatum (genital or venereal warts)
Adults: 1 million international units/lesion given intralesionally three times weekly for 3 weeks
➣ Aggressive follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Adults: 5 million international units subcutaneously three times weekly for up to 18 months (given with chemotherapy regimen containing anthracycline)
Off-label uses
• Adjuvant treatment of malignant melanoma
• Hepatitis D
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to drug or its components
• Autoimmune disorders
• Female partners of males receiving drug
Precautions
Use cautiously in:
• cardiac or pulmonary disease; bone marrow, autoimmune, seizure, or psychiatric disorders
• diabetic patients prone to ketoacidosis
• pregnant or breastfeeding patients
• children.
Administration
• Administer by subcutaneous, I.M., I.V., or intralesional route. For I.V. use, reconstitute with diluent provided by manufacturer (bacteriostatic water for injection), according to chart provided. Mix gently, draw drug up into sterile syringe, and inject into 100 ml of normal saline solution. Infuse slowly over 20 minutes.
• Give antiemetics, as needed and prescribed, for nausea and vomiting.
Adverse reactions
CNS: dizziness, confusion, paresthesia, rigors, lethargy, depression, difficulty thinking or concentrating, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, asthenia, amnesia, malaise, nervousness, drowsiness, suicidal ideation
CV: chest pain, hypertension, palpitations, arrhythmias
EENT: visual disturbances, stye, hearing disorders, nasal congestion, sinusitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis
GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, flatulence, eructation, stomatitis, dry mouth, intestinal obstruction
GU: gynecomastia, impaired fertility in women, transient erectile dysfunction
Hematologic: anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia
Metabolic: hyperglycemia, hypocalcemia
Musculoskeletal: joint pain, back pain, myalgia
Respiratory: cough, dyspnea
Skin: flushing, rash, dry skin, pruritus, alopecia, dermatitis, diaphoresis
Other: gingivitis, flulike symptoms, candidiasis, edema, weight loss
Interactions
Drug-drug. Aminophylline, theophylline: reduced clearance of these drugs
CNS depressants: additive CNS effects
Live-virus vaccines: decreased antibody response to vaccine, increased risk of adverse reactions
Zidovudine: synergistic effects
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alkaline phosphatase, ALT, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, creatinine, fasting glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, neutralizing antibodies, phosphate, uric acid: increased levels
Hemoglobin, platelets, white blood cells: decreased values
International Normalized Ratio, partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time: increased values
Patient monitoring
See Before therapy and monthly during therapy, assess CBC with white cell differential, bone marrow hairy cells, glucose and electrolyte levels, and liver and kidney function tests.
• Discontinue therapy if neutrophil count drops below 500 cells/mm2.
• Monitor fluid intake and output. Keep patient well hydrated.
• Assess for GI upset. Provide small, frequent meals and antiemetics to ease severe nausea and vomiting.
See Monitor for mental status changes, depression, and suicidal ideation.
• Assess for bleeding and bruising.
• Institute infection-control measures. Monitor for signs and symptoms of infection.
Patient teaching
• Teach patient or caregiver how to prepare and give drug subcutaneously or I.M., rotate injection sites, and track dosing schedule and injection sites on calendar.
• Caution patient to avoid driving and other hazardous activities until he knows how drug affects concentration, alertness, and vision.
• Inform female patient that drug is linked to fetal abnormalities. Advise her not to get pregnant during therapy, and to use barrier contraception.
• Tell female patient not to breastfeed.
• Advise patient to avoid potential infection sources, such as crowds and people with known infections.
• Tell patient to eat small, frequent meals to combat nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
• Inform male patient that drug may cause transient erectile dysfunction.
See Instruct patient to immediately report depression, suicidal thoughts, mental status changes, signs or symptoms of infection (such as fever, chills, sore throat), unusual bleeding or bruising, dizziness, palpitations, or chest pain.
• Tell patient he'll need regular follow-up examinations and blood tests to gauge drug effects.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs and tests mentioned above.