Drug interactions summary-

Interferon + myelosuppresive agents or Myleosuppressive agents +

interferon alfacon -1
Excercise caution when administering with agents known to cause myelosuppression

Interferon alfacon -1 + drugs metabolised by cytochrome P-450
excercise caution when administering to patients receiving agents metabolized
via cytochrome P-450

Chronic  hepatitis C

Most frequent adverse reactions-
Most adeverse reactions were mild to moderate severity ie flu-like symptoms ( headche, fever,rigors, myalgia, increased sweating and arthalgia )

Depression  usually mild to moderate in severity about 20%

Application site -
 Injection site reactions 20%, pain at site 6% , site ecchymosis 5%

Cardiovascular -
 Hypertension 4% ,

CNS -   
Amnesia 8%, anxiety 15% dizziness 20%, depression 20%  emotional lability 10%
headache  75%  insomnia 30% nervousness 25% paresthesia  10%

Dermatologic -  
Alopecia 10%   pruritus 10% rash 9%  increased sweating 10%

Endocrine -  
Abnormal thtroid rest  8%

GI -
Abdominal pain 40%  anorexia 20%   constipation 8%  diarrhea 25%  dyspepsia  15%

Respiratory-
Cough 20%  pharyngitis  30%       respiratory tract congestion 10%     rhinitis 10% 
sinusitis  15%        upper respiratory tract congestion 8%
upper respiratory tract infection 25%

Miscellaneous -                                                                                                          Aasthenia 8%      body pain 50%     edema peripheral 6%   fatigue  60%    fever 55%         hot flushes 10%        flu-like symptoms 12%     malaise 9%    chest pain 10%    rigors 50%    nausea  35%   vomiting 9%

Hematologic -                                                                                                        granulocytopenia  20%  leukopenia  10%  thrombocytopenia  15%

Musculoskeletal -                                                                                                        arthalgia 45%  back pain 35%        limb pain 16%  myalgia 50%       neck pain 10%
skeletal pain 10% 

Hypersensitivity to the components

Special precautions/warnings

Special risk patients  -it be used cautiously in patients with debilitating medical conditions
suh as cardiovascular disease eg unstable angina, severe pulmonary disease or diabetes

Changing of brands- caution patients not to change from one brand to another without consulting your doctor

Pregnancy-  intereron alfa should be given to given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed

Lactation-  Not known whether interferon alfacon passes into the breast milk. Decide whether to discontinue nursding or discontinue the drug dependeing upon of the drug to the mother

Indication-

Chronic  hepatitis C

Dosage-
Recommended dosage - 9mcg 3 times a week administered SC as a single injection for
24 weeks. At least 48 hours should elape between doses of interferon alfacon -1

Patients who  tolerated previous interferon and did not respond or relapsed following its
discontinuation may be subsequently treated with 15mcg of interferon alfacon -1 three times a week administered sub cutaneously  as a single injection for upto 48 weeks

Dose reduction- For patients who experience a severe adverse reaction with  interferon alfacon -1 , dosage should be withheld temporarily . Discontinue therapy, if adverse reactions does not become  tolerable. Dosage reduction to 7.5mcg may be necessary following intolerable adverse reactions

1. Changing of brands- caution patients not to change from one brand to another without consulting  your doctor

2. Pregnancy-  intereron alfa should be given to given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed

3. Lactation- safety and effectiveness have not been established in patients less than 18 years or age

Pregnancy- 
 Intereron alfa should be given to given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed

 Lactation-
 Safety and effectiveness have not been established in patients less than 18 years or age.