Interferon alfa-2a Side Effects

Brand Names: Roferon-A

Please note - some side effects for Interferon alfa-2a may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Interferon alfa-2a - for the Consumer

Interferon Alfa-2a Solution

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Interferon Alfa-2a Solution:

Anxiety; bone pain; coughing; diarrhea; dizziness; dry mouth, throat, or skin; hair loss; headache; increased sweating; irritability; loss of appetite; mild flu-like symptoms (eg, fever, chills, joint and muscle pain); nausea; pain, swelling, or redness at the site of injection; stomach pain; taste changes; tiredness or weakness; trouble sleeping; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); behavior changes; bloody or black, tarry stools; bloody vomit; change in amount of urine produced; chest pain; confusion; dark urine; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; heart attack symptoms (eg, chest, shoulder, jaw, or neck pain; numbness of an arm or leg; severe stomach pain, dizziness, or vomiting); memory problems; mental or mood changes (eg, depression, severe or persistent irritability or anxiety); numbness or tingling; pale, blue, or very cold fingers or toes; seizures; severe or persistent fever, chills, coughing, or sore throat; severe or persistent joint and muscle pain; severe or persistent stomach pain; severe or persistent tiredness or weakness; shortness of breath; suicidal thoughts or attempts; trouble concentrating or thinking; unexplained weight gain; unusual bleeding or bruising; vision loss or other vision problems; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Psychiatric

Depression has been reported to have sometimes continued after decreases in dosage or discontinuation of therapy.

Results of a recent study (n=14) of patients affected by chronic hepatitis C who received interferon alfa-2b suggests that the development of the interferon alfa-induced depressive symptoms may arise through depletion of central and peripheral 5-HT and reduction of tryptophan plasma levels.

Psychiatric side effects have included depression (16% to 28%) and suicidal behavior including suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicides. Irritability (15%), insomnia (14%), anxiety (5% to 6%), and behavioral disturbances (3%) have also been reported. In a study of patients (n=25) with chronic myelogenous leukemia conducted to evaluate the neuropsychological symptoms related to the treatment with interferon alfa, a disproportionate number of these patients scored in the impaired range on tests of verbal memory, delayed visual memory, verbal fluency, visual scanning and sequencing, executive function, and motor dexterity for the preferred hand when compared to controls. Besides the mentioned cognitive deficits, the patients receiving interferon alfa also showed signs of personality and mood disturbances.

Other

Other side effects have included flu like symptoms such as fatigue (58% to 95%), fever (25% to 92%), myalgia (68% to 71%), headache (44% to 66%), chills (23% to 64%), arthralgia/bone pain (25% to 47%), asthenia (6%), sweating (5%), leg cramps (3%), and malaise (1%). Weight loss (25% to 33%), change in taste or smell (3% to 25%), pain (24%), back pain (16%), night sweats (8%), menstrual irregularity (4%), reversible hearing loss, and tinnitus have also been reported.

Flu like symptoms may be especially prevalent during the first week of therapy.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects have included anorexia (14% to 65%), diarrhea (20% to 42%), nausea/vomiting (33% to 39%), abdominal pain (12% to 15%), flatulence (3%), liver pain (3%), impaired digestion (2%), gingival bleeding (2%), and GI hemorrhage.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included headache (44% to 64%), dizziness (11% to 40%), decreased mental status (10% to 17%), paresthesias (7% to 12%), numbness (3% to 12%), sleep disturbances (10 % to 11%), confusion (5% to 8%), involuntary movements (7%), lethargy (6%), sleep disturbances (5%), and impaired concentration (4%). At least one case of myorhythmia has also been reported, in addition to a case of encephalopathy.

Most of the central nervous system adverse effects have been mild and reversible within a few days to 3 weeks after dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy.

A 49-year-old female with a history of chronic myeloid leukemia experienced myorhythmia coincident with interferon alfa-2a therapy. She was treated with increasing doses of subcutaneous interferon alfa-2a up to 6 megaunits daily, with good clinical and hematologic response. After 1.5 years on the interferon, she had a gradual onset of involuntary facial movements. Movements on her forehead and both sides of her lower face were noted by her family members. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not show any structural abnormality. The patient was asked to discontinue interferon. Within 2 weeks, she reported improvement of the facial movements, and at 1 month there was almost complete resolution of her symptoms.

A 44-year-old female with metastatic renal cell cancer experienced encephalopathy coincident with interferon alfa-2a therapy. She presented with progressive apathy and slight subjective memory loss as well as two seizures. Electroencephalogram showed multifocal epileptiform discharges. Lumbar puncture results were normal. MRI demonstrated hyperintensities in the basal ganglia and the adjacent white matter but no other significant lesions. After stopping interferon therapy, the patients clinical state normalized, as did MRI 3 weeks later.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included skin rash (8% to 44%), injection site reaction (29%), diaphoresis (7% to 22%), partial alopecia (17% to 22%), dry skin (7% to 17%), pruritus (7% to 13%), hematoma (1%). Psoriasis, cutaneous eruptions, eczema, and seborrhea have also been reported in less than 1% of patients.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included cough (19% to 27%), throat irritation (21%), coughing (16%), rhinorrhea (12%), dyspnea (8% to 12%), pneumonia (11%), sinusitis (greater than 1% to 11%), dryness or inflammation of the oropharynx (6%), epistaxis (4%), and rhinitis (3%).

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included hypertension (11%), edema (9% to 11%), chest pain (4% to 11%), dysrhythmia (7%), hypotension (4%), and arrhythmia (1%). Myocardial infarction has been reported rarely. Cases of cardiomyopathy have been reported rarely in patients treated with alpha interferons.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included visual disturbance (5% to 6%) and conjunctivitis (4%).

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included arthritis or polyarthritis (5%).

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included transient increases of liver transaminase or alkaline phosphatase in up to 50% of studied patients diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia receiving interferon alfa-2a. Other hepatic side effects rarely reported have included pancreatitis, hypertriglyceridemia, and hepatitis.

Severe chronic active hepatitis has been reported in a patient post completion of interferon alfa-2a therapy and successful treatment of chronic active hepatitis B.

Hematologic

The incidence of neutropenia (WHO grades III or IV) among chronic hepatitis C patients was over twice as high in those treated with 6 million international units thrice weekly (21%) as those treated with 3 million international units three times weekly (10%).

Hematologic side effects have included decreases in WBC (including neutropenia), hematocrit, and platelet counts.

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects have included thyroid disorders (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism).

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included hyperglycemia.

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