Can you take Interferon alfa-2b with Mitomycin?
1 drug interaction and 23 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:
- interferon alfa-2b
- mitomycin
Drug interactions
Moderate drug interactions
Moderate:
mitoMYcin interferon alfa-2b
Applies to: mitomycin and interferon alfa-2b
Using mitoMYcin together with interferon alfa-2b or other chemotherapy drugs may increase the risk of side effects, especially those that affect the bone marrow or gastrointestinal tract.
You may experience a greater number or more severe side effects such as:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- mouth sores
- abdominal pain
- delayed wound healing
- impaired bone marrow function resulting in low numbers of different types of blood cells
You may also be more likely to develop anemia, bleeding problems, or infections due to low blood cell counts.
You should seek medical attention if you develop:
- paleness
- fatigue
- dizziness
- fainting
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- fever
- chills
- diarrhea
- sore throat
- muscle aches
- shortness of breath
- blood in phlegm
- weight loss
- red or inflamed skin
- body sores
- pain or burning during urination
You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use these medications.
It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
Food/lifestyle interactions
No alcohol/food interactions were found. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Disease interactions
23 potential interactions Applies to: 21 conditions, including Depression, Underactive Thyroid, Heart Failure, Seizures, and Peripheral Neuropathy.
Arrhythmia
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Arrhythmia.
Hypertension, arrhythmias, angina, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure have been reported during interferon therapy. Therapy with interferons should be administered with caution in patients with compromised cardiac function.
Autoimmune Disorders
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Autoimmune Disorders.
Antiviral interferons may exacerbate autoimmune disorders such as myositis, thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or autoimmune hepatitis. Therapy should be avoided or administered with extreme caution in patients with autoimmune disorders.
Bleeding Disorder
Major:
mitomycin
mitoMYcin has a major potential interaction with Bleeding Disorder.
The use of mitomycin is contraindicated in patients with thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, or an increase in bleeding tendency. Mitomycin induces cumulative, delayed myelosuppression. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia can occur anytime within eight weeks after initiation of therapy. Therapy with mitomycin should be withheld if platelet counts fall below 100,000/mm3 and subsequent dosages modified based on the nadir of the previous dose.
Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts
Major:
mitomycin
mitoMYcin has a major potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.
Mitomycin induces cumulative, delayed myelosuppression. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia can occur anytime within eight weeks after initiation of therapy. Anemia occurs less frequently. Patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting bone marrow suppression such as fever, sore throat, local infection, or bleeding. Close clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended. Therapy with mitomycin should be withheld if white blood cell counts fall below 4000/mm3 and/or platelet counts fall below 100,000/mm3 and subsequent dosages modified based on the nadir of the previous dose.
Moderate:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a moderate potential interaction with Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts.
Interferons (alfa and gamma) induce a dose-dependent, generally mild, myelosuppression. Leukopenia is the primary manifestation. Thrombocytopenia and anemia occur less frequently. Therapy with interferons (alfa and gamma) should be administered cautiously to patients with bone marrow suppression. Clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended.
Cardiovascular Conditions and Disorders
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Cardiovascular Conditions and Disorders.
Hypertension, arrhythmias, angina, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure have been reported during interferon therapy. Therapy with interferons should be administered with caution in patients with compromised cardiac function.
Coagulation Defects and Disorders
Major:
mitomycin
mitoMYcin has a major potential interaction with Coagulation Defects and Disorders.
The use of mitomycin is contraindicated in patients with thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, or an increase in bleeding tendency. Mitomycin induces cumulative, delayed myelosuppression. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia can occur anytime within eight weeks after initiation of therapy. Therapy with mitomycin should be withheld if platelet counts fall below 100,000/mm3 and subsequent dosages modified based on the nadir of the previous dose.
Depression
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Depression.
Interferons (alfa or beta) can induce depression and suicidal behavior. Suicidal attempts and suicides have been reported. Therapy with interferons (alfa or beta) should be administered cautiously to patients with or predisposed to mental depression. Clinical monitoring of psychological status is recommended.
Diabetes Mellitus
Moderate:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a moderate potential interaction with Diabetes Mellitus.
Flu-like symptoms frequently associated with interferon-alfa therapy can precipitate ketoacidosis in diabetic patients. Therapy with interferon alfa should be administered cautiously in patients with diabetes mellitus. Clinical monitoring of blood glucose concentrations and anti-diabetic therapy is recommended.
Fever
Major:
mitomycin
mitoMYcin has a major potential interaction with Fever.
Mitomycin induces cumulative, delayed myelosuppression. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia can occur anytime within eight weeks after initiation of therapy. Anemia occurs less frequently. Patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting bone marrow suppression such as fever, sore throat, local infection, or bleeding. Close clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended. Therapy with mitomycin should be withheld if white blood cell counts fall below 4000/mm3 and/or platelet counts fall below 100,000/mm3 and subsequent dosages modified based on the nadir of the previous dose.
Heart Failure
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Heart Failure.
Hypertension, arrhythmias, angina, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure have been reported during interferon therapy. Therapy with interferons should be administered with caution in patients with compromised cardiac function.
Hyperthyroidism
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid abnormalities, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, have been reported in patients administered interferons. Therapy with interferons should be administered cautiously to patients with thyroid dysfunction. If thyroid control cannot be maintained within normal limits with medication, interferon-alfa should be discontinued. Clinical monitoring of thyroid function is recommended.
Infection
Major:
mitomycin
mitoMYcin has a major potential interaction with Infection.
Because of their cytotoxic effects on rapidly proliferating tissues, antineoplastic agents frequently can, to varying extent, induce myelosuppression. The use of these drugs may be contraindicated in patients with known infectious diseases. All patients should be instructed to immediately report any signs or symptoms suggesting infection such as fever, sore throat, or local infection during antineoplastic therapy. Close clinical monitoring of hematopoietic function is recommended.
Ischemic Heart Disease
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Ischemic Heart Disease.
Hypertension, arrhythmias, angina, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure have been reported during interferon therapy. Therapy with interferons should be administered with caution in patients with compromised cardiac function.
Liver Disease
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Liver Disease.
Hepatotoxicity, including fatal cases, has been reported in patients treated with interferon alpha. Additionally, the risk of hepatic decompensation and death is increased in patients with cirrhosis. Any patient developing liver function abnormalities during treatment should be monitored closely and treatment should be discontinued if appropriate. Interferon-alfa is contraindicated in patients with autoimmune hepatitis and decompensated liver disease.
Parkinsonism
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Parkinsonism.
Reversible CNS effects such as seizures, mental status changes, manic behavior or psychotic reactions, gait disturbances, and dizziness have occurred in patients receiving interferons. Therapy with interferons should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to seizures, psychiatric disorders, or conditions affecting posture or gait.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Moderate:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a moderate potential interaction with Peripheral Neuropathy.
Paresthesia and numbness have been reported during interferon therapy. Therapy with interferons should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to peripheral neuropathy.
Psychosis
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Psychosis.
Reversible CNS effects such as seizures, mental status changes, manic behavior or psychotic reactions, gait disturbances, and dizziness have occurred in patients receiving interferons. Therapy with interferons should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to seizures, psychiatric disorders, or conditions affecting posture or gait.
Renal Dysfunction
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.
Proteinuria (rare), not associated with a decrease in serum protein, is the most common renal toxicity observed with interferon- alfa therapy. Increased BUN and serum creatinine levels, hematuria, acute renal failure and nephrotic syndrome have also been reported. Therapy with interferon alfa should be administered cautiously to patients with severe renal dysfunction. Renal function should be evaluated in all patients before initiation of interferon- alfa therapy. In addition, patients with any degree of renal impairment should be carefully monitored for laboratory abnormalities and decreased creatinine clearance. A reduced dose of medication is recommended in patients with low CrCl (less than 50 mL/min - 30 mL/min).
Major:
mitomycin
mitoMYcin has a major potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.
Elevations in BUN and/or serum creatinine have been reported during mitomycin therapy. Therapy with mitomycin should not be administered to patients with serum creatinine > 1.7 mg/dl. Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) has been reported during mitomycin therapy. The incidence of HUS appears to be increased in patients receiving total doses of mitomycin > 60 mg. Blood product transfusion may exacerbate the symptoms of HUS. Clinical monitoring of renal function is recommended.
Seizures
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Seizures.
Reversible CNS effects such as seizures, mental status changes, manic behavior or psychotic reactions, gait disturbances, and dizziness have occurred in patients receiving interferons. Therapy with interferons should be administered cautiously in patients with or predisposed to seizures, psychiatric disorders, or conditions affecting posture or gait.
Ulcerative Colitis
Moderate:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a moderate potential interaction with Ulcerative Colitis.
Fatal and nonfatal ulcerative or hemorrhagic/ischemic colitis have been observed within 12 weeks of the start of alpha interferon treatment. Abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and fever are the typical manifestations. Treatment should be discontinued immediately in patients who develop these signs and symptoms. The colitis usually resolves within 1 to 3 weeks of discontinuation of alpha interferons.
Underactive Thyroid
Major:
interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b has a major potential interaction with Underactive Thyroid.
Thyroid abnormalities, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, have been reported in patients administered interferons. Therapy with interferons should be administered cautiously to patients with thyroid dysfunction. If thyroid control cannot be maintained within normal limits with medication, interferon-alfa should be discontinued. Clinical monitoring of thyroid function is recommended.
More resources
interferon alfa-2b
A total of 272 drugs are known to interact with interferon alfa-2b.
- Interferon alfa-2b is in the drug class antineoplastic interferons.
- Interferon alfa-2b is used to treat the following conditions:
mitomycin
A total of 277 drugs are known to interact with mitomycin.
- Mitomycin is in the drug class antibiotics/antineoplastics.
- Mitomycin is used to treat the following conditions:
Drug Interaction Classification
| Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit. | |
| Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances. | |
| Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan. | |
| No interaction information available. |
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.