Interferon Alfa-2b / Ribavirin Side Effects
Applies to interferon alfa-2b/ribavirin: capsule, solution, tablet.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.
This medicine may cause some people to become unusually tired or dizzy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or if you are not alert.
This medicine may make you feel very sad, depressed, or very angry. Call your doctor if you feel you cannot cope or you feel like you want to hurt yourself or someone else.
Interferon alfa-2b commonly causes a flu-like reaction, with aching muscles, fever and chills, and headache. To prevent problems from your temperature going too high, your doctor may ask you to take medicine for pain and fever such as acetaminophen (e.g., Anacin 3, Tylenol) before each dose of interferon alfa-2b. You may also need to take it after a dose to bring your temperature down. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully about taking your temperature, and how much and when to take the medicine such as acetaminophen.
Women of childbearing potential should use two reliable forms of effective contraception.
Alpha interferon can lower the number of white blood cells in your blood temporarily, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:
- If you can, avoid being close to people with infections. Check with your doctor immediatelyif you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or have painful or difficult urination.
- Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
- Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
- Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
- Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
- Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.
Serious side effects
Along with its needed effects, interferon alfa-2b / ribavirin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking interferon alfa-2b / ribavirin:
More common side effects
- chest pain
- mood changes
- trouble breathing
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Rare side effects
- thoughts of suicide, attempts at suicide, changes in behavior
Other side effects
Some side effects of interferon alfa-2b / ribavirin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common side effects
- dizziness
- fatigue
- fever
- headache
- impaired concentration
- impaired taste
- influenza-like symptoms such as unusual tiredness or weakness
- irritability
- large swing in moods
- loss of appetite
- muscle or joint pain
- nausea, vomiting, or upset stomach
- nervousness
- red, itchy skin
- redness and warm feeling at the site of injection
- shaking
- stuffy nose
- temporary thinning of hair
- trouble sleeping
For healthcare professionals
Applies to interferon alfa-2b / ribavirin: oral and injectable kit.
General adverse events
Interferon alfa-2b-ribavirin therapy was discontinued in 19% and 6% of previously untreated and relapse patients, respectively, during clinical trials. In comparison, 13% of previously untreated patients and 3% of relapse patients discontinued therapy in the interferon arms.
Alpha interferons, including interferon alfa-2b, have caused or aggravated fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. In many but not all cases these disorders resolved after stopping interferon alfa-2b.[Ref]
Hematologic
Hemolytic anemia is the primary toxicity of ribavirin therapy. Hemoglobin levels generally declined within the first 1 to 2 weeks of ribavirin therapy. Cardiac and pulmonary events associated with anemia have been reported in about 10% of patients.
The mean maximum decrease from baseline hemoglobin levels observed in US and international studies ranged from 2.6 g/dL to 3.1 g/dL. Hemoglobin values returned to pretreatment levels within 4 to 8 weeks of cessation of therapy in most patients. Neutrophil and platelet values returned to pretreatment levels within 4 weeks after treatment discontinuation.[Ref]
Hematologic side effects have included decreased hemoglobin (9.5 to 10.9 g/dL: up to 32%; 8 to 9.4 g/dL: up to 5%), leukocytes [2 to 2.9 x 10(9)/L: up to 45%; 1.5 to 1.9 x 10(9)/L: up to 9%; 1 to 1.4 x 10(9)/L: up to 2%], neutrophils [1 to 1.49 x 10(9)/L: up to 42%; 0.75 to 0.99 x 10(9)/L: up to 16%; 0.5 to 0.74 x 10(9)/L: up to 14%; less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L: up to 11%], and platelets [70 to 99 x 10(9)/L: up to 11%; 50 to 69 x 10(9)/L: up to 2%; less than 30 x 10(9)/L: up to 1%]. Bone marrow function suppression, which may result in severe cytopenias, has been reported with interferon alfa-2b therapy. Hemolytic anemia (hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL) was observed in approximately 10% of patients on combination therapy in clinical trials. Aplastic anemia has been rarely reported with interferon alfa-2b-ribavirin therapy.[Ref]
Respiratory
Respiratory side effects have included dyspnea (up to 19%) and sinusitis (up to 12%). Pulmonary symptoms (including dyspnea, pulmonary infiltrates, pneumonitis, pulmonary hypertension, pneumonia, and fatal pneumonia), sarcoidosis, and exacerbation of sarcoidosis have been reported.[Ref]
Cardiac and pulmonary events associated with anemia have been reported in about 10% of patients.[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular side effects have included deterioration of cardiac function and/or exacerbation of the symptoms of coronary disease due to the anemia associated with interferon alfa-2b-ribavirin therapy.[Ref]
Cardiac and pulmonary events associated with anemia have been reported in about 10% of patients.[Ref]
Psychiatric
Psychiatric side effects have included insomnia (up to 39%), depression (up to 36%), irritability (up to 32%), impaired concentration (up to 14%), emotional lability (up to 12%), and nervousness (up to 5%). Suicidal behavior (including ideation, attempts, and suicides) has been reported in 1% of patients. Severe psychiatric side effects, including depression, psychoses, aggressive behavior, hallucinations, violent behavior (suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, suicides), and rare cases of homicidal ideation, have been reported in patients with and without previous psychiatric disorder.[Ref]
Nervous system
Nervous system side effects have included headache (up to 66%), dizziness (up to 26%), and taste perversion (up to 8%). Hearing disorders (including tinnitus and hearing loss) and vertigo have been reported in postmarketing studies.[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea (up to 47%), anorexia (up to 27%), dyspepsia (up to 16%), and vomiting (up to 12%). Pancreatitis, including fatal and nonfatal, has been observed.[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal side effects have included myalgia (up to 64%), arthralgia (up to 33%), and musculoskeletal pain (up to 28%).[Ref]
Ocular
Ocular side effects induced or aggravated by alpha interferon therapy have included decrease or loss of vision, retinopathy including macular edema, retinal artery or vein thrombosis, retinal hemorrhages and cotton wool spots, optic neuritis, papilledema, and serous retinal detachment.[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity side effects have included acute serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., urticaria, angioedema, bronchoconstriction, and anaphylaxis) in patients treated with interferon alfa-2b.[Ref]
Dermatologic
Dermatologic side effects have included alopecia (up to 32%), rash (up to 28%), and pruritus (up to 21%). Exacerbation of preexisting psoriasis has been reported. Transient rashes have been reported in some patients following interferon alfa-2b injection.[Ref]
Endocrine
Endocrine side effects have included thyroid abnormalities, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Thyroiditis has been reported.[Ref]
A case report of hyperthyroidism, manifested in the form of thyroiditis, in a 28-year-old woman responding well to interferon alfa-2b-ribavirin therapy, suggested that temporary interferon alfa-2b dose reduction and symptomatic treatment may be all that is needed in destructive thyroiditis.[Ref]
Local
Local side effects have included injection site inflammation (up to 13%) and injection site reaction (up to 8%).[Ref]
Other
Other side effects have included fatigue (up to 70%), rigors (up to 43%), fever (up to 41%), influenza-like symptoms (up to 18%), asthenia (up to 10%), and chest pain (up to 9%). Increases in both bilirubin and uric acid, associated with hemolysis, have been reported in clinical trials. Elevated total bilirubin (1.5 to 3 mg/dL: up to 32%; 3.1 to 6 mg/dL: up to 3%; 6.1 to 12 mg/dL: up to 0.4%) has been reported.[Ref]
Most cases of increased bilirubin and uric acid were moderate biochemical changes, reversed within 4 weeks after treatment discontinuation, and were not associated with hepatic dysfunction or clinical morbidity.[Ref]
Immunologic
Immunologic side effects have included exacerbation of autoimmune disease in patients receiving interferon alfa-2b.
Metabolic
Metabolic side effects have included elevated triglycerides, hyperglycemia, new onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, and diabetic ketoacidosis.[Ref]
Diabetic ketoacidosis was reported in a 53-year-old white female after week 24 of treatment, who had in the first 12 weeks of treatment normal random blood glucose limits (less than 110 mg/dL), and required insulin. Interferon alfa-2b-ribavirin was stopped.[Ref]
See also:
Epclusa
Epclusa treats chronic hepatitis C in adults and children 3+. This once-daily antiviral combines ...
Harvoni
Harvoni is used to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in adults and children aged 3 years and ...
Ozempic
Learn about Ozempic (semaglutide) for type 2 diabetes treatment, weight management, cardiovascular ...
Mavyret
Mavyret (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir) is an oral combination medicine containing fixed doses of two ...
Sovaldi
Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) is used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Includes Sovaldi ...
Pegasys
Pegasys is used to treat chronic hepatitis B or C. Learn about side effects, interactions and ...
Vosevi
Vosevi (sofosbuvir,velpatasvir and voxilaprevir) is used to treat chronic hepatitis C. Includes ...
Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (Mavyret) is an oral combination medicine containing fixed doses of 2 ...
Interferon alfa-2b
Interferon alfa-2b systemic is used for angioblastoma, condylomata acuminata, conjunctival ...
References
1. "Product Information. Rebetron (interferon alfa-2b-ribavirin)." Scherer Laboratories Inc
2. Poynard T, Marcellin P, Lee SS, Niederau C, Minuk GS, Ideo G, Bain V, Heathcote J, Zeuzem S, Trepo C, Albrecht J (1998) "Randomised trial of interferon alpha 2b plus ribavirin for 48 weeks or for 24 weeks versus interferon alpha 2b plus placebo for 48 weeks for treatment of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus." Lancet, 352, p. 1426-32
3. Malik UR, Makower DF, Wadler S (2001) "Interferon-mediated fatigue." Cancer, 92(6 Suppl), p. 1664-8
4. Barbaro G, DiLorenzo G, Belloni G, Ferrari L, Paiano A, DelPoggio P, Bacca D, Fruttaldo L, Mongio F, Francavilla R, Scotto G, Gr (1999) "Interferon alpha-2B and ribavirin in combination for patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed to respond to, or relapsed after, interferon alpha therapy: A randomized trial." Am J Med, 107, p. 112-8
5. Liang TJ, Rehermann B, Seeff LB, Hoofnagle JH (2000) "Pathogenesis, natural history, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis C." Ann Intern Med, 132, p. 296-305
6. Lauer GM, Walker BD (2001) "Hepatitis C virus infection." N Engl J Med, 345, p. 41-52
7. James CW, Savini CJ (2001) "Homicidal ideation secondary to interferon." Ann Pharmacother, 35(7-8), p. 962-3
8. Sookoian S, Neglia V, Castano G, Frider B, Kien MC, Chohuela E (1999) "High prevalence of cutaneous reactions to interferon alfa plus ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus." Arch Dermatol, 135, p. 1000-1
9. Sachithanandan S, Clarke G, Crowe J, Fielding JF (1997) "Interferon-associated thyroid dysfunction in anti-D-related chronic hepatitis C." J Interferon Cytokine Res, 17, p. 409-11
10. Harris DM, Hespenheide EE, Dalkin AC, Kirk SE, Ellis DS, Caldwell SH (2000) "Hyperthyroidism with interferon-ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C: A case report and proposed treatment algorithm." Am J Gastroenterol, 95, p. 2995-6
11. Bhatti A, McGarrity TJ, Gabbay R (2001) "Diabetic ketoacidosis induced by alpha interferon and ribavirin treatment in a patient with hepatitis C." Am J Gastroenterol, 96, p. 604-5
More about interferon alfa-2b / ribavirin
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: antiviral combinations
Related treatment guides
Further information
Interferon alfa-2b/ribavirin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.