Alferon 3MIU Injection is used in the treatment of follicular lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia. It works by altering cell function/growth and the body's natural defenses (immune system) in many ways.

Alferon 3MIU Injection is given as an injection by a qualified medical professional. Your doctor will decide what dose is necessary and how often you need to take it. This will depend on what you are being treated for and may change from time to time. You should take it exactly as your doctor has advised. Taking it in the wrong way or taking too much can cause very serious side effects. It may take several weeks or months for you to see or feel the benefits but do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.

Headache, flu-like symptoms, sweating, fatigue, and muscle pain are some common side effects of this medicine. This medicine may reduce the number of blood cells (white blood cells) in your blood, thereby, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Regular blood tests are required to check your blood cells along with heart, liver and blood sugar level. You must have to inform your doctor immediately if you notice mood change, depression, and change in vision.

Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, liver, or kidney problems or are taking any medicines to treat infections. Many other medicines can affect, or be affected by, this medicine so let your healthcare team know all medications you are using. This medicine is not recommended during pregnancy. The use of effective contraception by both males and females during treatment is important to avoid pregnancy.

Uses of Alferon Injection

Benefits of Alferon Injection

In Follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma is a cancer of the white blood cells in our body. White blood cells are those cells that help us to fight infections. Alferon 3MIU Injection stimulates the immune system to restrict cancer growth, and blocks the cancer growth. Avoid being in crowds and wash your hands often to prevent any infections. Have plenty of fluids, unless otherwise advised by the doctor not to.

In Hairy cell leukemia

Hairy cell leukemia is a kind of blood cancer in which there is excessive production of specific white blood cells (that fight infections) and they resemble hairy-shape when seen under a microscope. Alferon 3MIU Injection boosts the immune system to kill the cancer cells and stops them from multiplying. It is an effective medicine but you should discuss the side effects and benefits of this medicine with your doctor. You should avoid drinking alcohol and smoking while having this treatment and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

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Side effects of Alferon Injection

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Alferon

Decreased appetite
Decreased calcium level in blood
Decreased white blood cell count
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Flu-like symptoms
Hair loss
Headache
Joint pain
Muscle pain
Nausea
Rigors
Sweating
Vomiting

How to use Alferon Injection

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

How Alferon Injection works

Alferon 3MIU Injection modulates the body's immune system.

Safety advice

Alcohol

CAUTION

Caution is advised when consuming alcohol with Alferon 3MIU Injection. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Alferon 3MIU Injection is unsafe to use during pregnancy as there is definite evidence of risk to the developing baby. However, the doctor may rarely prescribe it in some life-threatening situations if the benefits are more than the potential risks. Please consult your doctor.

Breast feeding

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Alferon 3MIU Injection is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby.

Driving

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

It is not known whether Alferon 3MIU Injection alters the ability to drive. Do not drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to concentrate and react.

Kidney

CAUTION

Alferon 3MIU Injection should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Alferon 3MIU Injection may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Liver

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Alferon 3MIU Injection is probably safe to use in patients with liver disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Alferon 3MIU Injection may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.
Regular monitoring of liver function tests is advised while you are taking this medicine.

What if you forget to take Alferon Injection?

If you miss a dose of Alferon 3MIU Injection, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

Alferon 3MIU Injection

₹901/Injection

Roferon A 3Million IU Injection

Roche Products India Pvt Ltd

₹1315.75/injection

32% costlier

Quick tips

Alferon 3MIU Injection is given as an injection into the skin or veins under the supervision of a doctor.
Do not skip any dose and complete the course as suggested by your doctor.
Use an effective method of birth control to avoid pregnancy while taking this medication.
Your doctor may get regular blood tests done to monitor your blood sugar level, blood cell count in your blood and liver function.
Inform your doctor if you experience mood change, depression, change in vision and difficulty breathing.
It is advisable to stay hydrated or drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Interferons

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

ANTI NEOPLASTICS

Action Class

Interferons

Interaction with drugs

Taking Alferon with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects

Aminophylline (Oral Route) Moderate

If concurrent use is essential, watch out for symptoms such as nausea, palpitations or headaches and consult your doctor if you experience them. They may monitor and adjust the dos... More

Capecitabine (Oral Route) Moderate

Your doctor may monitor your treatment and adjust the doses as per the observations. Interferon Alpha 2A may reduce blood levels of Capecitabine and its active form.

Didanosine (Oral Route) Moderate

Your doctor may monitor your treatment and adjust the doses as per the observations. Concurrent use may increase the risk of liver dysfunction and low blood cell counts.

Telbivudine (Oral Route) Moderate

Do not consume Telbivudine with Interferon Alpha 2A. If concurrent use is essential, watch out for symptoms such as weakness, numbness, tingling, pain or burning sensations and con... More

Abacavir (Oral Route) Moderate

Your doctor may monitor your treatment and adjust the doses as per the observations. Concurrent use may increase the risk of lactic acid buildup in the blood and functional damage... More

View all drug interactions

Patient concerns

Sir my mother has undergone brain biopsy and the result was large B cell lymphoma I want to know what can be done to her

Dr. Vijay Sharnangat

Medical Oncology and Hematology

You need to start her on chemotherapy

How to grow beard faster Please suggest how to fill patchy beard too

Dr. Souvik Sardar

Dermatology

use tugain gel 5% - once daily for 3months only over hairy areas

I hv a little erectile dysfunction. I am a hairy cell leukaemia survivor. I am totally cured now. Can I use sidenafill citrate (Generic Viagra). If yes, what should be the dosage??

Dr. Shyam Gupta

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Hello PATIENT to 1mg. Erectile problems can be happen to people at any age having issue like stress, fatigue, disturb relationship, anxiety, alcohol, smoking and medical problems like High BP, Diabetes, obesity etc. My personal advice is lifestyle changes like exercising, losing weight, stopping smoking,curbing alcohol intake, don't wear tight pants, do pelvic kegal exercise. There are medications but they have side effects so i dont advice first. But i strongly recommend to start healthy life with some antioxidant vitamins and healthy diet. You may take vitamin like DHEA cap, L arginine and herbal ashwagandha capsule. Apply Himcolin gel. Concentrate on Yoga and meditation and also take help from your partner. Use these for couple of months if not improved do few blood tests like thyroid, sugar and testosterone and let me know.

Related lab tests

Complete Blood Count

Peripheral Smear Examination

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Disclaimer:

Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 723-25.
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006. Interferon Alfa. [Updated 2018 Dec 3]. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2020] (online) Available from: