
When Do Side Effects Of Interferon Alpha Show Up After The Initial Dose?

Question: Brother is scheduled for initial dose of interferon alpha2b for tx of stage 3B melanoma. How soon after injection can one reasonably expect side effects to occur?
Brief Answer:
After 8 hours
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since your brother is scheduled for initial dose of interferon alpha2b for treatment of stage 3B melanoma side effects start after 8 hours of starting of treatment.
Common side effects of this drug are fever, chills, generalized aches and pains, headache, poor appetite, fatigue and low blood count.
Regards
DR DE
After 8 hours
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since your brother is scheduled for initial dose of interferon alpha2b for treatment of stage 3B melanoma side effects start after 8 hours of starting of treatment.
Common side effects of this drug are fever, chills, generalized aches and pains, headache, poor appetite, fatigue and low blood count.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad


Thank you for your response, Dr. De. Given his +hx of alcoholic liver disease, should my brother avoid acetaminophen in managing the flu-like symptoms and, instead, try Celebrex or ibuprofen? Also, do you recommend a proactive approach or should he dose in response to symptoms?
Brief Answer:
managing flu like symptoms with ibuprofen
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since your brother is having alcoholic liver disease i would advise him to avoid acetaminophen in managing the flu like symptoms as this will damage his liver more and he could take ibuprofen instead.
Also i would recommend a proactive approach.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Regards
DR DE
managing flu like symptoms with ibuprofen
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since your brother is having alcoholic liver disease i would advise him to avoid acetaminophen in managing the flu like symptoms as this will damage his liver more and he could take ibuprofen instead.
Also i would recommend a proactive approach.
If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.
Regards
DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari


Thank you, Dr. One last question. In your experience, do you support the use of interferon in maximizing survival for someone with a Stage 3B melanoma (my brother's BRAF gene is off).
Brief Answer:
median survival will be 43 months
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I support the use of interferon in maximizing survival for someone with Stage 3B melanoma because median survival will be 43 months and median disease free survival 39 months after treatment.
5 year survival on avearge after treatment is 62%.
Regards
DR DE
median survival will be 43 months
Detailed Answer:
Hi
I support the use of interferon in maximizing survival for someone with Stage 3B melanoma because median survival will be 43 months and median disease free survival 39 months after treatment.
5 year survival on avearge after treatment is 62%.
Regards
DR DE
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T

Answered by

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
