Interferon

Question: Interferon?

Answer: Interferons (IFNs) are natural proteins produced by the cells of the immune systems of most animals in response to challenges by foreign agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and tumor cells. Interferons belong to the large class of glycoproteins known as cytokines

Question: Interferon Treatment. Doctor requires Base Eye exam before start of treatment. What are the risks to the eye? My Husband is considering Interferon, for Hep C treatment. We would appreciate any suggestions on how to get thru the side affects of this treatment. And does anyboby know what exactly are the risks to his eyes?

Answer: There are a few possible issues with Hep C treatment and the eyes. First of all, HCV treatment can and in many instances does, result in dry, blurry eyes. There are other more serious eye issues in relation to HCV treatment, which are most often reversible. The doc is being thorough and most likely getting 'baseline' data on your husbands vision pre - treatment to be better able to assess any potential changes in vision during the course of treatment. I would suggest that you speak to the doc about this at the next appointment. Take care

Question: How to make my friend feel better during interferon treatments? My best friend is 47 and taking interferon for malignant melanoma; 46 more weeks of treatment. She is exhausted, sleeps a lot, has chills, aches, like she has flu and is miserable all the time. Spends most of her time in bed. All of this is expected side effects. So can anyone tell me any little tips or tricks to make her feel better, make life easier, for her since she has so much more to go ? :-(

Answer: I am so sorry to hear that. I have no idea, but I'm sure having a devoted friend by her side is a lot of help.

Question: How could the future of human health and lifespan prosper with interferon? Explain how the future of human health and lifespan could prosper with the successful marketing of interferon? Explain how close we are to this goal?

Answer: What are you talking about? I don’t know anyone whose goal is to successfully market interferon. Interferon has been used for years and works well for many diseases, but has done nothing in the big picture of human health and lifespan.

Question: Is there anything I should do before starting Interferon Injections? I have been diagnosed with melanoma, and an going have more surgery next week. Then I will start on Interferon. Does anyone have any advice for me prior to treatment?

Answer: Just to be as healthy as possible going into the treatment and to say good luck during your treatment. I wish you God speed so that your health returns in full force before you know.

Question: Can a second year of Interferon help get rid of Hep C? Completed one year of Interferon, Hep C virus was down to less than 10%. Rechecked three months later and the virus was back. Can another year possibly cure it? Is that worth a try? Is there anyone who this has worked for?

Answer: Here is a link to 201 clinical trials for hepatitis C...be sure to turn the pages to see all of them.. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/search;jsessionid=D52D65F0DA56CF083A289492235740A0?term=hepatitis+C&submit=Search

Question: Which of the following is NOT correct concerning interferon? Which of the following is NOT correct concerning interferon? a. Interferon is a protective protein. b. Virus-infected cells produce interferon. c. Interferon has no effect on viruses. d. Interferon can be used to treat certain viral infections, such as hepatitis C.

Answer: The incorrect sentence is: c. Interferon has no effect on viruses.

Question: Does anyone know what kinds of cancers can be triggered by interferon therapy for hep-c? I am taking tx for hep-c. also have type 2 diabetes. feel like my kidneys are trying to shut down. Does anyone know what cancers can be triggered by the interferon?

Answer: Interferon does not cause cancer- it can exabhorate a pre-existing condition however. Hepatitis C can cause several types of cancer. Type 2 diabetes can be caused by HCV. Kidney disease can be caused by diabetes. If you are on ribavirin, that has the potential to cause kidney issues too. I would ask your gastointerologist.

Question: Which is better during the induction therapy; taking interferon as subcutaneous or as intravenous? I have a malignant melanmoma in the vagina. After the surgery, my doctor recommended interferon injections under the skin three times a week. I have read that it must be given intravenously. Which is better and what are the benifits of each way. Thank you.

Answer: It really depends on the dosage you are using. Above a certain dosage- induction, below you can do injections at home. My treatment started with induction daily for a month, now take shots three times per week.

Question: What is the success rate of the Interferon treatment in Mutliple Sclerosis and what are the side effects? My brother is suffering from MS and we need to decide if he should go on to Interferons. I would like only MS patients or qualified medical professionals to respond. Additionally, are there any alternative therapies that are available to delay the progression of MS?

Answer: So far the injections are the best thing that has happened for the treatment of MS. If your brother is managing his disease and he is not feeling as if he has symptoms or a disease at all it can be that he has remitting relapsing MS. The injections slow the progression. Basically he will stay this way for a very long time befor the illness progresses. There are alternative methods, but it is not known if they actually slow the progression for they are not approved. Histamine patches or drops work for active symptoms of MS, but I do not believe they help slow the progression. Some people cannot tolerate the injections. They feel ill from the first dose until the next with flu like symptoms. This is a decision your brother needs to make along with the advice of his nuerologist. The benefits usually outweigh the side effects unless he is unable to function due to the interferons. Both of my parents suffer from MS and they have tried the injections and then they went off of them and now they are back on them. They are doing well, but the disease affects them both differently. May I add that many people have been misdiagnosed with MS when they actually suffer from Lyme Disease. The Lyme titers are not very accuarate. If he is not really confident in his dx then I would suggest to get a westen blot Lyme titer because they are 70% more accurate than the normal labs they run for Lyme Disease. It is cured and under complete control with high doses of antibiotics. These diseases mimic so many that the doctors do the best they can, but are going by many of the symptoms. People do have lesions on their brain from other things such as headaches... and who hasn't had a few of those in their lifetime. I am by no means trying to diagnose your brother or discredit his dx. But if he had the spinal tap and it showed spiral keets in the fluid chances are his doctor is correct. It is just an option that is worth looking into. As well, MS is not a death sentence or a sentence to being in a wheelchair for the rest of one's life. Diet truly does affect the body and you can google an MS diet to get an idea of what the MS diet is. Keep an eye on your brother, he may find himself in a funk which is very normal when someone is given this dx. An antidepressant can help. Goto the national MS Society website for more information. Best of luck to your brother and your family.

Question: How does heroin effect interferon treatment? Please don't lecture me, I'm determined to stay clean. I just want a straight answer. I am 16 and have 39 weeks left in a 48 week course of interferon treatment for hepatitis C. Would it be pointless for someone to keep taking the interferon if they were getting high? How does it effect the treatment?

Answer: You should continue to take the Interferon regardless of whether you are on the 'heroin'. According to the Swiss Association for Addiction Medicine "Intravenous drug use generally does not negatively influence the outcome of a hepatitis C therapy" Source: http://www.arud.ch/fachbeitraege/somatik/SSAM_Hep_C_engl.pdf and "Overall, IVDUs and non-drug users do not differ with respect to HCV treatment eligibility and prognosis." Source: http://www.arud.ch/fachbeitraege/somatik/poster_arud_hep_0604.ppt The New Zealand prison system maintains people on methadone who use Interferon for HCV. Source: http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/29cd3350b8b7bc1ccc256a800076bab8/$FILE/MethadoneDraftProtocol.pdf

Question: is there any way to help with side effects from taking interferon? i'm young and I have a one year old and I work full time. I start interferon in three days and I can't afford to be slowed down. Does anyone know any way I can keep up with all this?

Answer: I would ask your doctor........i hear that is does wear you down but i don't know b/c i've never taken it. All i know is that it is a type of like radiation..

Question: Where can I get some immunoglobulin a or Interferon for my son? After lots of research, these are the treatments we need to get for my son. Where can we buy these without a prescription. Someone mentioned to me that Canada may be an option.

Answer: If you are looking to help him with liver damage you may want to try a little more of a natural way like Advanced Life Research's vitamin system.

Question: I would like to know if anyone has any insight to the drug interferon? My mom has hepatitis C and has to go on a drug called interferon injections, which she will have to give to herself in her stomach!!! she is very afraid and concerned with the chances of success and how painful it will be? she still works full-time and I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this drug and the side effects of it?

Answer: Interferons are a natural substance which are secreted by virally infected cells to prevent further infection and multiplication of the virus. 1) Virus enters the target cell 2) Virus uses the host cells machinery as its own 3) (In defense) The cell releases interferons into the system 4)Interferons prevent the multiplication of the virus in other cells, by inhibiting the replication process. So a bunch of scientists then decided that if we could utilise these chemicals as antiviral therapies we might have a fighting chance against some virulent viruses. They are also used fot their antioncogenic(cancer killing) and antiseptic properties The negative thing is that interferons are VERY toxic to the body and causes many problems and side effects. Some side effects are: 1) Flu like symptoms (not the cold) but rather high fever, severe muscle pain, chills, sweating, cough and headaches. 2) convulsion 3) dizziness 4) hair thinning 5) supression of the immune system I hope this gives some information. Go see your local Pharmacist or GP for more complete information.

Question: Is it normal to keep a headache/migraine the whole time youre on the pegylated interferon? i'm type 1a stage 2, had the first shot friday morning. i've had a migraine since friday afternoon and i've stayed nauseous. i almost recycled my eggs and bacon in the floor yesterday and i swear i will hurt somebody if i have to force down another Ensure. i'm drinking only water and taking ibuprofen. what else can i do? its only been the 5th day..

Answer: Five days is too long for you to suffer like that. Call your doctor and let him know. Have you called the patient assistance program? They have a nurse available 24/7 who will call you back. If you're on Pegasys, you can call the Pegassist program 1-877-pegasys; if you're on PegIntron, call 1-800-521-7157. I was nauseous quite a bit, and had to eat small meals (actually, I could get one small meal down a day) but I did not drink enough water to help this. I've since learned that the water consumption is essential to help the nausea. I hope you are able to get some relief. Best wishes.

Question: where can i get interferon injection for hepatitits B here in the philippines? my friend wants to work and can't get a job because the mother passed on HEP B to my friend upon birth and wants to get the injection to live a normal life and be able to work here and abroad..please help...we are desperate of finding that interferon injection..we will really appreciate any suggestion..thank you!!

Answer: I am sorry, it sounds like you are under the impression that you get an injection of Interferon and the hepatitis will be cured. I am afraid that you have received some bad information. Interferon has to be taken over a period of time. You have to be under the care of a Doctor. The injections must be given three to five times a week. And 9 to ten hours after being given the injection you will feel like Hell. You will have sweats, chills, headache(bone crushing headache), pains, fever, vomiting, you will think you have the worse case of flu you ever had. Ever hear of break bone fever? You should drink lots of liquids while being given these injections, I mean lots of water, a half a gallon at a time will be easy. And if you get a rash, or experience brain fog, you must report these symptoms immediately to your doctor. Sorry I know this sounds bad, and you are disappointed, but you need to understand just how serious this can be. If you find a doctor who will treat your Hepatitits B, he may be able to order the injectable Interferon, or INF. The United States does have it. But I have no way of knowing if it is transportable to another Country like the Philippines. I suggest you find a Doctor first and then let him try to get this. E Mail [email protected] You might find information about a Doctor there. I wish you the best.