Dosing and uses of Alferon N (interferon alfa n3)
Adult dosage forms and strengths
injectable solution
- 5 million unit/mL
Condylomata Acuminata (Genital Warts)
250,000 unit (0.05 mL) per wart intralesional inj 2 times/week up to 8 weeks; not to exceed 2.5 million unit (0.5 mL) per treatment session
Do not administer any treatment for at least next 3 months unless warts enlarge or new appear
Administer into base of wart; for large warts, several points around periphery of wart may be used for total dose of 0.05 mL
Pediatric dosage forms and strengths
<18 years old: safety & efficacy not established
Geriatric dosage forms and strengths
Condylomata Acuminata (Genital Warts)
250,000 unit (0.05 mL) per wart intralesional inj 2 times/week up to 8 weeks; not to exceed 2.5 million unit (0.5 mL) per treatment session
Do not administer any treatment for at least next 3 months unless warts enlarge or new ones appear
Administer into base of wart; for large warts, several points around periphery of wart may be used for total dose of 0.05 mL
Alferon N (interferon alfa n3) adverse (side) effects
>10%
Myalgia (45%)
Fever (40%)
Headache (31%)
Chills (14%)
Fatigue (14%)
Decreased WBC
1-10%
Dizziness (9%)
Depression
Insomnia
Pruritus
Diarrhea
Dyspepsia
Taste disturbance
Nausea/vomiting
Nose bleed
Groin and lymph node swelling
Pharyngitis
Arthralgia
Visual disturbance
Back pain
Paresthesia
Thirst
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to human interferon alpha proteins, mouse IgG, egg proteins, or neomycin
Cautions
Use caution in cardiovascular disease, severe pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis, coagulopathies, severe myelosuppression, seizure disorder
Discontinue immediately if anaphylactic reactions develop
Safety/efficacy of repeat course not established
Theoretical remote possibility of pathogen transmission from albumin present in the solution
Do not change brands of interferon
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: C
Lactation: not known whether excreted in breast milk, do not nurse or do not initiate treatment
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Alferon N (interferon alfa n3)
Mechanism of action
Immunomodulating cytokine; may interfere with oncogene expression, induce gene transcription, may alter cellular differentiation and cell surface antigen expression , may increase phagocytic activity of macrophages, may inhibit cell growth
