Interferon Afla- 2b

Question 1

What is the therapeutic use?

Answer 1

Treats the following cancers: Hairy cell leukemia, Chronic myelogenous leukemia (interferon alfa-2A), Malignant myeloma (interferon alfa-2B), and Kaposi’s sarcoma
* Interferon alfa-2A treats chronic hepatitis C and interferon alfa-2B treats
chronic hepatitis B and C.

Question 2

What are some adverse effects?

Answer 2

• Flu-like manifestations: fever, fatigue
• CNS manifestations: dizziness, insomnia, depression, tremor, headache
• Bone marrow suppression (all cell types): usually mild and self-limiting
• Gastrointestinal manifestations: abdominal pain, anorexia, weight loss, diarrhea

Question 3

What should you look out for?

Answer 3

• Monitor for flu-like manifestations.
• Monitor for and report CNS manifestations.
• Monitor CBC before treatment begins and periodically thereafter.
• Monitor and report persistent gastrointestinal manifestations.
• Assure client is well-hydrated for treatment, especially in presence of
  gastrointestinal manifestations

Question 4

How is it administered?

Answer 4

subq, IM, or IV

Question 5

What signs should the pt report?

Answer 5

• Report CNS manifestations to provider.
• Instruct client to notify provider for easy bruising, bleeding, fatigue.
• Report abdominal pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, and persistent diarrhea to provider

Question 6

What should you instruct the patient to avoid while taking this med?

Answer 6

• Avoid hazardous activities, such as driving, until effects are known.
• If approved by provider, instruct client to premedicate with acetaminophen
  if flu-like symptoms occur.

Question 9

What are some drug to drug interactions?

Answer 9

• Other anticancer medications and zidovudine may increase bone marrow
  suppression.
• May increase theophylline blood levels
• May increase toxicity of doxorubicin
• When given with vinblastine, may increase neurotoxicity