Ocoferon

Okoferon is a special form of interferon for instillation into the conjunctival cavity. Interferon was discovered in Great Britain in the mid-twentieth century. It was noted that laboratory mice infected with a viral infection did not get sick if they were already infected with other viruses at that time. This phenomenon was called interference, it occurs when two different viral infections enter the body with a short interval of time. Thus, Okoferon increases the immune response in the event of various ophthalmological infections. At the moment, the Ukrainian enterprise "Biopharma" is engaged in the production of Okoferon eye drops.

Indications Ocoferon

Okoferon is a drug used in the treatment of ophthalmological diseases. Eye drops are used for herpes virus lesions of the structures of the eyeballs. Okoferon is prescribed as a local antiviral drug. This drug has a fairly high biological activity. One unit of the drug reduces the formation of viruses by about half, so Okoferon can be used as a means for the prevention of ophthalmic herpes. Recent studies have shown that Okoferon, under certain conditions, is able to combat the development of cancer.

Release form

Okoferon is produced in the form of a lyophysate for the preparation of a solution, in small transparent glass bottles. The lyophysate of the drug Okoferon is a powder from light gray to milky colors. The solvent of this lyophysate is a 0.1 percent solution of nipagin, enclosed in a 5 ml bottle. Nipagin is used as a substance that helps to preserve the lyophysate of the drug Okoferon without losing structural integrity and biological activity. Its 0.1 percent solution also has an antibacterial effect.

Pharmacodynamics

One of the main properties of interferon contained in the ophthalmological product Okoferon is its ability to combat the spread of viruses. It is formed in the cells of warm-blooded animals when various viruses enter them. When they enter the cells, viruses begin to divide. The cell that the virus has found begins to secrete interferon, which enters the cells located nearby. Interferon itself cannot destroy viruses, however, it is able to change the biochemical characteristics of the cell, aimed at preventing further spread of the viral infection.

Pharmacokinetics

Interferon, which is part of the drug Okoferon, launches several factors at once to destroy viral aggression. Firstly, it reduces the level of protein translation from amino acids. In addition, interferon stimulates some genes that play a leading role in protecting cells from viruses, and interferon also inhibits the reproduction of viral particles by activating the transcription factor that regulates the cell cycle and leads to programmed death of the infected cell. The dead cell remains in the plasma membrane and is very soon phagocytized by macrophages, without spreading the inflammatory process.

Dosing and administration

First, open the vials: the first with interferon lyophilisate, the second with solvent. Carefully pour the liquid from the vial with nipagin solution into the vial containing recombinant human interferon lyophilisate. After that, put a dropper cap on the vial with dissolved interferon lyophilisate. Shake the solution until the interferon lyophilisate powder is completely dissolved. Put a few drops into the eye affected by the infection for a week. As you recover, the number of drops can be reduced.

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Use Ocoferon during pregnancy

Interferon preparations, including Okoferon, are prescribed during pregnancy only in extreme cases. Although there is no experience of using the medicinal pharmaceutical preparation Okoferon, based on the experience of using alpha interferons, we can confidently assert that if the immune system affects the constancy of the protein environment of the body, recognizes and destroys bacteria that have penetrated inside, then interferon protects against the spread of foreign genetic information, protecting its own genome, carrying a potential threat of miscarriage in a pregnant woman.

Contraindications

To prevent complications, before starting treatment, all contraindications should be taken into account. First of all, this may be individual intolerance to interferon alpha or nipagin. Also, serious contraindications include: severe forms of liver cirrhosis; severe cardiovascular diseases such as acute heart failure or myocardial infarction; mental disorders of a depressive nature; autoimmune diseases; pregnancy and lactation; alcoholism and drug addiction; diseases of the central nervous system.

Side effects Ocoferon

Interferon, the main component of the pharmaceutical drug Okoferon, itself has quite a large number of side effects. From the visual organs, paralysis of the nerves responsible for the movement of the eyeballs, serious visual impairment are possible. From the skin, urticaria, itching sensations, and the appearance of furuncles may appear. Sometimes, taking the ophthalmological drug Okoferon can lead to depression, which, however, is well treated with antidepressants. A distinction is made between early side effects, which are noted at the very beginning of treatment, and late ones, which occur during treatment. Given this, it is recommended to instill Okoferon drops under the supervision of a specialist for the first few days.

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Overdose

Of course, it is difficult to imagine in a healthy mind that instead of one or two drops of the pharmaceutical drug Okoferon, you can pour a whole bottle into the eye, or use it orally. But if this happens, which is likely if the drug gets into the hands of children, the body's reaction may be problems with the gastrointestinal tract: diarrhea, vomiting. From the vestibular apparatus, we can feel dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination. In the case of such immoderate use of the ophthalmological drug Okoferon, urgent eye rinsing is recommended, and when using Okoferon orally - the stomach, which requires inducing vomiting, having previously drunk up to three liters of liquid.

Interactions with other drugs

When using the Ophthalmological product Okoferon, it is not permissible to use other eye drops without a doctor's prescription. Drops should not be used together with narcotic, sleeping pills and sedative drugs. The medicinal effect between the pharmaceutical product Okoferon and other drugs has not been studied enough, therefore, taking various drugs together with this drug should be prescribed with caution and under careful medical supervision. It is known that a combination with myelosuppressants can worsen the patient's condition.

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Storage conditions

Store hermetically sealed vials of the pharmaceutical product Okoferon in the top drawer of the refrigerator at a temperature of no lower than 4°C and no higher than 10°C with a relative humidity of no more than sixty percent. Avoid exposing the vials to direct sunlight. Keep away from children and pets. Always remember that Okoferon is available as a lyophilisate and after opening the vial it must be mixed with a solvent. The shelf life after first opening the vial is no more than twenty-nine days.

Special instructions

Okoferon retains its properties for fourteen days after the solution is prepared. Okoferon should be instilled into the conjunctival cavity up to ten times a day, depending on the severity of the viral infection. It has been noted that with excessive solar radiation, changes in weather conditions, an exacerbation of chronic viral diseases can occur. These factors should be taken into account when planning trips for patients with viral eye infections. To reduce the risk of exacerbations in such patients, the necessary preventive measures should be taken.

Shelf life

The shelf life of the drug Okoferon is two years. Such a shelf life of the drug Okoferon is possible only in cases of proper packaging and storage of these eye drops. The rules for storing the drug Okoferon are described in the instructions for use, which must be kept for the entire period before the drug is used. Instructions for use and storage of the pharmaceutical drug Okoferon should be stored in a cardboard box along with the unused drug. After the expiration date, the drug must be disposed of.