Shanferon

Shanferon - antiviral drug, which also has immunostimulating, antitumor effect on the body.

[1], [2]

Indications Shanferon

Chanferon is used to treat:

• viral diseases;
  • chronic active hepatitis B;
  • Hepatitis C.
• oncological diseases:
  • chronic myelogenous leukemia;
  • hairy cell leukemia;
  • follicular lymphoma;
  • malignant or multiple myeloma;
  • carcinoid tumors, with lymph node metastases and liver ( carcinoid syndrome ).

[3], [4]

Release form

Shanferon is released in the form of dried proteins, which secrete cells of the human body in response to viruses and infections (interferon). The powder thus obtained is used for injection intramuscularly or subcutaneously, the powder is pre-dissolved in special water for injection.

Pharmacodynamics

Shanferon has immunomodulatory, antiviral, antitumor effect. Interferon alfa-2b is absorbed from Pseudomonas putida cells.

Interferon interacting with similar receptors on the cell surface leads to a number of complex chain modifications within the cell. As it is commonly believed, such interactions hamper the renewal of viruses in cells, slow down reproduction and stimulate the work of their own immunity.

The therapeutic effect of Shanferon is due to the ability of interferon to promote the destruction of bacteria and foreign cells in the body.

[5]

Pharmacokinetics

Chanferon is used subcutaneously or intramuscularly. With intramuscular injection, the maximum serum concentration is observed after 2-6 hours (68-122 IO / ml), with subcutaneous injections after 4-10 hours (25-122 IU / ml). Regardless of how the drug is administered (intramuscularly or subcutaneously), digestion by the body exceeds 70%.

Shanferon is excreted from the body by the kidneys.

Dosing and administration

Shanferon is administered only under the supervision of an experienced chemotherapist. The dose in each case is selected individually. If serious adverse reactions occur, dosage should be reduced or temporarily discontinued. In the event that adverse reactions do not disappear or after the resumption of treatment appear again, treatment with Shanferon is discontinued.

The drug is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously, previously dissolving the powder in water for injection. In case of a viral disease, Shanferon is prescribed 3-5 million MO IV subcutaneously or intravenously, or 10 million MO every other day (three times a week). The course of treatment is from 4 to 6 months. If after three months of treatment there is no positive dynamics, chanferon is canceled.

With oncology, the drug is prescribed in the maximum dosage, which the patient can tolerate for a fairly long time (months, years). Since interferon has a cytostatic effect (causes necrosis of cancer cells), maintenance therapy with Shanferon is indicated and after the necessary effect is achieved.

With multiple myeloma, after the start of chemotherapy, Shanferon is prescribed 3 million MO three times a week (every other day).

With follicular lymphoma, the treatment with Shanferon lasts a year and a half, the drug is prescribed for 5 million MO three times a week.

In carcinoid tumors, 3 to 9 million MO are administered three times a week. With the progression of the disease, 5 million MO are prescribed daily. For time and after surgery, the treatment with Chanferon is stopped.

With malignant melanoma, Shanferon is prescribed as an additional treatment, 20 million IU are administered daily five times a week, the course of treatment is a month. After that, the dosage is reduced to 10 million MO three times a week throughout the year. If the treatment with Shanferon is combined with chemotherapy, the drug is administered 15 million IU five times a week, the course of treatment is three weeks, then the dosage is reduced to 10 million MO three times a week until the disease progresses.

[10], [11]

Use Shanferon during pregnancy

Shanferon can be prescribed to a pregnant woman in the second and third trimesters only if the doctor believes that the benefits of using the drug exceed the possible negative consequences for the child's future.

Breastfeeding mothers should be refused breastfeeding for the duration of treatment with Shanferon.

When treating women of childbearing age it is extremely important to use the most reliable means of contraception.

Contraindications

Shanferon is contraindicated with increased susceptibility to the components of the drug, during the first three months of pregnancy, during breastfeeding, in childhood.

Also, the drug is not prescribed for autoimmune diseases (in the present or in the past), with chronic hepatitis accompanied by progressive or decompensated liver cirrhosis, after treatment with immunosuppressants, with epilepsy, propensity to convulsions, mental illness, skull trauma in the past.

Also, the drug is contraindicated in cases of severe heart failure, heart rhythm disorders, thyroid disorders, renal and pulmonary insufficiency, and severe forms of diabetes mellitus.  

[6]

Side effects Shanferon

Shanferon often provokes pharyngitis, viral infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, colds, herpes. In more rare cases, there is a development of pneumonia.

There may also be a decrease in leukocytes, lymphocytes, platelets in the blood, an increase in lymph nodes. It is extremely rare to observe a serious disorder of hemopoiesis (aplastic anemia).

The immune system in rare cases can respond to the drug with severe systemic inflammation, which can affect almost any organ (but most often the inflammatory process begins in the lungs or lymph nodes).

After treatment with Shanferon thyroid function may be impaired (decrease in hormone production or vice versa, too high activity of the gland). Very rarely there is a development of diabetes after treatment with chanferon.

Shanferon quite often provokes a serious mental disorder, which is expressed by refusal to eat (anorexia).

Rarely, there may be a decrease in blood sugar, increased appetite.

Quite often, after taking Shanferon, patients develop various mental disorders: depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, frequent mood swings, and decreased sexual desire. In extremely rare cases, there are hallucinations, thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, aggressive behavior.

Quite often during treatment with Shanferon there are dizziness, headaches, dry mouth, inability to concentrate, tremor, drowsiness, a taste disorder. Rarely may clouding of consciousness, cerebrovascular ischemia or hemorrhage, apoplexy stroke, nerve damage.

Quite often there is a clouding in the eyes, conjunctivitis, pain in the eyes, a violation of the tear function. Also, quite often there is noise in the ears, it is extremely rare that there is a complete hearing loss.

Often develops tachycardia, increased pressure, cardiomyopathy. Less infarction of the myocardium, lowering of pressure, peripheral ischemia.

Often appears nasal congestion and runny nose, shortness of breath and cough, nosebleeds, in very rare cases, inflammatory processes in the lungs occur.

From the gastrointestinal tract may appear a feeling of nausea (vomiting), diarrhea, abdominal pain, less often inflammation of the gums, tongue, ulcerative stomatitis, constipation.

Shanferon often leads to a pathological increase in the liver, extremely rarely develop structural and functional changes in the liver, sometimes with a fatal outcome. On the skin often there may be various eruptions, itching, dryness, sweating, psoriasis, eczema.

Often after Shenferon treatment, the patient feels joint or muscle pain, inflammation in the joints can develop. Very rarely develops acute necrosis of bone muscles, muscle inflammation, leg cramps, back pain.

Shanferon provokes frequent urination, rarely a violation of the kidneys.  

Quite often after treatment with the drug there is a violation of the menstrual cycle, pain in the mammary glands, vaginal disorders.

Often after the drug, patients experience fatigue, fever, irritability, general malaise. In rare cases, there may be swelling of the face.

[7], [8], [9]

Overdose

Shanferon with increased dosage can lead to a state of profound lethargy (the weakening of all manifestations of life), prostration (extreme exhaustion, the decline of mental activity), severe fatigue. All symptoms of an overdose occur after discontinuing treatment with Shanferon.

Interactions with other drugs

As part of Shanferon, there is interferon alpha, which has the ability to change the metabolism of cells. In this regard, the probability of changing the effect of other drugs is increased. Interferon alfa has an effect on oxidative metabolic processes, so it is necessary to carefully prescribe medications, with similar metabolic processes.

The basic substance of Shanferon (interferon alfa) inhibits the metabolism of theophylline or reduces the process of purification of blood plasma.

There is no data on the interaction of interferon with other drugs.

To administer the drug, only special water for injections must be used to dissolve the powder.

[12], [13], [14], [15]

Storage conditions

Shanferon should be stored in a cool place (from 2 to 8 ⁰ C) and inaccessible to children. Use only freshly prepared solution.

[16], [17]

Shelf life

Shelferon's shelf life is three years from the date of manufacture and subject to the storage rules.

[18], [19]