Intron A
Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) is an injectable medication that's used to treat various types of cancer and viral infections. Depending on the condition, this medication can be injected into the muscle, under the skin, into a vein, or into an area of skin growth. Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) has been discontinued by the manufacturer and is no longer available in the United States. Your healthcare provider will help guide you to other treatment options.
What is Intron A (interferon alfa-2b)?
What is Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) used for?
Certain cancers:
- Hairy cell leukemia
- Melanoma
- Follicular lymphoma
- Kaposi's sarcoma in people with AIDs (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
Certain viral infections:
- Genital warts
- Chronic (long-term) hepatitis B and C
Drug facts
Common questions about Intron A (interferon alfa-2b)
Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) is a biologic medication used for the treatment of several types of cancer that affect the bone marrow, skin, or lymph nodes. It's also used for the treatment of viral infections, including genital warts and chronic (long-term) hepatitis B and C. This medication is a human-made protein called interferon. Interferons work by attaching to infected and nearby cells in the body. Then, they signal these cells to produce proteins that can prevent them from growing. Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) works by specifically targeting cancer cells and viruses to stop their growth and destroy them.
No, Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) has been discontinued and is no longer available in the United States.
The manufacturer (Merck) voluntarily discontinued Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) for business reasons. It wasn't taken off the market for safety concerns or lack of benefit.
Follicular lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects your white blood cells. There are many different factors that a provider must consider in choosing the right treatment for you, such as your health status, medical history, possible side effects from therapy, and how far your cancer has progressed. One medication that's used for follicular lymphoma is Rituxan (rituximab), which is an injectable medication that destroys cancer cells. This medication is often given with other anticancer medications, such as Treanda (bendamustine) or Revlimid (lenalidomide), to help kill cancer cells or slow down cell growth. In addition to these medications, there are other types of treatment for follicular lymphoma as well. Talk with your provider to determine a treatment plan that's best for you.
There are many different factors that a provider must consider in choosing the right hepatitis C medication for you, such as the type of virus you have, your medical history, and if you have any liver problems. An alternative interferon medication for hepatitis C is Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a), which is typically injected under the skin once weekly. Additionally, hepatitis C medications called direct-acting antiviral therapies (DAATs) are available that are taken by mouth. DAATs include Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir), Epclusa (sofosbuvir / velpatasvir), and Mavyret (glecaprevir / pibrentasvir). These medications have a 95% success rate in curing people with hepatitis C, but they might not be right for everyone. Talk with your provider to determine which hepatitis C treatment is best for you.
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Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) dosage
Typical dosage for Intron A (interferon alfa-2b)
Interactions between Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
