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When Do Side Effects Of Interferon Alpha Show Up After The Initial Dose?

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Posted on Tue, 2 Dec 2014
Question: Brother is scheduled for initial dose of interferon alpha2b for tx of stage 3B melanoma. How soon after injection can one reasonably expect side effects to occur?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monish De (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
After 8 hours

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Since your brother is scheduled for initial dose of interferon alpha2b for treatment of stage 3B melanoma side effects start after 8 hours of starting of treatment.

Common side effects of this drug are fever, chills, generalized aches and pains, headache, poor appetite, fatigue and low blood count.

Regards

DR DE







Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Monish De (10 hours later)
Thank you for your response, Dr. De. Given his +hx of alcoholic liver disease, should my brother avoid acetaminophen in managing the flu-like symptoms and, instead, try Celebrex or ibuprofen? Also, do you recommend a proactive approach or should he dose in response to symptoms?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monish De (25 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
managing flu like symptoms with ibuprofen

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Since your brother is having alcoholic liver disease i would advise him to avoid acetaminophen in managing the flu like symptoms as this will damage his liver more and he could take ibuprofen instead.

Also i would recommend a proactive approach.

If you have no more clarifications then please rate the answer and close the thread.

Regards

DR DE
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Monish De (53 minutes later)
Thank you, Dr. One last question. In your experience, do you support the use of interferon in maximizing survival for someone with a Stage 3B melanoma (my brother's BRAF gene is off).
doctor
Answered by Dr. Monish De (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
median survival will be 43 months

Detailed Answer:
Hi

I support the use of interferon in maximizing survival for someone with Stage 3B melanoma because median survival will be 43 months and median disease free survival 39 months after treatment.

5 year survival on avearge after treatment is 62%.

Regards

DR DE
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Monish De

Oncologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2229 Questions

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When Do Side Effects Of Interferon Alpha Show Up After The Initial Dose?

Brief Answer: After 8 hours Detailed Answer: Hi Since your brother is scheduled for initial dose of interferon alpha2b for treatment of stage 3B melanoma side effects start after 8 hours of starting of treatment. Common side effects of this drug are fever, chills, generalized aches and pains, headache, poor appetite, fatigue and low blood count. Regards DR DE