What Should I Do If the Interferon Wasnt Stored in the Refrigerator?

Update Date: 2024-05-29 Source: Network

If interferon is not stored in a refrigerator for a long time, it is usually not recommended for use. It is advisable to use a new drug to avoid affecting its efficacy. As a biological product, the theoretical storage requirement for interferon is 2-8 degrees Celsius. If there is no refrigerator available, the interferon can be placed in a sealed container and then the container can be placed in a basin filled with cold water. The water in the basin should be changed periodically. However, this storage method should not be used for a long time to avoid affecting the drug's efficacy.

Interferon is a cytokine normally secreted by the human body and can also be synthesized artificially. The main functions of interferon include antiviral, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antiproliferative effects. It can be used to treat diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, leukemia, renal cancer, and melanoma. However, interferon also has significant side effects during the treatment of diseases, which may cause fever, headache, muscle soreness, hair loss, rash, granulocytopenia, and other adverse reactions. These symptoms usually gradually resolve after discontinuation of the drug.

The side effects of alpha interferon are often reversible. Common side effects include flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, fatigue, headache, body pain, joint pain, muscle pain, nausea, and palpitations that occur several hours after injection. Most of these side effects occur early in treatment and gradually decrease after continued treatment for a period of time. Other reversible side effects, such as hair loss, gradually return to normal after discontinuation of the drug and do not require immediate treatment. Generally, it is not necessary to reduce the dosage or extend the injection interval to avoid affecting the efficacy of alpha interferon.

Although interferon is effective against hepatitis B virus, it has the following indications: 1. Chronic persistent hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis with transaminase levels between 150-200 units. The use of interferon can produce more antiviral proteins and various immunomodulatory factors, leading to a better response and clearance of hepatitis B virus. 2. The infected hepatitis B virus is a wild strain without mutation. 3. Low levels of serum free iron, as free iron in the serum can antagonize interferon. 4. Active inflammatory lesions in liver biopsy, such as piecemeal necrosis. 5. No overlapping infection with hepatitis C or D. 6. Short duration of the disease.