Actimmune Side Effects
Serious Adverse Side Effects
Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B has serious adverse side effects associated with it, such as:
- Hematological side effects such as leukopenia (a decreased amount of white blood cells) and thrombocytopenia, (low platelet count)
Common Adverse Side Effects
More common and less severe adverse side effects of
Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B include:
- Dermatological side effects such as injection site pain and rash
- Gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting
- Musculoskeletal side effects such as joint pain and muscle pain
- Neurological side effects such as headache
- Other side effects such as fatigue, fever and influenza-like illness
Warnings & Recalls for Actimmune
Contraindications
The contraindication of
Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B include:
- Hypersensitivity to interferon-gamma, E. coli derivatives, or any other component of the drug
Who Should Not Take This Drug
Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B should never be prescribed to the following patients:
- Children less than 1 year of age
- Preexisting cardiac conditions including ischemia, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmias
- Preexisting myelosuppression
- Seizure disorders or compromised central nervous system functionality
Pregnancy Warning
Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B has a pregnancy category classification of "C" by the FDA, implying that although it doesn't pose that much of a risk to an expectant mother or her fetus, it most likely is
NOT advisable to use it during pregnancy.
Actimmune Treatment and Use
Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B is a drug that’s a bioengineered form of interferon gamma, which is a protein that acts as a biological response modifier by way of stimulation of the human immune system. It is approved by the US FDA for use in children and adults with chronic granulomatous disease, also known as Bridges-Good syndrome. This extremely rare disease is hereditary and is marked by certain cells of the immune system having difficulty forming reactive oxygen compounds used to kill ingested pathogens. This drug also treats severe and malignant osteopetrosis. Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B comes in the form of an injection.
Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B has another off-label use, such as:
How This Drug Works
Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B is known to be a biological response modifier that’s classified as a type-2 interferon. Its specific mechanism of action includes stimulation of natural killer cells, improvement of the oxidative metabolism of macrophages, antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and also the expression of major histo-combatibility antigens and Fc receptors.
Dosage Information
The dosage information for Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B is dependent upon the nature of the illness. The following are the pediatric and adult dosing for patients who are prescribed Actimmune | Interferon Gamma-1B:
Pediatric patients:
- Chronic granulomatous disease: BSA 0.5m(2) or less: 1.5mcg/kg/dose 3 times a week
- Chronic granulomatous disease: BSA greater than 0.5m(2): 50mcg/m(2) 3 times a week
- Osteoporosis: BSA 0.5m(2) or less: 1.5mcg/kg/dose 3 times a week
- Severe malignant osteoporosis: BSA greater than 0.5m(2): 50mcg/m(2) 3 times a week
For adult patients:
- Chronic granulomatous disease: BSA 0.5m(2) or less: 1.5mcg/kg/dose 3 times a week
- Chronic granulomatous disease: BSA greater than 0.5m(2): 50mcg/m(2) 3 times a week
- Severe malignant osteoporosis: BSA 0.5m(2) or less: 1.5mcg/kg/dose 3 times a week
- Severe malignant osteoporosis: BSA greater than 0.5m(2): 50mcg/m(2) 3 times a week
Other Names for Actimmune
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Lawsuits & Legal Information for Actimmune
Author:
Partha Choudhury
Posted on Dec 10, 2012