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- Interactions: Patients should tell their healthcare providers if they are taking any other drugs (prescription or over–the–counter), herbs, or supplements because they may interact with treatment.
- HIV patients who are taking the anti–HIV drug zidovudine (Retrovir ®) may require lower doses of interferon alfa–2a (Roferon–A ®), interferon alfa–2b (Intron–A ®), or interferon beta–1b (Betaseron ®) because each of these drugs may increase blood levels of zidovudine. High levels of zidovudine in the blood may increase the risk of liver toxicity and other side effects associated with the drug. If patients are taking zidovudine, some physicians recommend reducing the dose of interferons by as much as 75%.
- Patients who are taking theophylline (such as Bronkodyl ®) to treat asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or other lung conditions may require lower doses of interferon alfa–2a (Roferon–A ®) or interferon alfa–2b (Intron–A ®). This is because the interferons may increase the time it takes for theophylline to be eliminated from the body.
- Do not use alcohol or illegal drugs while taking interferon.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: It remains unknown whether or not interferons are safe during pregnancy. Therefore, interferons should be avoided during pregnancy as a precautionary measure. Animal studies have found that using doses that are 100 times greater than the doses used in humans cause an increased risk of miscarriage.
- Due to a lack of safety information, patients who are breastfeeding should not take interferons.
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