At the moment there are many waysfight against viral and oncological diseases. There are drugs that affect both of these areas. For example, these are preparations containing interferon, the instructions for which determine the immunomodulatory, antiviral and antitumor effects.
What is interferon?
In essence, these are proteins that are contained in the blood.They are produced by the cells of the body during the invasion of viruses and other alien agents. Interferons block the reproduction of viral RNA and DNA. Also, these proteins affect adjacent cells, making them immune to viruses. That is, provide a natural defense of the body. Almost all RNA and DNA-containing viruses are interferon sensitive and cannot adapt to its action.
During the disease natural defenseviolated, so effective additional funds in the form of drugs containing interferon. Instructions to them indicate various diseases for which treatment they may be prescribed.
Thus, these funds are used to treat herpes, acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, hepatitis, fungal and bacterial infections, gynecological infectious diseases and even AIDS and cancer.
Dosage forms
For the treatment of cancer and hepatitis interferon drugsadministered intravenously, subcutaneously or intramuscularly. For gynecological diseases, candles are used. During SARS and influenza, intronasal drops or solutions for inhalation based on interferon are used. Moreover, inhalation can be used for children. For the treatment of herpes use ointment.
There are two types of preparations containinginterferon. The use of the first one, leukocyte, is dangerous because there is a risk of contracting diseases that are transmitted through blood. This is explained by the method of manufacture - such interferons in the form of powder are made of human donated blood. On its basis, drops, solutions for inhalation and suppositories are made. Such drugs are also called interferon first generation.
There are also drugs interferon secondgenerations, they are recombinant, that is, manufactured by genetic engineering. They are safer compared to leukocyte, since donated blood is not used in their creation.
When interferon can not be used?
Not in all cases it is possible to use preparations containing interferon. Instructions for some of them indicate an extensive list of side effects. Therefore, they are appointed only in extreme cases.
On the part of the digestive system, nausea is possible,vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, change in taste, weight loss, abdominal pain. In rare cases, there are constipation, ulcerative stomatitis, heartburn, flatulence, increased peristalsis, and even more rarely - liver failure.
On the nervous system, these drugs can affect, causing a decrease in concentration, sleep disturbance, loss of cognitive functions, numbness of the limbs, convulsions, anxiety, dizziness.
Other negative effects include impairment.of view, anemia, dysfunction of the thyroid gland. And this is far from all the side effects that can occur while taking drugs containing interferon. An instruction to any of these medicines covers this issue in more detail.
Among the contraindications notedhypersensitivity, renal or hepatic failure, myocardial infarction, severe mental disorders, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic hepatitis, lactation, epilepsy. And this is also not a complete list. However, for different drugs based on this substance, criteria such as contraindications, side effects and the area of application may vary somewhat, so for more complete information on each of them it is recommended to refer to the instructions of a particular drug.
