Medication Guide

INFERGEN®
(I'-fer-jen)
(interferon alfacon-1) Injection for subcutaneous use

Read this Medication Guide carefully before you start taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

If you are taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) with ribavirin, also read the Medication Guide for ribavirin capsules or tablets.

What is the most important information I should know about INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?

INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) can cause serious side effects. Some of these side effects may cause death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms listed below while taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) .

1. Mental health problems and suicide: Some patients taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) may develop mood or behavior problems, including:

• irritability (getting upset easily)
• depression (feeling hopeless or feeling bad about yourself)
• nervousness
• anxiety
• aggressive behavior
• former drug addicts may fall back into drug addiction or overdose
• thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or suicide

2. New or worsening autoimmune problems. Some people taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) develop autoimmune problems (a condition where the body's immune cells attack other cells or organs in the body), including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis. In some people who already have an autoimmune problem, it may get worse during your treatment with INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) .

3. Heart problems: Some people who take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) may get heart problems, including:

• low blood pressure
• fast heart beat or abnormal heart beat
• chest pains
• heart attack or heart muscle problem (cardiomyopathy)

4. Stroke or symptoms of a stroke. Symptoms may include weakness, loss of coordination, and numbness. Stroke or symptoms of a stroke may happen in people who have some risk factors or no known risk factors for a stroke.

5. Infections. Some people who take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) may get an infection. Symptoms may include:

fever chills pain and/or burning with urination

urinating often bloody diarrhea coughing up mucous

Before taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , tell your healthcare provider right away if you:

• are being treated for a mental illness or had treatment in the past for any mental illness, including depression and suicidal behavior
• have or ever had any problems with your heart, including heart attack or high blood pressure
• have any kind of autoimmune disease (where the body's immune system attacks the body's own cells), such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis
• have or ever had bleeding or a blood clot
• have or ever had low blood cell counts
• have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these problems while taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) :

• new or worse mental health problems, such as thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or suicide
• trouble breathing or severe chest pain
• any new weakness, loss of coordination, or numbness
• fever, chills, burning and/or pain with urination, urinating often, bloody diarrhea

While taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , you should see a healthcare provider regularly for check-ups and blood tests to make sure that your treatment is working, and to check for side effects.

What is INFERGEN?

INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with lasting chronic (lasting a long time) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and certain types of liver problems.

It is not known if INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) is safe and will work if taken for more than 1 year.

It is not known if INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) is safe and will work in people younger than 18 years old.

Who should not take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?

Do not take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) if you:

• have certain types of other liver problems
• have certain types of hepatitis (autoimmune hepatitis)
• have had a serious allergic reaction to another alpha-interferon medicine or to any of the ingredients in INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of the ingredients. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction to alpha-interferon may include: itching, swelling of your face, tongue, throat, trouble breathing, feeling dizzy or faint, and chest pain.

Talk to your healthcare provider before taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) if you have any of these conditions.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?

Before you take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , See “What is the most important information I should know about INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?” and tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• Liver problems (other than hepatitis C infection)
• Have or had lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Thyroid problems
• Diabetes
• Colitis (inflammation of your intestine)
• Cancer
• Hepatitis B infection
• HIV infection
• Kidney problems
• Have high blood triglyceride levels (fat in your blood)
• Organ transplant and are taking medicine that keeps your body from rejecting your transplant (suppresses your immune system)
• Any other medical conditions
• You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) will harm your unborn baby. You should use effective birth control during treatment with INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control choices for you during treatment with INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during treatment with INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) .
• Are breast feeding or plan to breast-feed. It is not known if INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) or breast-feed.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription or nonprescription medicines, vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal medicines. INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) and certain other medicines may affect each other and cause side effects.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take the anti-hepatitis B medicine telbivudine (Tyzeka). Some people who take this medicine with INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) develop nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy), such as continuing numbness, tingling, or burning feeling in the arms or legs, or problems walking.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

How should I take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?

• Take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) exactly as your healthcare provider tell you to. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) to take and when to take it. Do not take more than your prescribed dose.
• Your health care provider will decide whether you will take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) by itself three times a week, or everyday with ribavirin.
• INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) is given as an injection under your skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider should show you how to prepare and measure your does of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , and how to inject your INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) yourself before you use INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) for the first time.
• You should not inject INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) until your healthcare provider has shown you how to use INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) the right way.
• INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) comes in single ready-to-use vials. There is 1 dose of medicine in each vial. Do not change your dose unless your healthcare provider tells you to change it. It is important that you take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Too little INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) may not be effective in treating your HCV infection and too much INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) may cause side effects.
• Inject your dose of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) as prescribed, at the same time of day.
• If you miss a dose of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , give yourself an injection as soon as you remember and then call your healthcare provider. Do not take your next scheduled dose until you have been told what you should do by your healthcare provider.
• If you take more than your prescribed amount of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , call your healthcare provider right away. Your healthcare provider may want to examine you.

What are the possible side effects of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?

Your healthcare provider should do regular blood tests before you start INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , and during treatment to see how the treatment is working and to check for side effects.

INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) may cause serious side effects including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?”
• Lung problems including:
  • Trouble breathing
  • Pneumonia
  • Inflammation of lung tissue
  • New or worse high blood pressure of the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). This can be severe and may lead to death.
• Severe liver problems, or worsening of liver problems, including liver failure and death. Symptoms may include:
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Tiredness
  • Diarrhea
  • Yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes
  • Bleeding more easily than normal
  • Swelling of your stomach area (abdomen)
  • Confusion
  • Sleepiness
  • You cannot be awakened (coma)
• Swelling of your pancreas (pancreatitis), intestines (colitis), or kidneys. Symptoms may include:
  • Severe stomach area (abdomen) pain
  • Severe back pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Bloody diarrhea or bloody bowel movements
  • Fever
• Blood problems. INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) can affect your bone marrow and cause low white blood cell and platelet counts. In some people, these blood counts may fall to dangerously low levels. If your blood counts become very low, you can get infections, and problems with bleeding and bruising.
• Serious allergic reactions and skin reactions. Symptoms may include:

Itching Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, or throat Trouble breathing Anxiousness

Chest pain Feeling faint Skin rash, hives, sores in your mouth, or your skin blisters and peels

• Serious eye problem. INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) may cause eye problems that may lead to vision loss or blindness. You should have an eye exam before you start taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . If you have eye problems or have had them in the past, you may need eye exams right away if you are taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . Tell your healthcare provider or eye doctor right away if you have any vision changes while taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) .
• Nerve problems: People who take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) or other interferon alpha products with telbivudine (Tyzeka) can have nerve problems such as continuing numbness, tingling, or burning sensation in the arms or legs (peripheral neuropathy). Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms.
• Thyroid problems. Some people develop changes in their thyroid function, Symptoms of thyroid changes include:
  • Problems concentrating
  • Feeling cold or hot all of the time
  • Weight changes
  • Skin changes
• Blood sugar problems. Some people may develop high blood sugar or diabetes. If you have high blood sugar or diabetes that is not controlled before starting INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , talk to your healthcare provider before you take INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . If you develop high blood sugar or diabetes while taking INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , your healthcare provider may tell you to stop INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) and prescribe a different medicine for you. Symptoms of high blood sugar or diabetes may include:
  • Increased thirst
  • Tiredness
  • Urinating more often than normal
  • Increased appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Your breath smells like fruit

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

The most common side effects of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) include:

• Flu-like symptoms. Symptoms may include: headache, muscle aches, tiredness, chills and fever. Some of these symptoms may be decreased by injecting your INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) dose at bedtime. Talk your healthcare provider about other over-the-counter medicines that you can take to help prevent or decrease some of these symptoms.
• Tiredness. Many people become very tired during treatment with INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) .
• Stomach problems. Nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea and weight loss may happen with INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) .
• Hair thinning

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or does not go away.

These are not all of the side effects of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1800-FDA-1088.

How should I store INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?

• Store INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C)‚
• Do not freeze INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . Do not use a vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) that has been frozen.
• Keep INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) away from direct sunlight
• Do not use a vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) past the expiration date stamped on the label.
• Do not shake INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . If INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) is shaken too hard, it will not work properly.

Keep INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1)

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . If you would like more information, ask your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) that was written for healthcare professionals.

For more information, go to www.infergen (interferon alfacon-1) .com.

What are the ingredients in INFERGEN?

Active Ingredients: interferon alfacon-1

Inactive ingredients: sodium chloride, and sodium phosphate in Water for Injection.

INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1)
Instructions For Use

INFERGEN®
(i'-fer-jen)
(interferon alfacon-1) Injection

Be sure that you read, understand and follow these instructions before injecting INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . Before you use it for the first time, your healthcare provider should show you how to prepare, measure and inject INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) properly. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions.

Before starting, collect all of the supplies that you will need to use for preparing and injecting INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . For each injection, you will need an INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) vial package that contains:

• A vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1)
• One sterile disposable syringe and needle
• Several alcohol swabs and
• A puncture-proof container to dispose of the needle and syringe when you are done

Important:

• Never re-use your disposable syringes and needles.
• Each vial is for a single-use. Throw away the vial after you use it 1 time.
• Make sure you have the right syringe to use with INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . It is important to use a syringe that is marked in tenths of millimeters (mLs), for example, 0.1 mL. Your healthcare provider may refer to a mL as a cc (1 mL= 1cc).

How should I prepare a dose of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?

1. Find a clean, well-lit, flat working surface. Remove a vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) from the refrigerator. Right before your injection, INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) may be allowed to reach room temperature.

2. Check the date on the vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) and make sure that the date has not passed. Do not use the vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) if the expiration date has passed.

3. Look at the liquid inside the vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . The liquid in the vial should be clear and colorless.

Do not use the INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) if the liquid:

• is cloudy
• is not clear and colorless
• has particles in it

4. Wash your hands well with soap and water.

Select and prepare the injection site on your body

5. Pick a site for your injection. You should change the site for injection for injection each time you inject to avoid soreness at any one site.

6. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab. Use circular motions from the inside to the outside. Keep the used alcohol swab nearby.

Preparing a dose of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1)

7. Remove the colored cap from the vial, exposing the rubber stopper.

8. Clean the rubber stopper with a new alcohol swab, and then cover the stopper with the swab.

9. Remove the syringe and needle from their packages. If either package looks like it has been opened or damaged, do not use the syringe or needle; dispose of it in the puncture-proof disposal container.

10. Remove the needle cover and pull the plunger back and draw air into the syringe. The amount of air you draw into the syringe should be the same amount as the dose of medicine your healthcare provider has prescribed.

11. Remove the alcohol wipe from the top of the vial and insert the needle straight through the center of the rubber stopper.

12. Push the plunger of the syringe down to inject the air into the air space above the liquid in the vial. The air injected into the vial will allow INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) to be easily withdrawn from the vial into the syringe.

13. Keep the needle in the vial, turn the vial upside down and make sure that the tip of the needle is in the liquid.

14. Slowly pull the plunger back and let the medicine enter the syringe, filling it to the line that equals the dose your healthcare provider prescribed.

15. Keep the needle in the vial. Check for air bubbles in the syringe. Small air bubbles are harmless but can reduce the dose of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) that you receive.

• To remove the air bubbles, gently tap the syringe with your fingers until the bubbles rise to the needle-end of the syringe barrel.
• Then push the plunger in to force the air out of the syringe.
• Make sure the tip of the needle is in the liquid and slowly pull back on the plunger until the liquid in the syringe reaches the mark that correctly matches the amount of your dose.

16. Take the needle out of the vial and hold the syringe needle facing up in the hand that you will use to inject yourself. Do not lay the syringe down or allow the needle to touch anything.

Injecting a dose of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1)

17. Use the other hand to pinch a fold of skin at the site you cleaned for an injection.

18. Hold the syringe the way you would hold a pencil and insert the needle into your skin either straight up and down (90 degree angle) or at a slight angle (45 degree angle) to the skin.

19. After the needle is inserted, let go of the skin.

• Pull back on the plunger slightly.
• If blood comes into the syringe, do not inject INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) , because the needle has entered a blood vessel.
  • Withdraw the syringe and needle. Discard the syringe and needle in the puncture-proof container. See step “How should I dispose of used syringes and needles?”
  • Then repeat steps 1 through 19 to prepare a new dose of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) with a new syringe and needle, and inject the dose at a new site.
  • If no blood comes into the syringe, slowly push down on the plunger all the way, until all the medicine is injected and the syringe is empty.

20. Pull the needle out of the skin at the same angle you put it in and:

• Place a cotton ball or gauze over the injection site and press for several seconds. Do not massage the injection site.
• If there is bleeding, cover the injection site with a bandage.

21. Place the needle and syringe in the puncture-proof disposal container right away. Never reuse the syringe or needle. Do not recap the needle. See “How should I dispose of the used syringes, needles, and vials?”

How should I dispose of used syringes, needles, and vials?

• Throw away used syringes, needles, and vials in a closable, puncture-proof container, sharps container, or a hard container such as a coffee can.
• Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the right way to throw away used needles and syringes. There may be state and local laws about how you should dispose of used needles and syringes.

Always keep the container out of the reach of children.

Do not recycle containers or throw full containers into the household trash.

How should I store INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) ?

• Store INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C)‚
• Do not freeze INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . Do not use a vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) that has been frozen.
• Keep INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) away from direct sunlight
• Do not use a vial of INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) past expiration date stamped on the label.
• Do not shake INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) . If INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) is shaken too hard, it will not work properly.

Keep INFERGEN (interferon alfacon-1) and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Last reviewed on RxList: 7/28/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.