In the article we will consider reviews about SinnoVex. It is a medication used to treat multiple sclerosis. The main component in the composition is interferon beta-1a. Excipients are sodium chloride, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium hydrogen phosphate, human albumin, injection water.
The latest reviews of SinnoVex will be presented at the end of the article.
Pharmacological form, group
The manufacturer produces the drug in the form of a lyophisate, intended for the preparation of a solution used intramuscularly.
The product is packaged in glass ampoules having a volume of 3 ml. Each carton contains one ampoule of the drug, one ampoule of solvent (injection water) with a volume of 1 ml, a disposable syringe, 2 needles.
According to the pharmacotherapeutic group, the drug is a representative of cytokines. Reviews about SinnoVex are mostly positive.
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
The pharmacokinetic properties of the active component of the drug were studied based on the determination of the antiviral activity of interferon. The peak level of antiviral activity with a single intramuscular injection of SinnoVex is observed after 5-15 hours. The elimination half-life is approximately 10 hours. The estimated bioavailability of the drug (with appropriate adjustment for the rate of absorption from the injection site) is about 40%.
Indications for the use of a medication
According to the instructions, “SinnoVex” is indicated for use in the treatment of relapsing multiple (multiple) sclerosis, characterized by at least two-fold relapse in the previous three years and the absence of symptoms of pathology progression between relapses.
Against the background of using the drug, the progression of disability slows down, the time interval between relapses increases by more than 2 years.
Also, the use of “SinnoVex” is advisable in the treatment of patients suffering from demyelination against the background of an active process of inflammation, which required the intravenous use of corticosteroid drugs with the exception of a diagnosis other than multiple sclerosis.
Contraindications
SinnoVex injections are contraindicated in some cases:
- Age less than 12 years. This limitation is due to the lack of reliable data confirming the safety of using the product in patients of a specified age category.
- Epilepsy, accompanied by seizures that are poorly controlled by drugs.
- Severe forms of depression, the occurrence of suicidal thoughts.
- Severe depression.
- Lactation period, pregnancy.
- Known strong sensitivity to recombinant or natural beta interferon, human serum albumin, any other component of the drug.
Negative impact
According to reviews of SinnoVex, interferons most often cause a flu-like syndrome as a negative symptom. It manifests itself in the development of nausea, headache, chills, fever, muscle pain, feelings of fatigue, weakness. This symptomatology, as a rule, is more pronounced at the beginning of therapy, as it continues, their frequency decreases.
In order to alleviate negative manifestations, it is allowed to use antipyretics-analgesics, which are recommended to be taken before the administration of SinnoVex, and then every 6 hours for a day after each injection. Before using any medication in conjunction with therapy, you must consult a doctor. In cases where the specialist recommends taking antipyretics-analgesics, it is important to carefully follow the recommendations. It is forbidden to increase the dosage of recommended drugs.
According to the instructions and reviews of SinnoVex, at any stage of therapy, neurological symptoms can occur that are similar to exacerbation of multiple sclerosis: alternating episodes of muscle weakness and muscle hypertonicity that restrict voluntary movements. These episodes are limited, usually in time, occur after administration of the drug, can be repeated with repeated use of the drug. In some cases, this symptomatology may be accompanied by a flu-like syndrome.
Other manifestations
In addition, the following negative manifestations from the SinnoVex preparation may occur:
- Research: increase the concentration of urea nitrogen in the blood, increase the concentration of potassium in the blood, reduce hematocrit, neutropenia, leukopenia, lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, change the parameters of functional liver tests, increase or decrease body weight.
- Vascular and heart system: flushing, vasodilation, tachycardia, arrhythmia, pulsation, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy.
- Endocrine system: hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia.
- Nervous system: headache, hypersthesia, muscle cramps, migraines, cramps, paresthesia, dizziness, hypertension, fainting, neurological symptoms.
- Respiratory system: shortness of breath, rhinorrhea.
- Digestive system: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, autoimmune hepatitis, hepatitis, liver failure.
- Skin, subcutaneous tissue: bruises, increased sweating, rash, exacerbation of psoriasis, urticaria, vesicular rash, itching, angioedema, alopecia.
- Bone and muscle system: skeletal muscle rigidity, muscle stiffness, back pain, limb pain, arthralgia, myalgia, neck pain, muscle cramps, arthritis, muscle weakness, systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Local reactions: burning at the injection site, night sweats, malaise, fatigue, pain, asthenia, hematoma at the injection site, erythema, chest pain, bleeding at the injection site, necrosis at the injection site, inflammatory reaction, cellulitis, abscess.
- Immune system: hypersensitivity reactions - itching rash, rash, urticaria, shortness of breath, angioedema, anaphylactic shock, anaphylactic reaction.
- Reproductive system: menorrhagia, metrorrhagia.
- CNS: insomnia, depression, emotional lability, confusion, anxiety, psychosis, suicide.
The above reactions that occur at the injection site, in some cases, may require surgical intervention (abscess, necrosis).
Fainting
After administration of SinnoVex, the patient may faint. Typically, this manifestation is a single episode at the initial stage of therapy, not repeated in the subsequent.
If this negative symptomatology occurs, it is important to consult a specialist. In certain cases, side effects are the basis for the abolition of treatment with the indicated remedy.
Drug use
The use of a pharmacological agent should begin under the supervision and guidance of a specialist who has experience in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Adult patients are shown once a week to enter 30 mg of the drug, which equals 1 ml of dissolved drug.
Therapy can begin with the use of a full dose (30 mcg) or half of it with a gradual increase to a full one. This approach allows the patient’s body to get used to the medication. The introduction of the drug is carried out once a week.
When prescribing higher doses, additional benefits cannot be achieved.
Children and teens
The use of adult dosages is indicated for children and adolescents 12-16 years old: the safety profile with a single dose of 30 micrograms per week is similar to that for adult patients. Reliable data confirming that “SinnoVex” is safe for patients less than 12 years old is not available, and therefore, the use of the drug is contraindicated in representatives of this age category.
Elderly patients
A sufficient number of patients older than 65 years of age were not involved in clinical trials, therefore, the probable differences in the response of these patients and patients of a younger age have not been established. If we take into account the clearance of the active component, then there are no theoretical grounds for dose adjustment in the treatment of elderly people.
If possible, injections should be made on the same day of the week, at the same time of day. Intramuscular injection sites are recommended to be changed every time.
This is confirmed by the instructions for use with SinnoVex.
Treatment duration
The specialist determines the duration of the therapeutic course for each patient individually. After two years of therapy, the patient should undergo a clinical examination, after which the doctor individually in each case determines the need to continue therapy. Treatment should be discontinued if the patient develops chronic progressive multiple sclerosis.
Self-administration of the drug by the patient is allowed with the permission of the doctor and after studying the methods of intramuscular injection. If the patient makes injections on his own, he should adhere to the following recommendations:
- Each package contains 4 trays containing one-time doses of medicine and 8 alcohol wipes in separate sealed bags. Each tray has lyophilized powder of the drug, an ampoule with injection water, a disposable syringe, two needles (one for preparing the solution, the other for administering the drug).
- Medicines should be removed from the refrigerator, kept at room temperature for about half an hour. The use of hot water and external heat sources for heating the ampoule with injection water is not allowed.
- You need to wash your hands, get two alcohol wipes, a tray containing a dose of medicine, and put them on a clean surface. Carefully open the packaging, remove the items contained in it. It is recommended that you prepare sterile medical cotton wool, a disinfectant solution (70% ethyl alcohol), and a bactericidal patch.
- Open the packaging of the needle and syringe, without removing the protective cap from the needle, place it on the syringe. Using an alcohol wipe, open the ampoule with the solvent, breaking off the upper part of the ampoule along the red line. Remove the cap from the needle, inject injection water into the syringe. If air bubbles get into the syringe, they should be carefully removed, holding the syringe in an upright position and gently pressing on the piston. Then put the cap on the needle.
- Open the cap on the medicine vial, wipe the vial with an alcohol wipe.
- Remove the cap from the needle, pierce the rubber stopper with it, turn the needle to the side wall of the bottle and carefully introduce all the solvent into it.
- After mixing the solution in the vial, immerse the needle in it, draw 1 ml of the solution into the syringe, remove the needle, and place the cap on it.
- With a gentle movement, without touching the outlet of the syringe, remove the needle and put on the second one intended for administering the agent.
- The place chosen for drug administration should be cleaned with an alcohol wipe, remove the cap from the needle, insert the needle into the muscle. The drug should be administered slowly. After removing the needle from the muscle, wipe the puncture site with an alcohol wipe. If necessary, the puncture site is sealed with a plaster.
Analogues of SinnoVex
The main analogues are: “Teberif”, “Rebif”, “Genfaxon”, “Avonex”. The possibility of replacing drugs is determined solely by the doctor.
Reviews of doctors about SinnoVex and patients
Experts call it the basic medication that can change the course of the pathology to a more favorable one. The main advantage of doctors consider rare injections, they should be carried out only once a week. In addition, the drug is well tolerated by patients, it has been shown to reduce the frequency of exacerbations of multiple sclerosis. Also, against the background of drug therapy, a decrease in lesions contrasted to MRI is noted.
The main drawback, according to the latest reviews of SinnoVex, is the frequent development of such a negative effect as the flu-like syndrome.
Patients largely agree with specialists: the drug is convenient to use, effective. Users note another drawback of the drug is its cost, which ranges from 10 thousand rubles per package.
We reviewed the reviews of SinnoVex and instructions for it.