In the article, we consider the instructions for use with Altevir.
The drug is a drug that belongs to the category of antiviral and antitumor drugs that have immunomodulatory activity. This means that Altevir can have a direct effect on various structural elements of the immune system, directing their activity to the fight against tumor cells and viruses. Due to this modulating activity, the Altevir agent can be successfully used to treat hepatitis C and B, as well as various types of formations. High efficiency against viruses and tumor cells causes the use of this drug in the treatment of infections and formations that affect AIDS patients.
Drug effectiveness
Since the medication is more often used for the treatment of hepatitis and genital warts, consider its effectiveness indicator in relation to these diseases.
According to the instructions to "Altevir", this tool is highly effective, well curing viral hepatitis and preventing the re-development of the disease. True, in the situation with hepatitis, the drug has different efficacy in relation to the genotypes of the virus. In general, doctors evaluate this drug as a highly effective drug, although it has a number of adverse reactions.
It is the presence of side effects of many people that leads to the opinion that the action of "Altevir" is extremely low efficiency. However, this does not correspond to reality at all, since adverse reactions directly depend on the properties of interferon, which is part of the composition. The medication includes interferon, which is produced by Escherichia coli. Thus, this medicine is highly effective, but it provokes a number of side effects.
Dosage form: injections
As the instructions indicate, Altevir is available in ampoules, glass syringes or vials in the form of a solution, ready for administration. Normally, the solution is transparent and not colored, does not have any impurities or suspensions. Ampoules for injections are produced in packages of five or ten pieces. The volume of the drug has two options: 0.5 or 1 milliliter. Different dosages of the drug are used for a differentiated approach to the treatment of pathologies that occur with varying degrees of severity, duration, clinical symptoms, involvement of a certain structure of the immune system, and so on.
Interferon as an active component in the composition of the drug
In accordance with the instructions for use with Altevir, human recombinant interferon is included in the preparation as the active ingredient. The term "recombinant" means that the synthesis of this element is carried out using genetic engineering technologies, when the human gene is embedded in the cells of an animal, by which the production of a chemical substance is carried out. In this case, the resulting interferon has a structure that is completely identical to the human counterpart.
In the role of producers of interferon, Escherichia coli bacteria are used, which can multiply rapidly and are able to synthesize a large amount of the necessary substance in a relatively short time. In addition, the recombinant form of interferon in Altevir has high activity. In order to better dissolve and preserve the properties of interferon, auxiliary components are used. The drug "Altevir" is sodium acetate, along with salt, tween, purified water and so on. Auxiliary ingredients are contained in equal amounts and are the same for all doses of the drug.
Indications for use
According to the instructions, "Altevir" is used as one of the main drugs in the complex treatment of oncological and viral pathologies in adults. The drug is prescribed for the treatment of the following infections:
- In acute hepatitis B.
- In the case of chronic active hepatitis without signs of cirrhosis. With the development of a chronic form of this disease in combination with glomerulonephritis.
- Against the background of herpes virus infection.
- In the case of cytomegalovirus pathologies.
- With sarcoma among AIDS patients.
- Against the background of complications after surgery.
In addition to viral infections, Altevir is prescribed for the treatment of a number of formations, including oncological ones, including:
- With papillomas of the larynx.
- Against the background of genital warts of any localization.
- In the case of hairy cell leukemia.
- With non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Against the background of chronic myelogenous leukemia and myelofibrosis.
- With the development of melanoma and a generalized form of myeloma.
- With kidney cancer, including the presence of metastases in the lungs.
- As part of the prevention of tumor recurrence in people who have a malignant neoplasm removed.
Contraindications
According to the instructions to Altevir, since interferon has a wide range of effects and can affect various organs and systems, the number of conditions in the presence of which its use is strictly contraindicated is quite significant. So, this medication is absolutely contraindicated in the presence of the following conditions in patients:
- With severe pathology of the vascular system (for example, with chronic heart failure, fresh myocardial infarction, arrhythmias).
- Against the background of severe kidney and liver failure.
- In case of epilepsy, depression, suicidal tendency (the presence of attempts and ideas about suicide).
- In chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis at the stage of decompensation.
- Patients who have recently received immunosuppressants after organ transplantation, including.
- Against the background of autoimmune diseases.
- With lung pathology, which is at the stage of decompensation.
- In case of diabetes, decompensation.
- With increased blood coagulation (in case of thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism).
- Against the backdrop of a sharp inhibition of the maturation of lymphocytes and white blood cells within the bone marrow.
- During pregnancy and lactation.
- Against the background of allergies or sensitivity to any ingredient of the drug
Instructions for use of the drug
The drug is used to treat viral pathologies and oncological ailments. The medication is administered subcutaneously, intravenously and intramuscularly. Since the course of therapy is quite long, the doctor must choose the dosage and input regimen, which the patient himself can then observe directly and make injections on his own. The dosage regimen and duration of the course of treatment for the disease are given below:
- In the presence of chronic hepatitis B, this medication is used subcutaneously and intramuscularly. Dosage is 5,000,000 units three times a week. Treatment is continued for sixteen to twenty-four weeks.
- In the case of hepatitis C therapy, this medicine is used subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Dosage is 3,000,000 units three times a week. Duration of treatment: twenty-four to forty-eight weeks.
- In accordance with the instructions to "Altevir" 3 million for the treatment of papilloma of the larynx, the drug is used subcutaneously at 3,000,000 units three times a week. The introduction of the drug begins after removal of the papillomas. This dose is approximate, since it must be selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of a person. Treatment can continue for six months without any interruption.
- Against the background of hairy cell leukemia, the drug is administered subcutaneously at a dosage of 2,000,000 units three times a week. Means "Altevir" can be used after removal of the spleen in the patient. The course of therapy lasts from one month to six months.
- In case of chronic myeloid leukemia, the drug is administered subcutaneously. Dosage is 5,000,000 units daily. Depending on the number of leukocytes, the amount of the drug may fluctuate, while the medication is administered in maximum doses that are normally tolerated by patients. The duration of the course of therapy is from eight to twelve weeks.
- In the presence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the drug is administered subcutaneously as one of the means of combined treatment. Dosage is 5,000,000 units three times a week for two to three months. With poor tolerance, the dosage should be selected individually.
- Against the background of melanoma, the drug is administered intravenously in order to prevent the recurrence of the tumor after removal of the formation. The dosage is 15,000,000 units five times a week for a month, after which Altevir is administered subcutaneously for 10,000,000 units three times a week for forty-eight weeks. The required amount of the drug is given average, it should be subject to correction, taking into account individual characteristics.
- In the presence of multiple myeloma, the drug is administered subcutaneously at 3,000,000 units three times a week during periods of tumor remission in order to prevent relapse. The instruction to Altevir 3 million confirms this.
- Against the background of sarcoma in AIDS patients, the drug is used intramuscularly or subcutaneously at a dosage of 10,000,000 units. In general, there is no recommended dose, so it must be selected strictly individually. The duration of therapy is determined, as a rule, by the condition of the patient. In the event that the tumor stabilizes, then it is necessary to continue the course until the formation begins to decrease in size or until the patient needs to cancel taking the drug urgently.
- In the presence of kidney cancer, the drug is administered subcutaneously at a dosage of 3,000,000 units, and the specific amount is determined strictly individually. Injections of "Altevira" do three times a week.

General recommendations for the use of the drug
Before starting treatment for hepatitis, it is best to perform a liver test in order to determine the development of fibrosis, inflammation activity and so on. The most informative analysis is a liver biopsy. In the event that after four months of hepatitis treatment there is no improvement in the condition and performance of the tests, then the use of this drug should be stopped.
When overly pronounced adverse reactions are formed against the background of Altevir use, the dose should be reduced by half, or the drug should be canceled until the condition is completely normalized, then the drugs are returned to lower dosages. As part of the preservation of side effects against the background of reduced dosages, or in the absence of an improvement in the patient's condition, the medicine must be discontinued.
Against the background of treatment with Altevir, it is necessary to control the number of blood cells in platelets and granulocytes. For example, platelet counts less than 50 grams per liter, or granulocytes less than 0.75 in the blood, will require a half dosage reduction. One week after lowering the dosage of the drug, a control blood test is performed.
In the event that the number of granulocytes and platelets does not increase, it is necessary to cancel the therapeutic course. The number of platelets below 25 grams per liter, or granulocytes less than 0.5, will require immediate withdrawal of the drug. Following drug discontinuation, a control study of the number of granulocytes or platelets in the blood should be performed a week after the last dose.
Side effects from the use of this drug
According to the instructions for use and reviews of "Altevir", often in response to the introduction of the drug, general adverse reactions resembling flu or cold symptoms may develop. The severity of such symptoms is directly dependent on the dosage. Thus, the higher the amount of the drug, the stronger the flu-like effect may occur. After completion of treatment, or during a pause, this symptomatology disappears within three days. The most pronounced of the flu-like manifestations are chills and malaise.
Since interferon affects the work of all systems and organs, the side effects are quite numerous. However, only some of them occur frequently, while others, on the contrary, are very rare. So, often while taking this medication, side effects occur in the form of a headache, muscle discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, and a decrease in pressure. Rarely, when using the medication, the symptoms of adverse reactions are formed in the form of weakness, drowsiness, dizziness, irritability, insomnia, depression, suicidal tendency (intention or attempt).
What other side effects from Altevir are possible? In addition, anxiety, increased nervousness, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, taste disturbance, abdominal pain and digestive problems can occur. In addition, tachycardia is noted along with baldness, increased sweating, skin rashes, itching of the skin, weight loss, the development of autoimmune thyroiditis, a decrease in the number of leukocytes, platelets and granulocytes, and a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood.
Reviews about "Altevir"
To date, the drug boasts a strong reputation for effective and good medicine with an optimal ratio of price and quality. Having achieved improvement in health status with an education, or completely cured of viral hepatitis, patients are quite satisfied with the effectiveness of the drug in question and often leave positive feedback about it.
Unfortunately, the effectiveness of this drug is significantly reduced with a prolonged course of hepatitis, or in the case of liver fibrosis, when the drug has only a slight effect, and complete healing does not occur. In this case, consumers are disappointed, which provokes them to negative comments.
Also, negative reviews about Altevir are often provoked by the fact that it can not be well tolerated by patients suffering from the development of adverse reactions and a decrease in the quality of life. However, the effectiveness of this drug is quite high. It should be remembered that the tool does not act as a universal medicine, but, in addition, a panacea for the viral form of hepatitis, since in some cases it is not effective at all.
Patient reviews of Altevir should be reviewed prior to treatment.
You should decide on the start of treatment only on the basis of the analysis results (the virus genotype is taken into account along with the number of copies, activity of liver enzymes, degree of fibrosis, and so on) - all this reveals the real state of the patient. Only the correct use of the medication will ensure recovery and improve the quality of life.
Analogues of this medication
There are medications that are analogues of Altevir, which also contain interferon as the active ingredient. These include the following drugs: Alfaron (lyophilisate administered through the nose), Interferal, Intron (solution administered intravenously or subcutaneously), Lifeferon, Realdiron, Reaferon and Eberon.
The medicine "Ribavirin"
This drug has a pronounced antiviral effect. It has a wide spectrum of activity against various viruses. The drug acts as a synthetic analogue of nucleosides. The active substance of this tool is the component of the same name ribavirin. Auxiliary ingredients are potato starch along with microcrystalline cellulose, calcium stearate and povidone. According to the instructions, this medication is indicated for use in the presence of chronic hepatitis in the following cases:
- Conducting complex therapy with peginterferon or interferon in patients who have not previously been treated with these drugs.
- Against the background of an exacerbation of the disease as a result of a course of monotherapy with peginterferon.
- The presence of patients immunity to peginterferon monotherapy.
Contraindications are:
- Severe depression with suicidal intentions.
- The development of heart failure.
- The presence of myocardial infarction along with severe anemia.
- The occurrence of kidney failure with creatinine clearance of less than 50 milliliters per minute.
- In severe liver failure.
- Against the background of autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis.
- With decompensated cirrhosis of the liver.
Joint use with the drug "Ribaverin"
The treatment of the chronic form of hepatitis C is more effective when Altevir and Ribavirin are used together in people who have a recurring nature of the disease. "Altevir" with this drug is used for at least twenty-four weeks. And in the case of hepatitis C virus genotype 1, treatment should last forty-eight weeks. Intravenous administration of the drug is carried out using a dropper. To do this, the desired dose of the drug is dissolved in 100 milliliters of physiological sterile solution. This volume is administered within twenty minutes.