Interferon Side Effects

Hi,

  I did 11 months of the low dose interferon, and never experienced symptoms like you are describing….I had extreme fatigue and nausea.

I wonder if you have a virus of some sort rather than this being a side effect of the interferon injection. When we are on drugs for so long, some virus's occur and it is coincidentally when we are doing a cancer treatment so sometimes we think its the treatment when it is not. it will be interesting to see if subsequent injections in a week or two cause the same reaction.

Still a call to your oncologist may be reassuring. Best of luck. You can DO IT!!!

Vermont_Donna, stage 3a NED

Hi,

  I did 11 months of the low dose interferon, and never experienced symptoms like you are describing….I had extreme fatigue and nausea.

I wonder if you have a virus of some sort rather than this being a side effect of the interferon injection. When we are on drugs for so long, some virus's occur and it is coincidentally when we are doing a cancer treatment so sometimes we think its the treatment when it is not. it will be interesting to see if subsequent injections in a week or two cause the same reaction.

Still a call to your oncologist may be reassuring. Best of luck. You can DO IT!!!

Vermont_Donna, stage 3a NED

There were several times during the later months that I became very ill, as you described. I just kept on trucking and did complete the year.  Remember INF is building up in your system. No matter how miserable I felt, I tried to look at the glass half full and tell myself the drug was working. Hope you don't hit too may more bumps in the road. 

There were several times during the later months that I became very ill, as you described. I just kept on trucking and did complete the year.  Remember INF is building up in your system. No matter how miserable I felt, I tried to look at the glass half full and tell myself the drug was working. Hope you don't hit too may more bumps in the road. 

I recall in your past posts that you were having quite a bit of difficulty with the interferon during the entire length of your treatment. I recall in your profile that one of your main issues is that you had and continue to have difficulty breathing.

I am not a doctor and this is strictly a guess, but I wonder if you may be having a severe allergic reaction to the interferon?

From PubMed: Anaphylaxis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001847/

Anaphylaxis is a severe, whole-body allergic reaction to a chemical that has become an allergen. After being exposed to a substance such as bee sting venom, the person's immune system becomes sensitized to it. On a later exposure to that allergen, an allergic reaction may occur. This reaction happens quickly after the exposure, is severe, and involves the whole body.

Some drugs may cause an anaphylactic-like reaction (anaphylactoid reaction) when people are first exposed to them. These reactions are not the same as the immune system response that occurs with "true" anaphylaxis. However, the symptoms, risk for complications, and treatment are the same for both types of reactions.

Anaphylaxis can occur in response to any allergen. Common causes include:

• Drug allergies

• Food allergies

• Insect bites/stings

From WIKI:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphylaxis

Signs and symptoms

Anaphylaxis can present with many different symptoms due to the systemic effects of histamine release. These usually develop over minutes to hours. The most common areas affected include: skin (80% to 90%), respiratory (70%), gastrointestinal (30% to 45%), heart and vasculature (10% to 45%), and central nervous system (10% to 15%).

Skin

Skin involvement may include generalized hives, itchiness, flushing, and swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat.

Respiratory

Respiratory symptoms may include shortness of breath, wheezes or stridor, and low oxygen.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal symptoms may include crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Cardiovascular

Due to the presence of histamine-releasing cells in the heart, coronary artery spasm may occur with subsequent myocardial infarction or dysrhythmia.

Nervous system

A drop in blood pressure may result in a feeling of lightheadedness and loss of consciousness. There may be a loss of bladder control and muscle tone,^] and a feeling of anxiety and "impending doom".

You may wish to discuss this with your doctor.

Hang in there,

Michael 1b

I recall in your past posts that you were having quite a bit of difficulty with the interferon during the entire length of your treatment. I recall in your profile that one of your main issues is that you had and continue to have difficulty breathing.

I am not a doctor and this is strictly a guess, but I wonder if you may be having a severe allergic reaction to the interferon?

From PubMed: Anaphylaxis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001847/

Anaphylaxis is a severe, whole-body allergic reaction to a chemical that has become an allergen. After being exposed to a substance such as bee sting venom, the person's immune system becomes sensitized to it. On a later exposure to that allergen, an allergic reaction may occur. This reaction happens quickly after the exposure, is severe, and involves the whole body.

Some drugs may cause an anaphylactic-like reaction (anaphylactoid reaction) when people are first exposed to them. These reactions are not the same as the immune system response that occurs with "true" anaphylaxis. However, the symptoms, risk for complications, and treatment are the same for both types of reactions.

Anaphylaxis can occur in response to any allergen. Common causes include:

• Drug allergies

• Food allergies

• Insect bites/stings

From WIKI:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphylaxis

Signs and symptoms

Anaphylaxis can present with many different symptoms due to the systemic effects of histamine release. These usually develop over minutes to hours. The most common areas affected include: skin (80% to 90%), respiratory (70%), gastrointestinal (30% to 45%), heart and vasculature (10% to 45%), and central nervous system (10% to 15%).

Skin

Skin involvement may include generalized hives, itchiness, flushing, and swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat.

Respiratory

Respiratory symptoms may include shortness of breath, wheezes or stridor, and low oxygen.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal symptoms may include crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Cardiovascular

Due to the presence of histamine-releasing cells in the heart, coronary artery spasm may occur with subsequent myocardial infarction or dysrhythmia.

Nervous system

A drop in blood pressure may result in a feeling of lightheadedness and loss of consciousness. There may be a loss of bladder control and muscle tone,^] and a feeling of anxiety and "impending doom".

You may wish to discuss this with your doctor.

Hang in there,

Michael 1b

When I did my interferon, the only time I experienced problems like you describe was when I had some sort of viral or bacterial infection going on.  The longer you're on interferon, the lower your white blood cell counts can get.  If they get too low, your body may not react normally to an infection until it gets to the point where it hits you all at once like this.  It's part of the reason the docs insist on running bloodwork monthly.  It's also why they want you to call them if you run a high fever.  While on interferon, we have to make a judgement call on when to actually call because interferon can cause a high fever.  Given that your fever came back and your symptoms were worse than normal after a shot, I would probably have called the doctor for an appointment.

Case in point – I broke a filling and while attempting to have it fixed, my dentist discovered the tooth was actually seriously infected and would require a root canal instead.  He discovered this after he had spent nearly 45 minutes trying to numb the tooth.  The entire gum was numb, but the underlying nerve just would not numb.  (Apparently, sometimes, when infection is involved, a nerve may not respond to local anesthesia.  It's one way a dentist knows to check for an infected tooth.)  It took 2 oral antibiotics and a course of IV antibiotics to clear up the infection.  And because a root canal is considered surgery, while on the antibiotics in preparation for the surgery, my oncologist took me off the interferon. 

I had absolutely no idea I had an infected tooth – no symptoms, like fever, pain, swelling, or pus.  The only clue was when the dentist was unable to numb the tooth.  Even after 3 rounds of antibiotics, he eventually had to do a pulpar injection to completely numb the tooth.  After his first attempts at numbing the tooth, I eventually found a sore spot on my jaw that corresponded to the infected tooth.

Side note: After the first round of oral antibiotics failed, I did recommend my dentist contact my oncologist to discuss IV antibiotics. Unfortunately, my oncologist was on vacation and no one called my dentist back. When the 2nd oral antibiotic failed, they tried again and was able to contact him.

When I did my interferon, the only time I experienced problems like you describe was when I had some sort of viral or bacterial infection going on.  The longer you're on interferon, the lower your white blood cell counts can get.  If they get too low, your body may not react normally to an infection until it gets to the point where it hits you all at once like this.  It's part of the reason the docs insist on running bloodwork monthly.  It's also why they want you to call them if you run a high fever.  While on interferon, we have to make a judgement call on when to actually call because interferon can cause a high fever.  Given that your fever came back and your symptoms were worse than normal after a shot, I would probably have called the doctor for an appointment.

Case in point – I broke a filling and while attempting to have it fixed, my dentist discovered the tooth was actually seriously infected and would require a root canal instead.  He discovered this after he had spent nearly 45 minutes trying to numb the tooth.  The entire gum was numb, but the underlying nerve just would not numb.  (Apparently, sometimes, when infection is involved, a nerve may not respond to local anesthesia.  It's one way a dentist knows to check for an infected tooth.)  It took 2 oral antibiotics and a course of IV antibiotics to clear up the infection.  And because a root canal is considered surgery, while on the antibiotics in preparation for the surgery, my oncologist took me off the interferon. 

I had absolutely no idea I had an infected tooth – no symptoms, like fever, pain, swelling, or pus.  The only clue was when the dentist was unable to numb the tooth.  Even after 3 rounds of antibiotics, he eventually had to do a pulpar injection to completely numb the tooth.  After his first attempts at numbing the tooth, I eventually found a sore spot on my jaw that corresponded to the infected tooth.

Side note: After the first round of oral antibiotics failed, I did recommend my dentist contact my oncologist to discuss IV antibiotics. Unfortunately, my oncologist was on vacation and no one called my dentist back. When the 2nd oral antibiotic failed, they tried again and was able to contact him.

hi,

I had a very bad reacion in my fourth month – for me what they found  out is my liver counts got too high and that totally beat me up.  I had to stop.  I also had the shortness of breath, tiredness and shakes.   I would ask if you can come in and selet us know, take care

Are you able to go in and see your oncologist and make sure you are not fighting an infection  and/or your liver counts are ok? 

let us know what you find out, interferon is tough on you.  You have done amazing to get thru 9 months.  good luck!

laurie from maine

hi,

I had a very bad reacion in my fourth month – for me what they found  out is my liver counts got too high and that totally beat me up.  I had to stop.  I also had the shortness of breath, tiredness and shakes.   I would ask if you can come in and selet us know, take care

Are you able to go in and see your oncologist and make sure you are not fighting an infection  and/or your liver counts are ok? 

let us know what you find out, interferon is tough on you.  You have done amazing to get thru 9 months.  good luck!

laurie from maine