Interferon alfa Alcohol

Interferon alfa-2a formulations contain excipients sodium chloride, polysorbate, ammonium acetate, and benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Interferon alfa is also approved for use in the treatment of several other disorders. 

The occurrence of psychiatric disorders has been prospectively investigated in 63 patients who received a 6-month course of interferon alfa (9 MU/week) for hepatitis C (379). All were assessed at baseline with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) and monitored monthly with the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90). Most had a history of alcohol or polysubstance dependence, and 12 had a lifetime diagnosis of major depression. There were no significant changes in the SCL-90 scores during the 6-month period of survey in the 49 patients who completed the study, even in those who had a lifetime history of major depression. At 6 months, there was probable minor depression in eight patients and major depression in one none had attempted suicide. 

Even moderate but continuing alcohol consumption needs to be taken seriously in patients receiving interferon alfa, and exacerbation of previous acute alcohol hepatitis has been reported in two patients with chronic hepatitis C, despite reduced alcohol consumption (403). Liver transaminases subsequently normalized after withdrawal of interferon alfa in both patients. 

Interferon alfa-2b vials Multidose 18 million IU (0.088 mg) 0.024mg/ mL (22.8 million IU/ 3.8 mL) or (3 million IU/0.5mL) isopropyl alcohol, w-butyl alcohol, propylene glycol, ammonium hydroxide, FD C Blue 2 aluminum lake INTRON A 7.5 mg/mL sodium chloride 1.8 mg/mL sodium phosphate dibasic 1.3 mg/mL sodium phosphate monobasic 0.1 mg/ mL edetate disodium, 0.1 mg/ mL polysorbate 80 1.5 mg/mL m-cresol as a preservative... 

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