Sylatron
Generic name:peginterferon alfa-2b [ peg-in-ter-FEER-on-AL-fa-too-bee ]
Brand names: PegIntron, Sylatron
Drug classes:Antineoplastic interferons, Antiviral interferons
What is Sylatron?
Sylatron is made from human proteins that help the body fight viral infections.
Sylatron is a prescription medicine that is used to prevent malignant melanoma (a kind of skin cancer) from coming back after it has been removed by surgery.
Sylatron should be started within 84 days of surgery to remove lymph nodes containing cancer.
It is not known if Sylatron is safe and effective in children less than 18 years of age.
Warnings
You should not use Sylatron if you have autoimmune hepatitis or severe liver damage, or if you are allergic to any type of interferon alfa.
Do not use Sylatron if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sexual partner is pregnant. Use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 10 days after the final dose.
Sylatron may cause serious or fatal side effects, and can worsen a medical condition you already have. Call your doctor if you have symptoms such as mood or behavior changes, chest pain, fast heartbeats, trouble breathing, numbness or weakness, loss of coordination, fever, chills, a cough with mucus, burning when you urinate, or bloody diarrhea.
Tell your doctor about any new or worsening mood symptoms, such as feeling irritable, hostile, aggressive, depressed, or having thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Sylatron if:
you are allergic to any type of interferon alfa; or
you have autoimmune hepatitis, or severe liver damage.
When taking Sylatron with other medicine: To make sure all medicines are safe for you, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
You should not use Sylatronn if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sexual partner is pregnant.
Peginterferon alfa-2b can worsen a medical condition you already have. To make sure Sylatron is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
both hepatitis B and hepatitis C, or HIV/AIDS;
liver problems other than hepatitis B or C;
heart problems, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, or blood clot;
an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or psoriasis;
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