Instructions for use VIFERON® (VIFERON)
The drug is administered rectally. 1 suppository contains human recombinant interferon alpha-2b as an active substance in the indicated dosages (150,000 IU, 500,000 IU, 1,000,000 IU, 3,000,000 IU).
In the complex therapy of various infectious and inflammatory diseases in newborns, incl. premature:
- newborns, incl. premature babies with a gestational age of more than 34 weeks are prescribed Viferon® 150,000 IU daily, 1 suppository 2 times a day every 12 hours. The course of treatment is 5 days.
Premature newborns with a gestational age of less than 34 weeks are prescribed Viferon® 150,000 IU daily, 1 suppository 3 times a day every 8 hours. The course of treatment is 5 days.
Recommended number of courses for various infectious and inflammatory diseases in children, incl. newborns and premature babies:
- ARVI, including influenza, incl. complicated by bacterial infection - 1-2 courses;
- pneumonia (bacterial, viral, chlamydial) - 1-2 courses, sepsis - 2-3 courses, meningitis - 1-2 courses, herpes infection - 2 courses, enterovirus infection 1-2 courses, cytomegalovirus infection - 2-3 courses, mycoplasmosis , candidiasis, incl. visceral, - 2-3 courses. The break between courses is 5 days.
According to clinical indications, therapy can be continued.
In complex therapy in adults, incl. pregnant women, with urogenital infection (chlamydia, cytomegalovirus infection, ureaplasmosis, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis, human papillomavirus infection, bacterial vaginosis, recurrent vaginal candidiasis, mycoplasmosis), with primary or recurrent herpetic infection of the skin and mucous membranes (localized form, mild to moderate course, including including urogenital form).
For adults with the above infections, except herpes, Viferon® 500,000 IU is prescribed, 1 suppository 2 times a day every 12 hours. The course is 5-10 days. According to clinical indications, therapy can be continued with breaks between courses of 5 days.
For herpetic infections, Viferon® 1,000,000 ME is prescribed, 1 suppository 2 times a day after 12 hours. The course of treatment is 10 days or more for recurrent infections. It is recommended to begin treatment immediately when the first signs of damage to the skin and mucous membranes appear (itching, burning, redness). When treating recurrent herpes, it is advisable to begin treatment in the prodromal period or at the very beginning of signs of relapse.
In pregnant women with urogenital infection, incl. herpetic, in the second trimester of pregnancy (starting from the 14th week) - Viferon® 500,000 IU, 1 suppository every 12 hours (2 times/day) for 10 days, then 1 suppository every 12 hours (2 times/day) twice a day week - 10 days. Then, after 4 weeks, preventive courses of the drug Viferon® 150,000 IU are carried out, 1 suppository every 12 hours - for 5 days, the preventive course is repeated every 4 weeks. If necessary, it is possible to conduct a treatment course before childbirth. In the complex therapy of acute respiratory viral infections, including influenza, incl. complicated by bacterial infection in adults. Use Viferon® 500,000 IU, 1 suppository 2 times a day every 12 hours.
The course of treatment is 5-10 days.
Release form
The drug has three dosage forms: Viferon suppositories 150,000 IU / 500,000 IU / 1,000,000 IU and 3,000,000 IU, ointment and gel.
Viferon gel is an opaque homogeneous substance of grayish-white color.
The ointment is a viscous homogeneous mass with a characteristic lanolin odor. The color of the ointment can vary from yellowish-white to yellow.
Viferon suppositories are bullet-shaped, their consistency is uniform, and their color is white with a yellowish tint. Heterogeneity in the cutting areas is allowed. There may also be a funnel-shaped recess.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
Alpha interferon belongs to the group of water-soluble proteins . Its mechanism of action includes:
- direct antiviral effect (it is effective against viruses that cause influenza, herpes, hepatitis, etc.);
- antibacterial (bacteriostatic) effect against mixed infections;
- restoration of the function of the endogenous (internal) interferon system;
- stimulating factors that improve antibody production;
- increasing the body's resistance to various types of infections.
The antibacterial activity of the substance is determined by its ability to increase the cytotoxic activity of lymphocyte cells and stimulate the phagocytic activity of macrophages .
IFN-α2b has an antiproliferative effect when involving both cell cultures and xenografts malignant tumors and in laboratory animals.
IFN-α2b suppresses viral genome replication. By binding to specific receptors on cell membranes, interferon alpha initiates a certain sequence of complex reactions inside the cell, including the induction of certain enzymes .
The membrane-stabilizing, regenerating and anti-inflammatory effects that develop with the use of Viferon are due to the activity of substances included in the drug that have a powerful antioxidant effect - alpha-tocopherol acetate and ascorbic acid .
After parenteral administration of the drug, the concentration of interferon alpha in blood plasma reaches maximum values within 3-12 hours.
When IFN-α2b is administered vaginally or rectally, the substance is absorbed through the mucous membrane, penetrates into adjacent tissues and the lymphatic system, thereby exerting a systemic effect. And due to its ability to partially bind to mucosal cells, IFN-α2b acts locally.
The use of rectal suppositories Viferon increases the circulation time of interferon in the circulatory system (when IFN-α2b drugs are administered into a muscle or vein, this pharmacokinetic indicator is significantly less).
The level of serum interferon decreases approximately twelve hours after taking Viferon, which suggests the need for repeated administration.
Interferon alpha is excreted from the body primarily through renal catabolism . Metabolization in the liver and excretion in bile are less significant routes of elimination. Interferon alpha is partially eliminated unchanged through the kidneys.
The substance does not cumulate (do not accumulate) in various tissues of the body.
pharmachologic effect
The drug has a pronounced antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effect.
The combination of IFN-α2b with antioxidants enhances the antiviral activity of the active substance of the drug, its regulating effect on the immune system and, in particular, on T- and B-cells (lymphocytes developing from prethymocytes in the thymus), normalizes the concentration of immunoglobulin E .
Thanks to such a combination of components, it is also possible to eliminate the likelihood of the patient developing adverse reactions that occur when interferon drugs are administered parenterally, and to normalize the functioning of the endogenous (internal) interferon system.
The use of Viferon for the treatment and prevention of viral infections makes it possible to significantly reduce the doses of hormonal medications and antibiotics (in some cases, it is possible to avoid prescribing these medications altogether).
In addition, the use of the drug can reduce the severity of the toxic effects of antibacterial or hormonal therapy.
It is also very important that neutralizing antibodies to the IFN-α2b included in the drug are not formed in the patient even with long-term use of Viferon.
Viferon price
How much does Viferon cost in Russia?
The price of Viferon suppositories for children varies from 200-400 rubles, depending on the content of the active substance. Thus, suppositories of 150,000 IU cost approximately 200-300 rubles, and children’s suppositories with a dosage of IFN-α2b of 500,000 IU cost 300-400 rubles.
The average price of Viferon 1000000 IU candles is 500-600 rubles, the price of Viferon 3000000 IU is 900-1000 rubles.
The price of Viferon gel and ointment is about 200 rubles.
The drug is not available in the form of tablets, drops or injection solution.
How much does Viferon cost in Ukraine?
Antiviral suppositories for children Viferon-1 cost about 150 UAH, Viferon-2 suppositories 500,000 IU can be purchased for an average of 200 UAH per package, the average cost of Viferon-3 suppositories is 400 UAH, Viferon-4 can be purchased for approximately 600 UAH.
At the same time, buying gel, ointment for warts or suppositories in pharmacies in the capital can be somewhat more expensive than, for example, in pharmacies in Kharkov.
- Online pharmacies in RussiaRussia
- Online pharmacies in KazakhstanKazakhstan
ZdravCity
- Viferon supp.
rect. 150,000 IU No. 10OOO Feron RUB 304 order - Viferon ointment 40 thousand. IU/g 12g LLC Feron
RUB 209 order
- Viferon sup.rect. 3,000,000 IU No. 10 LLC Feron
1060 rub. order
- Viferon supp. rect. 500,000 IU No. 10 LLC Feron
RUR 438 order
- Viferon gel for local use. and external approx. 36000 IU/ml 12g 10ml Feron LLC
RUB 198 order
Pharmacy Dialogue
- Viferon candles 500.000IU No. 10Feron
428 RUR order
- Viferon candles 150.000IU No. 10Feron
RUB 299 order
- Viferon candles 3,000,000 IU No. 10 Feron
RUB 1,032 order
- Viferon gel 36 thousand IU 12g Feron
RUB 174 order
- Viferon ointment 40 thousand IU 12g Feron
185 rub. order
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Reviews about Viferon
Reviews about Viferon and, in particular, reviews from doctors about suppositories are mostly positive. The drug in all its dosage forms is widely used both for the treatment of adults and pediatrics.
Ointment and gel for children are effective means for treating viral infections.
Reviews of Viferon ointment, as well as the gel, allow us to conclude that their use is advisable for the prevention of acute respiratory infections , acute respiratory viral infections and influenza in both adults and children, since this makes it possible to prevent various childhood diseases and increase the body’s natural immunity.
Viferon is also often used as an ointment for warts and an ointment for papillomas .
Reviews of Viferon suppositories for children also indicate that the product copes well with viruses, alleviates the course of the disease, and also reduces the severity of the toxic effects that occur after taking antibiotics.
Reviews of Viferon suppositories during pregnancy eloquently indicate that this drug is a timely first aid for the body of a woman who is preparing to become a mother.
The immune system of pregnant women is often weakened, and any infection can seriously harm the developing baby. Viferon belongs to the category of safe drugs, and not only kills the infection, but also strengthens the body's defenses.
Viferon's analogs
Level 4 ATC code matches:
Roferon A
Genfaxon
Inferon
Lipoferon
Laifferon
Intron A
Betaferon
Grippferon
Ingaron
Alfarekin
Laferon
PegIntron
Pegasis
Interlock
Interferon
Nazoferon
Infagel
Reaferon-Lipint
Reaferon-ES-Lipint
Reaferon-EC
When a doctor prescribes a particular drug (and especially if the drug is expensive, such as Viferon), most patients begin to look for what can replace this drug and find cheaper analogues.
Analogues of Viferon suppositories are the drugs Vitaferon , Genferon , Laferobion , Laferon . Prices for analogues in Ukrainian pharmacies start from approximately 60 UAH.
Anaferon or Viferon - which is better?
Trying to figure out what the difference is between these drugs, we can conclude that they all have similar pharmacological effects. The difference between Viferon and Anaferon is that the latter is a homeopathic remedy and is available in the form of sublingual tablets.
Which is better: Kipferon or Viferon?
Kipferon is available in the form of suppositories for rectal and intravaginal use.
Which is better: Grippferon or Viferon?
As for Grippferon , it is available in the form of drops and spray for intranasal use.
The decision about which of the listed drugs should be prescribed in a particular case is made by the doctor.
