PrescriptionGiant is a FREE prescription savings program that can save you up to 75% on your prescriptions with or without insurance!

Actimmune (Generic Interferon Gamma-1b Injection)

Actual product appearance may differ slightly.

Click the CARD below to print or take a screenshot on your mobile phone or tablet. There is no need to download another app!

If you would like to personalize your card enter your full name in the member name field below the card at this link and click the Update button.


Why is this medication prescribed?

People with chronic granulomatous illness can lessen the frequency and severity of major infections by receiving an injection of interferon gamma-1b (an inherited immune system disease). Additionally, it is used to prevent those with severe, malignant osteopetrosis from getting worse (an inherited bone disease). Immunomodulators are a family of drugs that includes interferon gamma-1b. The specific mechanism of action of interferon gamma-1b in the treatment of osteopetrosis and chronic granulomatous illness remains unknown.

How should this medicine be used?

The subcutaneous (just beneath the skin) injection of interferon gamma-1b is available as a solution to administer three times per week, for instance, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Every time you administer interferon gamma-1b injection, do so around the same time of day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Inject interferon gamma-1b exactly as instructed. Never inject more, less, or more frequently than your doctor has instructed.

Your doctor’s office will be where you receive your first dosage of interferon gamma-1b. Then you can administer the interferon gamma-1b injections yourself or have a friend or family member do it for you. Read the included written instructions before using interferon gamma-1b for the first time. To learn how to inject a medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist to demonstrate it to you or the person doing the injecting.

Never share or re-use syringes, needles, or prescription vials. Toss discarded medicine vials in the garbage along with used needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant container. How to get rid of the puncture-resistant container should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.

You can provide interferon gamma-1b injections to your thighs, stomach, or upper arms. Every time you administer your drug, pick a different location. Injesting medication into inflamed, bruised, erythematous, diseased, or scarred skin is not advised.

The patient information sheet from the manufacturer will be provided to you by your physician or pharmacist when you start receiving interferon gamma-1b and each time your prescription is renewed. If you have any questions, carefully read the material and contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Other uses for this medicine

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before receiving interferon gamma-1b injection,

  • If you have an allergy to interferon gamma-1b injection, anything derived from the E. coli bacterium, any other drugs, or any of the other substances in interferon gamma-1b injection, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
  • Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
  • Inform your physician if you suffer from or have ever suffered from seizures, low red or white blood cell counts, heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, or liver or heart illness.
  • If you are breastfeeding a child or intend to become pregnant, let your doctor know. Call your doctor if you fall pregnant while receiving an injection of interferon gamma-1b.
  • You should be aware that following your injection, you can experience flu-like symptoms as headache, fever, chills, muscle pains, and fatigue. To treat these symptoms, your doctor could advise you to use acetaminophen (Tylenol), an over-the-counter painkiller and fever reducer. If you are having trouble controlling these symptoms or they worsen, consult your doctor.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Avoid increasing your dose or administering two injections to make up for missed interferon gamma-1b doses. If you forget to take a dose and have concerns, call your doctor.

What side effects can this medication cause?

The injection of interferon gamma-1b may have adverse effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Joint or muscle ache
  • Dizziness
  • Difficulties walking
  • Confusion
  • At the injection site, there may be bruising, redness, swelling, bleeding, or discomfort.

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. You should stop taking the drug and contact your doctor right once, or seek emergency medical attention, if you have any of these symptoms or any of those noted in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section:

  • Rash
  • Itching
  • Breathing or swallowing challenges
  • Hives
  • Eye, face, mouth, tongue, and throat swelling

Other negative effects from interferon gamma-1b injection are possible. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Store this medication in the fridge and out of children’s reach. No more than 12 hours can be spent storing interferon gamma-1b at room temperature. Keep interferon gamma-1b from freezing.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

In case of emergency/overdose

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

What other information should I know?

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.

Brand names

  • Actimmune®
Copyright © 2023 PrescriptionGiant.com