Related Experiment Videos

Managing the neuropsychiatric adverse effects of interferon treatment

A D Valentine1

  • 1Department of Neuro-Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. avalenti@notes.mdacc.tmc.edu

Biodrugs : Clinical Immunotherapeutics, Biopharmaceuticals and Gene Therapy
|November 23, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Interferon therapy can cause significant neuropsychiatric side effects. A multimodal approach, including behavioral techniques and psychotropic medications, helps manage these adverse effects.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Interferon therapy is associated with diverse neuropsychiatric adverse effects.
  • These effects can compromise treatment efficacy and patient quality of life.
  • Adverse effect severity is partly dose-dependent but shows significant variability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the management strategies for interferon-induced neuropsychiatric adverse effects.
  • To highlight the need for a multimodal approach in managing these side effects.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on clinical experience and ongoing studies.
  • Discussion of pre-treatment screening, behavioral interventions, dose adjustments, and pharmacological treatments.

Main Results:

  • Effective management requires a multimodal strategy.
  • Behavioral techniques aid daily functioning.
  • Pharmacological options include antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and psychostimulants.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive approach is crucial for managing interferon-induced neuropsychiatric adverse effects.
  • Interventions can reduce side effect severity to tolerable levels.
  • Further controlled trials are needed to establish optimal treatment mechanisms.

Related Concept Videos

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy01:26

Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy

Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions01:26

Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions

A drug interaction occurs when the concurrent use of another drug, food, or an external substance alters the pharmacological activity of a drug. This interaction can modify the action of the original drug, affecting its effectiveness and safety.Drug–food interactions are significant as they impact drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion. For example, grapefruit juice is a well-known disruptor of drug metabolism. It inhibits the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme, crucial for the metabolism of many...
Drug Therapy01:28

Drug Therapy

The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment01:22

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...