Ephedra - Interferon Alfa-2b Interaction

Interaction Details

Interferon Alfa-2b is classified as belonging to the following category: Hepatotoxic Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use might have additive adverse hepatotoxic effects.
There are numerous cases of liver toxicity from ephedra-containing supplements.

Interaction Rating

Likelihood of Occurrence

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists

References

• Nadir A, Agrawal S, King PD, Marshall JB. Acute hepatitis associated with the use of a Chinese herbal product, ma-huang. Am J Gastroenterol 1996;91:1436-8.
• Borum, M. L. Fulminant exacerbation of autoimmune hepatitis after the use of ma huang. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96(5):1654-1655.
• Vigano, M., Lampertico, P., and Colombo, M. Acute hepatitis following assumption of a herbal remedy. Eur.J.Gastroenterol.Hepatol. 2008;20(4):364-365.
• Neff, G. W., Reddy, K. R., Durazo, F. A., Meyer, D., Marrero, R., and Kaplowitz, N. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the use of weight loss diet supplements containing ma huang or usnic acid. J Hepatol. 2004;41(6):1062-1064.
• Bajaj J, Knox JF, Komorowski R, Saeian K. The irony of herbal hepatitis: Ma-Huang-induced hepatotoxicity associated with compound heterozygosity for hereditary hemochromatosis. Dig Dis Sci. 2003;48(10):1925-8.
• Charalampopoulos A, Karatsourakis T, Tsiodra P. Acute hepatitis associated with the use of Ma-huang in a young adult. Eur J Intern Med. 2007;18(1):81.
• Skoulidis F, Alexander GJ, Davies SE. Ma huang associated acute liver failure requiring liver transplantation. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005;17(5):581-4.
• Drug record: Ma huang. U.S. National Library of Medicine: Livertox Database. https://livertox.nlm.nih.gov/Ephedra.htm. Updated October 16, 2017. Accessed November 1, 2017.

Interferon Alfa-2b Overview

• Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat a number of conditions.

• Interferon alfa-2b injection is used

  • alone or in combination with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, Ribasphere) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,

  • to treat chronic hepatitis B infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,

  • to treat hairy cell leukemia (a white blood cell cancer),

  • to treat genital warts,

  • to treat Kaposi's sarcoma (a type of cancer that causes abnormal tissue to grow on different parts of the body) related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),

  • to treat malignant melanoma (a cancer that begins in certain skin cells) in certain people who have had surgery to remove the cancer,

  • along with another medication to treat follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; a slow-growing blood cancer).

• Interferon alfa-2b is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. Interferon alfa-2b works to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) by decreasing the amount virus in the body. Interferon alfa-2b may not cure hepatitis B or hepatitis C or prevent you from developing complications from these infections such as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure, or liver cancer. It also may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B or C to other people. It is not known exactly how interferon alfa-2b works to treat cancer or genital warts.

Ephedra - More Interactions

Ephedra interacts with 801 drugs

Interaction Rating Key

These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.