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| Pronunciation |
|
 (peg
in ter FEER on AL fa too
aye) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Pegasys® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Interferon |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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|
Alpha interferons may cause or worsen diseases of the mind. Suicide, ideas
of suicide or homicide, depression, aggressive behavior, hallucinations,
psychoses, and relapse of drug addiction have occurred with use. Alpha
interferons may cause or worsen infections and certain autoimmune diseases. If
you suspect any of these problems, call healthcare provider right away. Side
effects such as low blood pressure, fast heartbeats, and heart attacks have
occurred while taking alpha interferons. In patients with severe or worsening
signs and symptoms of these conditions, the medicine should be stopped. Problems
are usually corrected after you stop the medicine. |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
Do not give this medicine to a child.
If you have an allergy to peginterferon alfa-2a or any other part of
this medicine.
Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
If you have any of the following conditions: Autoimmune hepatitis,
confusion caused by liver disease, fluid in your belly, liver disease, low
platelet count, low white blood cell count, or severe depression.
If you have an autoimmune disease.
If you have had a transplant.
If you have been treated with interferon.
If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
If you are breast-feeding. |
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
This medicine is used to treat hepatitis C
infection. |
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|
| How does it work? |
|
|
Peginterferon alfa-2a helps the body's immune system fight viral
infections. |
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|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
This medicine is given as a shot into the fatty part of the skin.
Your healthcare provider may teach you how to give the shot.
The shot is usually given once a week.
Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink
less liquid by healthcare provider.
If a response is not seen after 3 months of therapy, the medicine is
usually stopped.
Follow instructions closely if you or a family member are giving the
shot at home.
Throw syringe away after single use. Do not reuse.
Throw away needles in needle/sharp disposal box and return box to
healthcare provider when full. |
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and call
healthcare provider for instructions.
Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider. |
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
If you have drug or alcohol addiction, talk with healthcare provider.
Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use
this medicine.
If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have thyroid disease, talk with healthcare provider.
If you have uncontrolled diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.
Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines
and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include
sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, or pain medicine.
Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while
taking this medicine. |
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
Flu-like symptoms. These include headache, weakness, fever, shakes,
aches, pains, and sweating. Mild pain medicine may help.
Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in
thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require
you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects
you.
Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care,
sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
Diarrhea.
Not hungry.
Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine is stopped.
Inability to sleep. |
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| What should I monitor? |
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Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the
same?
If you are diabetic, you will need to monitor blood sugars closely.
Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
Check weight weekly. Report a weight loss to healthcare provider.
Follow up with healthcare provider. |
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center
immediately or dial 911.
Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest
tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of
face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness,
emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in
life.
Chest pain or pressure or fast heartbeat.
Difficulty breathing.
Severe belly pain or bloody diarrhea.
Severe nausea or vomiting.
Unusual bruising or bleeding.
Feeling extremely tired or weak.
Sudden change in vision, eye pain or irritation.
Any rash.
No improvement in condition or feeling
worse. |
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
Store in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.
Protect from light.
Do not shake.
Throw away any unused portion of opened vial after
injection. |
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| General statements |
|
|
Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products,
supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare
provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter, natural products, or
vitamins. |
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