(in ter FEAR on AL fa 2b and RYE ba VYE rin) Brand: Rebetron
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) or ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol), or if you have autoimmune hepatitis, severe liver or kidney malady, or a hemoglobin blood cell mess such as sickle-cell anemia or thalassemia.
• Do not use interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your female sexual partner is pregnant.
• Use at least 2 effective forms of birth control while either sexual partner is using interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin. Hold using 2 forms of birth control for at least 6 months after treatment ends.
• Till using interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin, speak your doctor about all of your medical conditions, especially kidney malady, liver problems another than hepatitis, heart malady or tall blood pressure, a thyroid mess, eye problems, HIV or AIDS, a blood cell mess, an autoimmune mess such as lupus or psoriasis, or a history of heart onslaught, stroke, organ transplant, depression, mental diseases, drug or alcohol addiction, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
• Also speak your doctor if you have ever used an interferon to treat hepatitis in the past and it did not work.
• Interferon alfa-2b is made from human proteins that help the body fight viral infections.
• Ribavirin is an antiviral medication.
• Interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin are packaged together as a capsule and injection kit to treat chronic hepatitis C. These medications should be used together.
• Interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) or ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol), or if you have:
· autoimmune hepatitis;
· liver failure;
· severe kidney disease;
· a hemoglobin blood cell mess such as sickle-cell anemia or thalassemia;
· if you are pregnant or breast-feeding; or
· if you are a man and your female sexual partner is pregnant.
• If you have any of these another conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular trials to safely use interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin:
· lung disease;
· kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis);
· hepatitis B, or liver problems another than hepatitis;
· a thyroid disorder;
· uncontrolled diabetes;
· new or worsening problems with your eyes;
· cancer;
· HIV or AIDS;
· tall cholesterol or triglycerides;
· heart malady or tall blood pressure, history of heart onslaught, or stroke;
· history of organ transplant;
· any blood cell mess causing bleeding episodes, infections, or fever-related illness;
· an autoimmune mess such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or psoriasis;
· a history of drug or alcohol addiction, depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors; or
· if you have ever used an interferon to treat hepatitis in the past and it did not work.
• FDA pregnancy category X. Ribavirin is known to reason birth defects or death in an unborn child. Do not use interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test till using this medicine and each month during your treatment.
· If you are a woman, do not use interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin if you are pregnant.
· If you are a man, do not use interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin if your female sexual partner is pregnant. An unborn child could also be harmed if a man fathers the baby while he is taking ribavirin.
· Use at least 2 effective forms of birth control while either sexual partner is using interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin. Hold using 2 forms of birth control for at least 6 months after treatment ends.
· Speak your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.
• Interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• Interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin can affect growth in children. Conversation with your doctor if you think your baby is not growing at a usual course while using this medication.
• The powder form of interferon alfa-2b contains albumin, but the solution (liquid) form does not. Albumin comes from human plasma (part of the blood) and may contain viruses and another infectious agents that can reason malady. Although donated human plasma is screened, tested, and treated to reduce the risk of it containing anything that could reason malady, there is still a little possibility it could transmit malady. Conversation with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.
• Interferon alfa-2b is given as an injection under the skin. Your doctor, nurse, or another healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medication at house. Do not self-inject this medication if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
• Do not use the medicine if it has changed colors or has any particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.
• Use a various seat on your hand, stomach, or thigh every time you give yourself an injection. Your care provider will show you the places on your body where you can safely inject the medicine. Do not inject into the same seat two times in a row.
• Use every disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Hold this container out of the reach of children and pets.
• The interferon alfa-2b injection is generally given 3 times for week. The ribavirin capsule is generally taken twice daily. You may take the capsules with or without food but take them the same way every time. Follow your doctor's instructions. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results from this medication.
• Your ribavirin doze needs may change if you gain weight. Speak your doctor if your weight increases to 165 pounds or above.
• To be certain this medicine is helping your condition and not causing deleterious effects, your blood may need to be tested on a regular basis. You may also need regular eye exams. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
• Store both the ribavirin capsules and the interferon alfa-2b vials (bottles) or injection pens in the refrigerator. Do not let the medication to freeze.
• Use the medication as soon as you remember the missed doze, then go back to your regular schedule on the day your following doze is due. If you are more than 2 days late in using your injection, call your doctor for instructions. Do not use extra medication to create up a missed dose.
• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medication. Symptoms of an interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin overdose are not known.
• Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol may magnify your risk of liver damage.
• Treatment with this medicine does not prevent spread of the hepatitis virus to another people. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to prevent passing the malady to other person.
• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
· pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine;
· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, light bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
· confusion, severe depression or anxiety, aggression, thoughts of hurting yourself or others;
· vision problems;
· tall fever with severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea.
· cough, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, uneven heartbeats;
· severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, quick heart course; or
· worsening psoriasis or another autoimmune disorder.
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· dizziness, weary feeling, headache, joint or muscle pain;
· mild nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss;
· sleep problems (insomnia);
· feeling mildly anxious, depressed, or irritable; or
· pain, redness, swelling, or irritation where the medication was injected.
• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
• Speak your doctor about all another medications you use, especially HIV or AIDS medications such as :
· abacavir (Ziagen);
· didanosine (Videx);
· efavirenz (Sustiva, Atripla);
· emtricitabine (Emtriva);
· etravine (Intelence);
· lamivudine (Epivir, Epzicom, Combivir, Trizivir);
· stavudine (Zerit);
· tenofovir (Truvada, Viread); or
· zidovudine (Retrovir).
• This list is not complete and there may be another drugs that can interact with interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin. Speak your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start using a new medicine without telling your doctor. Hold a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or another healthcare provider who treats you.
• Your pharmacist can provide more information about interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.
Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.
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