(peg in ter FEER on AL fa 2 a) Brand: Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector
• Peginterferon alfa-2a is often used together with other medicine called ribavirin. Ribavirin is known to reason birth defects or death in an unborn child.
• If a man fathers a baby while using ribavirin, the child may have birth defects.
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to peginterferon alfa-2a, or if you have autoimmune hepatitis, liver failure, or a hemoglobin blood cell mess such as sickle-cell anemia or thalassemia, if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sexual partner is pregnant.
• Before using this medicine, speak your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Also speak your doctor if you have ever had a drug or alcohol addiction, or depression, mental diseases, or suicidal thoughts.
• Using this medicine will not prevent you from passing hepatitis.
• Peginterferon alfa-2a is made from human proteins that help the body fight viral infections.
• Peginterferon alfa-2a is used to treat chronic hepatitis B or C. Peginterferon alfa-2a is often used together with other medicine called ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, RibaPak, Ribasphere, RibaTab).
• Peginterferon alfa-2a may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to peginterferon alfa-2a, or if you have:
· liver failure or autoimmune hepatitis;
· a hemoglobin blood cell mess such as sickle-cell anemia or thalassemia;
· if you are pregnant; or
· if you are a man and your sexual partner is pregnant.
• To create certain you can safely use peginterferon alfa-2a, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:
· anemia (a lack of red blood cells);
· liver problems another than hepatitis;
· kidney malady (or if you are on dialysis);
· HIV or AIDS;
· diabetes;
· a thyroid disorder;
· lung disease;
· a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;
· heart malady or prior heart attack;
· eye problems;
· problems with your sleep;
· colitis, or a history of stomach or intestinal bleeding;
· an autoimmune mess such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or psoriasis;
· a history of cancer;
· history of liver or another organ transplant;
· history of depression, anxiety, mental diseases, suicidal thoughts, or drug or alcohol addiction;
· if you have both hepatitis B and hepatitis C; or
· if you have used interferon alfa in the past and it was not effective.
• Peginterferon alfa-2a is often used together with other medicine called ribavirin. Ribavirin is known to reason birth defects or death in an unborn child. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test till taking these two medications together.
· If you are a woman, do not use peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin if you are pregnant.
· If you are a man, do not use peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin if your 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 peginterferon alfa-2a with 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 peginterferon alfa-2a together with ribavirin.
• It is not known whether peginterferon alfa-2a passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while using this medication.
• Peginterferon alfa-2a is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections 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.
• Peginterferon alfa-2a is generally given once for week, on the same day every week at about the same time of day. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.
• Do not shake the medicine bottle or you may ruin the medication. Prepare your doze in a syringe only when you are ready to give yourself an injection. Do not use the medicine if it has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.
• Use a disposable needle only once. 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.
• Peginterferon alfa-2a can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can create it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being near others who are ill. Your blood may need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly.
• If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms while you are using peginterferon alfa-2a, and even after you stop using this medicine. Your doctor may want to check your liver function more often if this happens.
• If your doctor changes your brand, power, or type of peginterferon alfa-2a, your dosage needs may change. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the new kind of peginterferon alfa-2a you receive at the pharmacy.
• Hepatitis is sometimes treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medicine manual or patient instructions provided with every medicine. Do not change your doses or medicine schedule without your doctor's advice. Each face with hepatitis must stay under the care of a doctor.
• Store in the refrigerator, protected from easy. Do not 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 or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
• Avoid drinking alcohol. It may magnify your risk of liver damage.
• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
• Using this medicine will not prevent you from passing hepatitis. 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 a serious side effect such as:
· confusion, severe depression, thoughts of hurting yourself or others;
· unusual thoughts or behaviors, feeling anxious or aggressive;
· sudden weakness, loss of balance or coordination, or problems with speech;
· chest pain or hard feeling, pain spreading to the hand or shoulder, nausea, sweating, common ill feeling;
· numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling;
· fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
· light bruising or bleeding, feeling very tired;
· sores in your mouth, nose or eyes;
· redness, crusting, or drainage in your eyes;
· worsening of psoriasis;
· cough, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath;
· severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, quick heart rate;
· tall blood sugar (increased thirst, heighten urination, famine, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss);
· low blood sugar (headache, famine, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, trouble concentrating);
· vision changes, headache or pain behind your eyes; or
· fever with severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea.
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· vomiting, upset stomach, loss of appetite, mild diarrhea;
· weight changes, feeling very hot or cold;
· headache, muscle or joint pain;
· sleep problems (insomnia);
· temporary hair loss, mild skin rash; or
· itching, redness, dryness, or swelling 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 medicines you use, especially:
· azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran);
· telbivudine (Tyzeka);
· theophylline (Slo-Bid, Theobid, Theo-Dur, and others);
· methadone (Diskets, Dolophine, Methadose); or
· HIV or AIDS medicine such as abacavir (Ziagen), didanosine (Videx), emtricitabine (Atripla, Emtriva, Truvada), lamivudine (Epivir, Combivir), stavudine (Zerit), tenofovir (Viread), zalcitabine (Hivid), or zidovudine (Retrovir).
• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with peginterferon alfa-2a. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.
• Your pharmacist can provide more information about peginterferon alfa-2a.
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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