What is peginterferon alfa-2a?
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 another medication called ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, RibaPak, Ribasphere,
RibaTab).
Peginterferon alfa-2a may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking peginterferon alfa-2a?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to peginterferon alfa-2a, or if you
have:
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs,
or if you have:
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lung disease;
-
kidney disease;
-
liver problems other than hepatitis;
-
history of liver or other organ transplant;
-
a thyroid disorder;
-
colitis;
-
HIV or AIDS;
-
an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis,
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or psoriasis;
-
heart disease or prior heart attack;
-
a history of cancer;
-
a history of drug or alcohol addiction; or
-
a history of depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts
or behaviors.
Peginterferon alfa-2a may be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use
peginterferon alfa-2a without telling your doctor if you are pregnant.
Peginterferon alfa-2a is often used together with another medication called ribavirin
(Copegus).
Ribavirin is known to cause birth defects or death in an unborn baby.
You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before 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 female sexual partner is pregnant. An unborn baby could also be
harmed if a man fathers the child 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. Keep using 2 forms of birth control
for at least 6 months after treatment ends.
-
Tell 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 baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take peginterferon alfa-2a?
Peginterferon alfa-2a is given as an injection under the skin. Your doctor, nurse, or other
healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at
home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and
properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
Peginterferon alfa-2a is usually given once per week. Your doctor may occasionally change
your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.
Do not shake the medication vial (bottle). Vigorous shaking can ruin the medicine. Do not
draw your peginterferon alfa-2a dose into a syringe until you are ready to give yourself an injection. Do
not use the medication if it has changed colors or has any particles in it. Call your doctor for a new
prescription.
Use each 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). Keep 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 make
it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure
your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss
any scheduled appointments.
If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms while you are using peginterferon
alfa-2a, and even after you stop using this medication. Your doctor may want to check your liver
function more often if this happens.
Hepatitis is sometimes treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your
condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide
or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or
medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with hepatitis should remain under
the care of a doctor.
Store this medication in the refrigerator, protected from light. Do not allow the medicine to
freeze.
What happens if I miss a dose of peginterferon alfa-2a?
Use the medicine as soon as you remember the missed dose, then go back to your regular
schedule on the day your next dose is due.
If you are more than 2 days late in using your
injection, call your doctor for instructions.
Do not use extra medicine to make up a
missed dose.
Where can I get more information about peginterferon alfa-2a?
Your pharmacist has information about peginterferon alfa-2a written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of peginterferon alfa-2a?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using peginterferon alfa-2a and call your doctor at once if you have any of these
serious side effects:
-
confusion, severe depression, thoughts of hurting yourself or
others;
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unusual anxiety, aggression, or unusual thoughts or
behaviors;
-
sudden numbness, weakness, or loss of balance or
coordination;
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fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
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easy bruising or bleeding;
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worsening of psoriasis;
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chest pain, uneven heartbeats, pain spreading to the arm or
shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
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cough, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath;
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severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back,
fast heart rate;
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blurred vision, headache or pain behind your eyes; or
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fever with severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea.
Less serious side effects may include:
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increased hunger, thirst, or urination;
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feeling mildly anxious or irritable;
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headache, muscle or joint pain;
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nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, loss of appetite;
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hair loss, weight loss;
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sleep problems (insomnia);
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skin itching; or
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pain, redness, swelling, or irritation where the medicine 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 report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about peginterferon alfa-2a?
Peginterferon alfa-2a is often used together with another medication called ribavirin
(Copegus, Rebetol, RibaPak, Ribasphere, RibaTab).
Ribavirin is known to cause birth
defects or death in an unborn baby.
You may need to have a negative pregnancy test
before starting this combination treatment.
If a man fathers a child while using ribavirin, the baby may have birth defects.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to peginterferon alfa-2a, or if you have
autoimmune hepatitis, liver failure, or a hemoglobin blood cell disorder such as sickle-cell anemia or
thalassemia, if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your female sexual partner is pregnant.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have lung disease, kidney disease, heart
disease, a thyroid disorder, colitis, HIV or AIDS, an autoimmune disorder (such as psoriasis, lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis), a history of organ transplant, or any liver problems other than hepatitis. Also tell
your doctor if you have ever had a heart attack, cancer, drug or alcohol addiction, or depression,
mental illness, or suicidal thoughts.
Treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a does not prevent spread of the hepatitis virus to other
people. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to prevent passing the disease to another person.
What should I avoid while taking peginterferon alfa-2a?
Treatment with this medication does not prevent spread of the hepatitis virus to other people.
Follow your doctor's instructions about how to prevent passing the disease to another person.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking peginterferon alfa-2a. Alcohol can increase the risk of
damage to your liver.
Peginterferon alfa-2a can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What other drugs will affect peginterferon alfa-2a?
The following drugs can interact with peginterferon alfa-2a. Tell your doctor if you are using
any of these:
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theophylline (Slo-Bid, Theobid, Theo-Dur, and others);
-
methadone (Diskets, Dolophine, Methadose); or
-
HIV or AIDS medication such as abacavir (Ziagen),
didanosine (Videx), lamivudine (Epivir, Combivir), stavudine (Zerit), tenofovir (Viread),
zalcitabine (Hivid), or zidovudine (Retrovir).
This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that
can interact with peginterferon alfa-2a.
Tell your doctor about all your prescription and
over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of peginterferon alfa-2a?
