• This medicine does not mix well with some medicines. Serious reactions may occur. Check all medicines with healthcare provider.
• If you have an allergy to peginterferon alfa-2a, ribavirin 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, certain types of anemia, or severe psychiatric disease.
• If you are of childbearing age, but are not using two forms of birth control or if you are planning to become pregnant during your treatment or within 6 months after treatment has ended.
• If you are a male patient with a sexual partner who is pregnant or plans on becoming pregnant at any time while you are being treated or within 6 months after your treatment has ended.
• If you have used interferon before.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding.
• Ribavirin works to injure the virus and fight the infection.
• Peginterferon alfa-2a helps the body's immune system fight viral infections.
All forms:
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
Ribavirin:
• Take this medicine with food.
Peginterferon alfa-2b:
• 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.
• Take this medicine at bedtime to help with flu-like symptoms.
• Wash hands before and after use.
• 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.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Store ribavirin in a refrigerator or at room temperature.
• Store peginterferon in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.
• Protect from light.
• Do not shake.
Created: 2009-10-19 10:18:02.0
Modified: 2010-03-22 13:35:34.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
• If you are a female of childbearing age, take a monthly pregnancy test.
• Dry mouth may cause an increase in cavities. Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• 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.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• 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.
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• This product is a combination of two drugs, ribavirin and peginterferon alfa-2a. They are used together to treat certain patients with hepatitis C infections.
• If you have been unsuccessfully treated for hepatitis C infection before with this medicine, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have cancer, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider. This medicine can increase blood sugar.
• If you have drug or alcohol addiction, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have hepatitis B or HIV 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 mental illness, talk with healthcare provider.
• If you have thyroid disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). Alcohol can worsen liver disease.
• Use two forms of birth control that you can trust while using this medicine and for 6 months after treatment ends.
• If you are a male and sexually active, protect your partner from pregnancy during treatment and for 6 months after treatment ends. Use two forms of birth control that you can trust.
• Flu-like symptoms. These include headache, weakness, fever, shakes, aches, pains, and sweating. Mild pain medicine may help.
• Risk of infection. Avoid people with infections, colds, or flu.
• 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.
• Anemia.
• Belly pain.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Hair thinning.
• Dry mouth. Frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Depression.
• Inability to sleep.
• Change in vision.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• 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 infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
• 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.
• Severe dizziness or passing out.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Severe belly pain.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Not able to eat.
• Unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Dark, tarry-black stool.
• Feeling extremely tired or weak.
• Sudden change in vision, eye pain, or irritation.
• Any rash.
• For females, if you become pregnant while taking this medicine or within 6 months after treatment ends.
• For males, if your female partner becomes pregnant while you are being treated or within 6 months after treatment ends.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
