Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector

Generic Name: peginterferon alfa-2a (Pronunciation: peg in ter FEER on AL fa 2 a)

• What is peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• What are the possible side effects of peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• What is the most important information I should know about peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• How should I use peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• What happens if I overdose (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• What should I avoid while using peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• What other drugs will affect peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?

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 purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?

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 this medication 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 heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
• numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• easy 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, fast heart rate;
• high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss);
• low blood sugar (headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, trouble concentrating);
• vision changes, headache or pain behind your eyes; or
• fever with severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea.

Less 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 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.

What is the most important information I should know about peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys, Pegasys ProClick Autoinjector)?

Peginterferon alfa-2a is often used together with another medication called ribavirin. Ribavirin is known to cause birth defects or death in an unborn baby.

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 sexual partner is pregnant.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had a drug or alcohol addiction, or depression, mental illness, or suicidal thoughts.

Using this medication will not prevent you from passing hepatitis.

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