What is Pegasys: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

How to take Pegasys

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• Injection routeYou may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Use this medicine on the same day each week and at about the same time of the day.

• Double-check that you are giving yourself the correct amount of medicine if you switch between using vials and prefilled syringes or autoinjectors.

• Do not shake the medicine container.

• Use the vial, syringe, or autoinjector only 1 time. Throw away any medicine that is leftover.

• Missed dose: Fewer than 2 days late: Use your medicine as soon as you can, then go back to your regular schedule the next week.More than 2 days late: Call your doctor for instructions.Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

• Injection routeIf you store this medicine at home, keep it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Do not leave this medicine out of the refrigerator for more than 24 hours. Protect it from light.

• Injection routeThrow away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• Use this medicine on the same day each week and at about the same time of the day.

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.

• Injection routeThrow away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

• Use the vial, syringe, or autoinjector only 1 time. Throw away any medicine that is leftover.

• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

• Do not shake the medicine container.

• Injection routeIf you store this medicine at home, keep it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Do not leave this medicine out of the refrigerator for more than 24 hours. Protect it from light.

• Double-check that you are giving yourself the correct amount of medicine if you switch between using vials and prefilled syringes or autoinjectors.

• Missed dose: Fewer than 2 days late: Use your medicine as soon as you can, then go back to your regular schedule the next week.More than 2 days late: Call your doctor for instructions.Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

• Injection routeYou may be taught how to give your medicine at home. Make sure you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.

What to do if you miss a dose of Pegasys

Pegasys contraindications

• This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to peginterferon alfa-2a.

Pegasys warnings

• This medicine may cause birth defects if either partner is using it together with ribavirin during conception or pregnancy. Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant. Female patients and female partners of male patients must use 2 forms of birth control during treatment with these medicines and for 6 months after the last dose. Female patients must have regular pregnancy tests during combination treatment.

• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, other liver disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, an autoimmune disorder (including psoriasis, lupus, or arthritis), bleeding problems, heart or blood vessel disease, heart rhythm problems, or high blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart attack, stroke, cancer, depression, or drug addiction.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:High blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, or other heart problemsNew or worsening diabetes, thyroid problems, or autoimmune disordersEye or vision problemsLiver problemsNew or worsening lung problemsIncreased risk for infectionPancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas)Serious skin reactionsSlowed growth in childrenPeripheral neuropathy (nerve problem)

• This medicine may also cause mental or emotional problems. This may lead to thoughts of suicide and violence. Talk with your doctor right away if you have any thoughts or behavior changes that concern you. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has a history of bipolar disorder or suicide attempts.

• This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

• This medicine can cause diarrhea. Call your doctor if the diarrhea becomes severe, does not stop, or is bloody. Do not take any medicine to stop diarrhea until you have talked to your doctor. Diarrhea can occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine.

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

• You could still give hepatitis B or hepatitis C to other people while you are using this medicine.

• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

• Vision changes, blurred vision, trouble reading, or eye pain

Pegasys interactions

• This medicine may increase mental or emotional problems. This may lead to thoughts of suicide and violence. Talk with your doctor right away if you have any thoughts or behavior changes that concern you. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has a history of bipolar disorder or suicide attempts.

• This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

• This medicine can cause diarrhea. Call your doctor if the diarrhea becomes severe, does not stop, or is bloody. Do not take any medicine to stop diarrhea until you have talked to your doctor. Diarrhea can occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine.

• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

• Some medicines can affect how peginterferon alfa-2a works. Tell your doctor if you are using azathioprine, methadone, telbivudine, theophylline, or medicines to treat HIV or AIDS (including zidovudine).

• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

• This medicine may cause the following problems:New or worsening diabetes, thyroid problems, or autoimmune disordersVision changes or eye problemsNew or worsening lung problemsHigh blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, or other heart problemsSerious allergic reactions (can be life-threatening)Slowed growth in children

• You could still give hepatitis B or hepatitis C to other people while you are using this medicine.

• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.