Peginterferon Alfa-2a (rbe)

Peginterferon alfa-2a is used alone or with other medicines to treat chronic hepatitis C in adults and children at least 5 years old. Peginterferon alfa-2a is also used to treat chronic hepatitis B when the virus begins to damage the liver in adults and children at least 3 years old. Peginterferon alfa-2a may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Peginterferon alfa-2a is used alone or with other medicines to treat chronic hepatitis C in adults and children at least 5 years old. Peginterferon alfa-2a is also used to treat chronic hepatitis B when the virus begins to damage the liver in adults and children at least 3 years old. Peginterferon alfa-2a may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use peginterferon alfa-2a if: you are allergic to any type of interferon alfa; or you have autoimmune hepatitis , or severe liver damage. When taking peginterferon alfa-2a with other medicine : To make sure all medicines are safe for you, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you have ever had: both hepatitis B and hepatitis C , or HIV/AIDS; liver problems other than hepatitis B or C; heart disease , high blood pressure , or a heart attack ; lung disease; diabetes, or a thyroid disorder; colitis (an intestinal disorder); cancer; an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis , lupus, or psoriasis; low blood cell counts; a hemoglobin blood cell disorder such as sickle-cell anemia or thalassemia ; an organ transplant ; kidney disease; high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood); a drug or alcohol addiction; or depression, mental illness, suicidal thoughts or actions. Peginterferon alfa-2a may contain an ingredient that can cause serious side effects or death in very young or premature babies. Do not give peginterferon alfa-2a to a child younger than 1 year old. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Peginterferon alfa-2a is sometimes used in combination with ribavirin. Both men and women using ribavirin should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Ribavirin can cause birth defects, miscarriage, or death to an unborn baby if the mother or father is using this medicine. You should not take ribavirin if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sex partner is pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Keep using birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose of ribavirin. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using ribavirin. You should not breastfeed while using peginterferon alfa-2a. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breastfeed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat , burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling). Peginterferon alfa-2a can cause life-threatening infections, autoimmune disorders, serious mood or behavior problems, or a stroke. Call your doctor at once if you have unusual changes in mood or behavior, such as: depression , irritability, aggression, hallucinations, thoughts about hurting yourself, or falling back into a previous pattern of drug addiction . Peginterferon alfa-2a may cause serious or fatal side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have: severe stomach pain with bloody diarrhea; new or worsening cough, cough with yellow or pink mucus, trouble breathing; numbness, tingling, or burning in your arms or legs; pain or burning when you urinate; sudden numbness or weakness, slurred speech, problems with balance; vision changes; low blood cell counts --fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath; high or low blood sugar --headache, hunger, confusion, sweating, thirst, increased urination, weakness, fruity breath odor, feeling anxious or shaky, weight loss , or fainting; pancreatitis --severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting; thyroid problems --weight changes, skin changes, trouble concentrating, feeling hot or cold all the time; or worsening liver symptoms --swelling around your midsection, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, confusion, drowsiness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, loss of consciousness. Your next injection may be delayed if you have certain side effects. Peginterferon alfa-2a can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using peginterferon alfa-2a. Common side effects of peginterferon alfa-2a may include: fever, chills; muscle or joint pain; headache; or feeling weak or tired. 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 should not use peginterferon alfa-2a with ribavirin if you are pregnant, or if you are a man whose sex partner is pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking ribavirin and for at least 6 months after your last dose. Peginterferon alfa-2a may cause serious or fatal side effects. Tell your doctor about any new or worsening mood symptoms , such as feeling irritable, hostile, aggressive, depressed, or having thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as chest pain, fast heartbeats, trouble breathing, numbness or weakness, vision or speech problems, fever, chills, a cough with mucus, burning when you urinate, or bloody diarrhea.

You should not use peginterferon alfa-2a with ribavirin if you are pregnant, or if you are a man whose sex partner is pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking ribavirin and for at least 6 months after your last dose. Peginterferon alfa-2a may cause serious or fatal side effects. Tell your doctor about any new or worsening mood symptoms , such as feeling irritable, hostile, aggressive, depressed, or having thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as chest pain, fast heartbeats, trouble breathing, numbness or weakness, vision or speech problems, fever, chills, a cough with mucus, burning when you urinate, or bloody diarrhea.

180 mcg (180 (180)) As recommended. SC — this dose is given once weekly by SC inj. into abdomen or thigh given in combination with oral ribarvirin.

No child dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

No neonatal dosage information is recorded for this medicine yet.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially: methadone; telbivudine ; theophylline ; or any medicine to treat HIV or AIDS. This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect peginterferon alfa-2a, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products . Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

No storage information is recorded for this medicine yet.