Pegasys (Peginterferon alfa-2a) Patient Information: Side Effects and Drug Images at RxList

Pill Identifier Search

May 27, 2012

Pegasys

Hepatitis C »

Hepatitis C infection facts

HCV is one of several viruses that cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
Up to 85% of individuals who are initially (acutely) infected with HCV will fail to eliminate the virus and will become chronically infected.
HCV is spread most commonly through inadvertent exposure to infected blood. Intravenous drug abuse is the most common mode of transmission. The risk of acquiring HCV through sexual contact is low.
Generally, patients do not develop symptoms of chronic infection with HCV until they have extensive scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). Some individuals, however, may have fatigue and other non-specific symptoms in the absence of cirrhosis. A minority of patients with HCV have symptoms from organs outside of the liver.
In the U.S., Infection with HCV is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis and the most common reason for liver transplantation.
...

Read the Hepatitis C article »

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Next »

Pegasys User Reviews >>

Pegasys

Hepatitis Slideshow Pictures

Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures

Infectious Mononucleosis Slideshow Pictures

font size

Pegasys Patient Information Including Side Effects

Brand Names: Pegasys

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

What is peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys)?

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 are the possible side effects of peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys)?

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;
unusual anxiety, aggression, or unusual thoughts or behaviors;
sudden numbness, weakness, or loss of balance or coordination;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
easy bruising or bleeding;
worsening of psoriasis;
chest pain, uneven heartbeats, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
cough, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath;
severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, fast heart rate;
blurred vision, headache or pain behind your eyes; or
fever with severe stomach pain and bloody diarrhea.

Less serious side effects may include:

increased hunger, thirst, or urination;
feeling mildly anxious or irritable;
headache, muscle or joint pain;
nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, loss of appetite;
hair loss, weight loss;
sleep problems (insomnia);
skin itching; or
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.

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

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.

Related Drug Centers