Peginterferon Alfa-2a Injection
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Peginterferon Alfa-2a Injection
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What is Peginterferon Alfa-2a Injection?
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• alcoholism or other drug abuse
• autoimmune disease, such as Raynaud's phenomenon, rheumatoid arthritis, or systemic lupus erythematosus
• blood or bleeding disorders
• colitis, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
• depression or other mental disorders
• diabetes
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• lung disease
• pancreatitis
• psoriasis
• seizures
• thyroid disease
• undergoing radiation therapy
• an unusual reaction to peginterferon, other interferons, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives like benzyl alcohol
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding
How should this medicine be used?
Peginterferon alfa-2a is for injection under the skin. Injections of peginterferon alfa-2a can be given in the hospital or clinic, by a home health-care nurse, or you may be instructed to give the injections to yourself. If you are giving yourself the injections, your health care provider will show you how to prepare and inject the medicine. You will receive a medication guide that shows how to prepare and use the medicine. Follow the directions carefully. Do not shake the vials or prefilled syringes. Shaking can destroy the medicine. If you have any questions about how to give your medicine, call your health care provider. You can inject your dose at bedtime if you experience flu-like effects. Do not reuse syringes or needles. Dispose of needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant container.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What drug(s) may interact with Peginterferon Alfa-2a?
• alcohol
• drugs that suppress the immune system (e.g., prednisone, some drugs to treat cancer)
• methadone
• theophylline
• zidovudine, AZT
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking Peginterferon Alfa-2a?
Do not change brands without consulting your prescriber or health care professional. Different brands of interferon can act differently in your body. Check with your pharmacist if your refills do not look like your original product.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how peginterferon alfa-2a affects you. Alcohol can make you more drowsy or dizzy, increase confusion and lightheadedness. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
Peginterferon alfa-2a can cause flu-like symptoms and make you feel generally unwell. Report any side effects, but continue your medicine even though you feel ill, unless your prescriber or health care professional tells you to stop. If you get a fever or sore throat that does not go away after the first few weeks of treatment, do not treat yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional as soon as you can if you think you have an infection. Other signs of infection include cough, lower back or side pain, pain or difficulty passing urine.
Peginterferon alfa-2a can cause blood problems and may decrease your body's ability to fight certain types of infections or increase your risk to bruise or bleed. This may be more of a concern if you are receiving high doses or other chemotherapy agents with your interferon treatment. Call your prescriber or health care professional if you have symptoms of a cold or flu that do not get better. Do not treat these symptoms yourself. Call your prescriber or health care professional if you notice any unusual bleeding. Be careful not to cut, bruise, or injure yourself because you may get an infection and bleed more than usual.
Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth while receiving peginterferon alfa-2a because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving peginterferon alfa-2a.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy, and drinking plenty of water will help. Make sure to drink plenty of water while you are taking peginterferon alfa-2a.
Women who are able to have children should use effective birth control methods while receiving peginterferon alfa-2a.
Use disposable syringes only once. Place used syringes and needles in a closed container to prevent accidental needle sticks.
What side effects may I notice from receiving Peginterferon Alfa-2a?
The side effects you may experience with peginterferon alfa-2a therapy depend upon the dose, other types of medicine given at the same time, and the disease being treated. Not all of these effects occur in all patients. Discuss any concerns or questions with your prescriber or health care professional.
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
• blurred vision or any changes in vision
• depression
• difficulty breathing
• difficulty sleeping
• difficulty thinking or concentrating, confusion
• excessive thirst, drinking a lot of water
• feeling hot or cold a lot of the time
• frequent urination
• irregular heartbeat, palpitations or chest pain
• menstrual changes
• nervousness
• numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes
• severe stomach pain
• signs of decreased platelets or bleeding - bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, and blood in the urine
• signs of decreased red blood cells - unusual weakness or tiredness, fainting spells, lightheadedness
• signs of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine
• weight changes
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• diarrhea
• dry skin
• fever, chills following the injection
• hair loss
• headaches
• joint, leg, or back pain
• loss of appetite
• muscle aches
• nausea, vomiting
• skin rash, itching
• tiredness
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.
Store in a refrigerator between 2—8 degrees C (36— 46 degrees F). Do not freeze. Protect from light. Throw away any unused vials or prefilled syringes after the expiration date.
The syringe and needle need to be disposed of in a special container. Check with your health care professional for instructions on how to dispose of used needles and syringes. Do not throw these materials or the special container away in regular trash or recycling containers. Return the container to your prescriber or health care professional for proper disposal.
Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.
