pegasys and hairloss
peginterferon alfa-2a (peg in ter FEAR on AL fa 2 a)
What is the most important information I should know about Pegasys?
• Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you develop symptomsof depression or are contemplating suicide; become unusually irritable, anxious(nervous), or aggressive; or experience other mood or behavior changes pegasys and hairloss. In somecases, Pegasys has caused serious mood or behavioral problems pegasys and hairloss.
• Problems with body organs such as the heart, lungs, and eyes have beenexperienced by people taking interferon alfa-2a pegasys and hairloss. Contact your doctor immediatelyif you develop difficulty breathing, chest pain, blurred vision, or loss ofvision pegasys and hairloss.
• Many patients using Pegasys have developed a drop in the number of whiteblood cells and platelets pegasys and hairloss. If the number of these blood cells are too low, thereis an increased risk of infection or bleeding pegasys and hairloss. Contact your doctor immediatelyif you develop a fever, symptoms of an infection, or unusual bleeding or bruising pegasys and hairloss.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities pegasys and hairloss. Pegasys may cause drowsiness or impair alertness pegasys and hairloss. If you experiencedrowsiness or impaired alertness, avoid these activities pegasys and hairloss.
What is Pegasys?
• Pegasys is a long acting interferon pegasys and hairloss. Interferons are proteins releasedin the body in response to viral infections pegasys and hairloss. Interferons are important for fightingviruses in the body, for regulating reproduction of cells, and for regulatingthe immune system pegasys and hairloss.
• Pegasys is a specific interferon used to treat chronic hepatitis C pegasys and hairloss.
• Pegasys may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide pegasys and hairloss.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using Pegasys?
• Do not use Pegasys if you have
· autoimmune hepatitis;
· decompensated liver disease; or
· had an allergic reaction to an alfa interferon in the past or if youare allergic to E pegasys and hairloss. coli derived products pegasys and hairloss.
• Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have
· lung disease;
· diabetes;
· colitis;
· eye problems;
· pancreatitis;
· bone marrow suppression;
· low platelet counts;
· a history of cancer;
· kidney disease;
· liver problems other than hepatitis C;
· hepatitis B or HIV infection;
· an autoimmune disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupuserythematosus (SLE), or psoriasis;
· heart disease or previous heart attack;
· a history of drug or alcohol abuse;
· a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, or another mentalillness; or
· thyroid problems pegasys and hairloss.
• You may not be able to use Pegasys, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove pegasys and hairloss.
• Pegasys is in the FDA pregnancy category C pegasys and hairloss. This means that it is notknown whether Pegasys will be harmful to an unborn baby pegasys and hairloss. Do not use this medicationif you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment pegasys and hairloss.
• It is not known whether Pegasys passes into breast milk pegasys and hairloss. Do not use thismedication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding pegasys and hairloss.
How should I use Pegasys?
• Use Pegasys exactly as directed by your doctor pegasys and hairloss. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you pegasys and hairloss.
• Pegasys is used as a subcutaneous injection only pegasys and hairloss. Your doctor or nursewill give you detailed instructions on how and where to inject the medication pegasys and hairloss. Do not inject this medication if you are unsure how pegasys and hairloss.
• Pegasys is given subcutaneously once a week pegasys and hairloss. The dose should be administeredon the same day each week pegasys and hairloss.
• Do not shake the vial of Pegasys pegasys and hairloss. Shaking could cause the medicationto not work properly pegasys and hairloss.
• Do not inject Pegasys if it is discolored or has particles in it pegasys and hairloss.
• Never reuse a needle or syringe pegasys and hairloss. Dispose of all needles and syringesin an appropriate, puncture-resistant disposal container pegasys and hairloss.
• Do not stop using this medication without first talking to your doctor pegasys and hairloss. Also, do not change the brand of Pegasys that you use without talking to yourdoctor pegasys and hairloss.
• Your doctor may want to you to have regularly scheduled blood tests duringtreatment with Pegasys pegasys and hairloss.
• Flulike symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches, joint pain, andheadaches are likely to occur pegasys and hairloss. They are most common at the start of therapyand may decrease with continued use pegasys and hairloss. Over-the-counter fever reducers such asacetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others), and naproxen(Aleve), plenty of fluid, and taking the medication at bedtime may help to alleviatethese symptoms pegasys and hairloss.
• It is not known whether treatment with Pegasys will prevent the transmissionof hepatitis C to others pegasys and hairloss. It is also not known whether Pegasys will cure hepatitisC or prevent cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer that may be the resultof infection with hepatitis C virus pegasys and hairloss.
• Store Pegasys in the refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit (2 to8 degrees Celsius) and protected from light pegasys and hairloss. Do not leave Pegasys outside ofthe refrigerator for more than 24 hours pegasys and hairloss. Do not allow the Pegasys solution tofreeze pegasys and hairloss.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Use the missed dose as soon as you remember within 2 days of the misseddose pegasys and hairloss. However, if more than 2 days have passed since the dose was missed, askyour healthcare provider what to do pegasys and hairloss. Do not use a double dose of this medication pegasys and hairloss.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention pegasys and hairloss.
• Symptoms of a Pegasys overdose are not known pegasys and hairloss.
What should I avoid while using Pegasys?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities pegasys and hairloss. Pegasys may cause drowsiness or impair alertness pegasys and hairloss. If you experiencedrowsiness or impaired alertness, avoid these activities pegasys and hairloss.
What are the possible side effects of Pegasys?
• Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if you develop symptomsof depression or are contemplating suicide; become unusually irritable, anxious(nervous), or aggressive; or experience other mood or behavior changes pegasys and hairloss. In somecases, Pegasys has caused serious mood or behavioral problems pegasys and hairloss.
• Problems with body organs such as the heart, lungs, and eyes have beenexperienced by people taking interferon alfa-2a pegasys and hairloss. Contact your doctor immediatelyif you develop difficulty breathing, chest pain, blurred vision, or loss ofvision pegasys and hairloss.
• Many patients using Pegasys have developed a drop in the number of whiteblood cells and platelets pegasys and hairloss. If the number of these blood cells are too low, thereis an increased risk of infection or bleeding pegasys and hairloss. Contact your doctor immediatelyif you develop a fever, symptoms of an infection, or unusual bleeding or bruising pegasys and hairloss.
• If you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closingof the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives), stop usingPegasys and seek emergency medical attention pegasys and hairloss.
• Flulike symptoms are likely to occur pegasys and hairloss. They are most common at the startof therapy and may decrease with continued use pegasys and hairloss. An over-the-counter fever reducersuch as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), or naproxen(Aleve); plenty of fluid; and using the medication at bedtime may help to alleviatethese symptoms pegasys and hairloss. Continue to use Pegasys and notify your doctor if you experience:
· fever or chills;
· headache;
· muscle aches or joint pain;
· nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite;
· diarrhea;
· dizziness or drowsiness;
· difficulty sleeping;
· dry or itchy skin;
· temporary hair loss; or
· redness, swelling, or irritation at the injection site pegasys and hairloss.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur pegasys and hairloss. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome pegasys and hairloss.
What other drugs will affect Pegasys?
• Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking theophylline(Theo-Dur, Theochron, Theolair, others) pegasys and hairloss. Pegasys may increase theophylline levelsin the body, which could become dangerous pegasys and hairloss.
• Medications other than those listed here may also interact with Pegasys pegasys and hairloss. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including herbal products pegasys and hairloss.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Pegasys written forhealth professionals that you may read pegasys and hairloss.
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