Generic name:peginterferon alfa-2a [ peg-in-ter-FEER-on-AL-fa-2 a ]
Drug class:Antiviral interferons
What is Pegasys?
Pegasys is made from human proteins that help the body fight viral infections.
Pegasys is used alone or with other medicines to treat chronic hepatitis C in adults and children at least 5 years old.
Pegasys 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.
Warnings
You should not use Pegasys if you have liver failure or autoimmune hepatitis.
You should not use Pegasys 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.
Pegasys 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.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Pegasys if:
you are allergic to any type of interferon alfa; or
you have autoimmune hepatitis, or severe liver damage.
When taking Pegasys with other medicine: To make sure all medicines are safe for you, tell your d...
