IMPORTANT
SAFETY INFORMATION
Alpha interferons, including PEGASYS® (Peginterferon
alfa-2a), may cause or worsen fatal or life-threatening mental, immune system,
heart, and infectious disorders. Patients should be monitored closely with regularly
scheduled doctor visits and laboratory tests. Therapy should be stopped in patients
with continuing severe or worsening signs or symptoms of these conditions. In
many, but not all cases, these disorders resolve after stopping PEGASYS therapy
(see medication guide for more information and warnings). Use
with COPEGUS® (Ribavirin, USP). Ribavirin, including COPEGUS, may cause birth
defects and/or death of an unborn baby. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy
in female patients and the female partners of male patients. Ribavirin causes
a type of blood disorder called hemolytic anemia. The anemia associated with ribavirin
therapy may result in a worsening of heart disease. Ribavirin can be harmful to
a person's DNA or cause it to mutate. Ribavirin should also be considered a potential
cancer-producing substance (see
medication guide for more information and warnings). |
