Pegasys is a prescription medication used to treat hepatitis B and also to treat chronic (lasting a long time) hepatitis C infection in people who have not taken alpha interferon. Pegasys belongs to a group of drugs called interferons. It works by activating the body's immune system to attack hepatitis viruses.
This medication comes in an injectable form and is given just under the skin. It is usually given once a week, for up to 48 weeks.
Common side effects of Pegasys are flu-like symptoms, tiredness, and stomach problems.
WARNING:
Alpha interferons, including Pegasys, may cause or aggravate fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. Patients should be monitored closely with periodic clinical and laboratory evaluations. Therapy should be withdrawn in patients with persistently severe or worsening signs or symptoms of these conditions. In many, but not all cases, these disorders resolve after stopping Pegasys.
Use with Ribavirin
Ribavirin, including Copegus, may cause birth defects and/or death of the fetus. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and in female partners of male patients. Ribavirin causes hemolytic anemia. The anemia associated with ribavirin therapy may result in a worsening of cardiac disease.
