Peginterferon Alfa-2b Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• If you have eye problems, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have drug or alcohol addiction, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have lung disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have mental illness, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have thyroid disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

• Flu-like symptoms. These include headache, weakness, fever, shakes, aches, pains, and sweating. Mild pain medicine may help.

• Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.

• Headache.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Diarrhea.

• Belly pain.

• Not hungry.

• Skin irritation.

• Hair loss. Hair usually grows back when medicine is stopped.

• Inability to sleep.

• Anemia, low white blood cell count, and low platelet count. Medicine may need to be stopped.

• Irritation where the shot is given.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

• Chest pain or pressure or fast heartbeat.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Severe belly pain or bloody diarrhea.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Unusual bruising or bleeding.

• Feeling extremely tired or weak.

• Sudden change in vision, eye pain, or irritation.

• Any rash.

• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.