Pegassist
HOME ABOUT PEGASSIST PEGASSIST.COM TOUR SITE MAP PRODUCT INFORMATION SAFETY INFORMATION
FAQs Add to My Folder Print This Page Bookmark This Page E-mail a Friend Text Size A A A
Where Patients Matter
Type a Question Go
Brought to you by the makers of PEGASYSŪ (Peginterferon alfa-2a)
Healthcare Professionals
Patient Education Materials
24-7 Nurse Support
Support Specifically Designed for Your Use During Treatment with PEGASYS
Already a Member? Login Now
Forgot
Password?
Not a member? Sign up is simple
Quick Quote
"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still." —Chinese Proverb
Using PEGASYS
Overcoming Fear of Injections It's common to be concerned about injections, but with the support of your healthcare team—and with the knowledge and practice you are gaining over time—you may find that injecting your weekly therapy will get easier for you. These injections are part of an active plan to get and stay healthy. Each one brings you closer to completing your treatment.

Afraid of needles? You're not alone. Fortunately, PEGASYS injections occur only once a week and are subcutaneous (into the layer of fat under the skin), not intramuscular (deeper penetration into muscle tissue). If you can learn to pierce your skin with the needle quickly, subcutaneous injections can be given with little pain.

Don't give up if you feel that "I just can't do this!" Your healthcare team can help you practice, or even give you the shots themselves. Also remember that the PEGASYS 24-hour nurse support line is available to you at any time. Just call 1-877-PEGASYS (1-877-734-2797). Fear of the needle is common, and the nurses on the hotline are very familiar with coaching patients through the difficult first few injections. A family member or friend may be able to help as you overcome your fears. Use your support system!

You're in control! That's the truth—you are the most important part of your healthcare team. In fact, you are so important that you are qualified to handle your own medication. You choose the day, the time, and the place. You choose where to inject. Self-injection is an active step—and each injection gets you closer to your goal.

Use your journal to record your thoughts. The act of thinking through your fear may help. You can look back on how you felt at earlier times of treatment, and later you can tell your doctor or nurse about your concerns in more detail.

Injection Tips

With your non-syringe hand, pinch a portion of skin and underlying fat from the area you would like to use. Recommended sites include the stomach and thighs, as described below.

  • Stomach area: can be a good site if you have enough flesh to pinch well; don't inject directly into your navel or waistline
  • Thighs: can be used by most people

Think of the syringe as a dart—hold it loosely in your first three fingers as if you are about to let go of it. The object is to get through the skin rapidly—almost popping it into the site. Pain comes from pushing the needle through the skin rather than letting the needle penetrate the skin on its way to the fat layer.

  • Holding loosely, start from a distance of about 4 inches from the target site.
  • Plunge the needle at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees (relative to your skin) with a quick motion.
  • When you pull the needle out, do so at the same angle it entered (don't twist or turn it).

Some healthcare professionals suggest practicing on oranges; others encourage their patients to practice with the needle cover on to get the speed and angle right. Ask your team for advice. If you want to learn from the experience of other hepatitis C patients, you can join a support group and consider enrolling in the My Buddies program to talk to others on PEGASYS treatment—maybe they can offer more helpful tips.

Safety Information

What is PEGASYS?

PEGASYS is a medicine used to treat some adults who have hepatitis C and signs of liver damage. PEGASYS works to reduce the amount of virus in your blood, helping your body fight the virus.

PEGASYS® (Peginterferon alfa-2a), like other alpha interferons, can cause fatal or make life-threatening problems worse (like mental, immune system, heart, liver, lung, intestinal and infections). Your doctor should monitor you during regular visits. If you show signs or symptoms of these conditions, your doctor may stop your medication. In most patients, these conditions get better after you stop taking PEGASYS (see medication guide for more information and warnings).

What is COPEGUS?

COPEGUS is a medicine that works by slowing down the growth of the virus. COPEGUS should be taken with PEGASYS to fight the virus. Do not take COPEGUS by itself.

COPEGUS® (Ribavirin, USP) can be extremely harmful and cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Female patients and the female partners of male patients should avoid getting pregnant. Ribavirin is known to cause anemia (low red blood cells), which can make heart disease worse. Also, ribavirin can harm your DNA and possibly cause cancer (see medication guide for more information and warnings).

Who should not take PEGASYS and COPEGUS?

Do not take PEGASYS alone or with COPEGUS if:

  • You are pregnant or your partner is pregnant
  • You or your partner plans to get pregnant during therapy or within 6 months after treatment ends
  • You are breastfeeding
  • You have hepatitis caused by your immune system (autoimmune hepatitis)
  • You have unstable or severe liver disease before or during treatment
  • You are allergic to alpha interferons or any of the ingredients in PEGASYS and COPEGUS
  • You have abnormal red blood cells (caused by conditions like sickle-cell anemia or thalassemia major)

What if I am pregnant or thinking about having a baby?

If you are a woman who could get pregnant, you must take pregnancy tests before, during and for 6 months after treatment ends to make sure you are not pregnant.

During treatment and for 6 months after treatment, female and male patients must:

  • Use two forms of birth control (one being a condom with spermicide)
  • Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant. You or
    your doctor should also call the Ribavirin Pregnancy Registry at 1-800-593-2214

What medication should I avoid when I am taking PEGASYS and COPEGUS?

You should not take didanosine with COPEGUS. Talk to your doctor about all medications that you are taking.

What are the possible side effects?

The most common side effects of PEGASYS and COPEGUS are:

  • Flu-like symptoms (including fever, chills, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches)
  • Tiredness
  • Upset stomach (like nausea, taste changes, diarrhea)
  • Blood sugar problems (may lead to diabetes)
  • Skin problems (like rash, dry or itchy skin, redness and swelling at injection site)
  • Hair loss (temporary)
  • Trouble sleeping

The most serious side effects of PEGASYS and COPEGUS are:

  • Risks to pregnancies
  • Mental health problems (such as irritability, depression, anxiety, aggressiveness, trouble with drug addiction or overdose, thoughts about suicide, suicide attempts, suicide and thoughts about homicide)
  • Blood problems (like a drop in blood cells leading to increased risk for infections, bleeding and/or heart or circulatory problems)
  • Infections (which sometimes cause death)
  • Lung problems (like trouble breathing, pneumonia)
  • Eye problems (like blurred vision, loss of vision)
  • Autoimmune problems (such as psoriasis, thyroid problems)
  • Heart problems (including chest pain and, rarely, a heart attack)
  • Liver problems (rarely, liver function worsens). Patients with both the hepatitis C virus and HIV can have an increased chance of having liver failure during PEGASYS treatment. Change in a blood test that measures liver inflammation occurs more often in patients with hepatitis B. If you have a rise in this blood test you may need to be watched more closely with additional blood tests.

Tell your doctor immediately if you think you or your partner may be pregnant or if any of these symptoms occur.

This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare professional about your medical condition or your treatment.

Please see the medication guides and complete product information for PEGASYS and COPEGUS.

HOME ABOUT PEGASSIST PEGASSIST.COM TOUR SITE MAP PRODUCT INFORMATION SAFETY INFORMATION
FAQs Add to My Folder Print This Page Bookmark This Page E-mail a Friend TextSize A A A
 

THIS SITE INTENDED FOR U.S. AUDIENCES ONLY

For more information about PEGASYS, contact your physician or other healthcare professional.
Roche
Copyright © 2003-2008 Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. All rights reserved. Use and access of this site is subject to the terms and conditions as set out in our Legal Statement and PRIVACY Statement. Because Pegassist.com offers some unique features and options, Roche provides additional protection tailored to those items. Click here to read Additional Details about your Privacy.
   
eHealthcare Leadership Awards 2004 Winner, Gold Award: Best Care/Disease Management Site Brought to you by the makers of PEGASYS® (Peginterferon alfa-2a)
Gold Award:
Best Care/Disease
Management Site