Ribavirin, Oral, and Interferon Alfa-2b, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: ribavirin, oral, and interferon alfa-2b recombinant, injection; Rebetron

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a combination of 2 drugs. Ribavirin is taken by mouth (capsules) and interferon is given by injection to treat hepatitis C. It may be used for other liver conditions as determined by your health care provider.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have:

• major heart problems
• alcoholism
• thyroid disease
• high blood pressure
• AIDS or HIV
• a history of mental illness
• kidney problems
• sickle cell anemia.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine can cause birth defects. Read the information that comes in the medicine package. Your health care provider check that you are not pregnant before starting this treatment. Use an effective birth control method while you are taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping it. Stop taking this medicine at the first sign that you may be pregnant and contact your health care provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

How do I use it?

Use this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes.

Your health care provider may want you to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

The shots are given just under the skin. Your health care provider will determine the exact dosage. If your health care provider is giving you the shots, keep all your appointments.

Sometimes you can give yourself these shots or have someone at home give them to you. Be sure you know how and when to have shots and how much medicine to use. Do not use the solution if it is milky or has changed color. Use sterile, disposable syringes and needles. Use each syringe and needle only once and dispose of them safely, following your health care provider's instructions.

Carefully read and follow the directions that come in the package of medicine for preparing the shots. Wash your hands before using this medicine. Follow these steps to give yourself the shots:

1. Your health care provider will tell you where you can give yourself the shots (abdomen, thigh, upper arm, or other sites). If you are giving the shot in your abdomen, choose a site around the belly button but not in the belly button. Each day, choose a different spot for the shot to lessen irritation.
2. Use an alcohol swab to clean the skin where you will give yourself the shot.
3. Gently pinch up the skin and insert the needle into the skin at a 45-degree angle. After you insert the needle completely, release your grasp of the skin.
4. Inject all of the solution by gently and steadily pushing down the plunger.
5. After you have given yourself the shot, withdraw the needle and syringe and press an alcohol swab on the spot where the shot was given.
6. Discard the syringe, needle, and drug vial. Use the syringes and needles ONLY ONCE. Throw them away after use. Put used needles in rigid puncture-resistant containers with lids or caps, such as heavy plastic bleach bottles with screw caps. DO NOT throw needles directly into garbage cans or dumpsters.

If you are not sure of how to give yourself the shots, ask your health care provider or pharmacist for help.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine must NOT be used by women who are pregnant or by the male partners of women who are pregnant. This medicine can cause severe birth defects. Use 2 forms of birth control to avoid pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your treatment ends. This is very important whether you are a man or a woman.

The capsules alone (taken by mouth) are not effective in the treatment of hepatitis C. The shots must also be given in order for the treatment to be effective.

This medicine is not effective for the treatment of HIV infection.

This medicine can cause severe psychiatric side effects, including depression, thoughts of suicide, aggressive or violent behavior, and hallucinations. Talk with your health care provider about this.

This medicine can cause hemolytic anemia. You will need to have blood tests regularly to find out how this medicine is affecting you. Keep all appointments for blood tests.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. This medicine may also affect your blood sugar if you are not diabetic. Talk to your health care provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you are unable to reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reactions (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue and throat; trouble breathing.)

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Depression, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), thoughts of suicide, vision changes, unusual bleeding or bruising, pale color, rapid heart rate, dark urine, stomach pain.

Other: Headache, drowsiness, unusual weakness or tiredness, muscle pain, fever, thinning of your hair, nausea, dizziness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• drugs to treat HIV such as zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir), lamivudine (Epivir), didanosine (Videx), zalcitabine (Hivid), and stavudine (Zerit)

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

The capsules can be stored at room temperature. Store the capsules and injection combination package in the refrigerator. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect from heat, high humidity, and bright light. Do not freeze.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.