Indications for use:
- chronic hepatitis C in adult patients with positive HCV RNA, without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis, incl. and with clinically stable HIV co-infection (monotherapy or combination with ribavirin).
The combination with ribavirin is indicated for patients with chronic hepatitis C who have not previously received therapy, or if previous monotherapy with interferon alfa (pegylated or non-pegylated) or combination therapy with ribavirin has been ineffective.
Monotherapy is indicated in cases of intolerance or contraindications to ribavirin.
- chronic hepatitis B HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative in adult patients with compensated liver damage and signs of viral replication, increased ALT activity and histologically confirmed liver inflammation and/or fibrosis.
Side effects of Pegasys
- Side effects in the form of infections: bronchitis , respiratory tract infections, herpes , oral thrush pneumonia , skin infections, endocarditis , otitis externa , other bacterial or fungal infections.
- Neoplasms: liver neoplasms (benign and malignant).
- Blood effects: lymphadenopathy, anemia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, bone marrow aplasia.
- Immune effects: anaphylaxis , thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, thrombocytopenic purpura, rheumatoid arthritis, angioedema.
- Hormonal effects: diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Metabolic effects: anorexia, dehydration.
- Mental effects: anxiety, depression, insomnia , aggressiveness, emotional disorders, nervousness, suicidal thoughts, decreased libido, hallucinations , homicidal ideas.
- Effects from nervous activity: paresthesia , headache, tremor , dizziness, impaired concentration and memory, weakness, syncope, migraine, hyperesthesia, hypoesthesia , nightmares, drowsiness, coma, peripheral neuropathy, convulsions , inflammation of the facial nerve, ischemic stroke.
- Visual effects: visual impairment, retinopathy , eye pain, inflammatory eye lesions, xerophthalmia , retinal hemorrhage, retinal vascular changes, corneal ulcer, loss of vision, retinal detachment.
- Hearing effects: ear pain, vertigo , hearing loss.
- Circulatory effects: tachycardia , peripheral edema, arterial hypertension , myocardial infarction , congestive cardiac failure, supraventricular tachycardia, angina pectoris , cerebral hemorrhage, atrial , cardiomyopathy, pericarditis, vasculitis .
- Respiratory effects: shortness of breath, cough, nasopharyngitis , epistaxis, sinus swelling, rhinitis, interstitial pneumonitis, sore throat, pulmonary embolism .
- Digestive effects: diarrhea , flatulence , peptic ulcer , nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dyspepsia , ulceration of the oral mucosa, glossitis bleeding gums , stomatitis , gastrointestinal bleeding , pancreatitis .
- Effects on the hepatobiliary system: cholangitis , liver dysfunction, fatty liver degeneration liver failure.
- Skin effects: dermatitis, alopecia , dry skin, itching, rash, increased sweating, urticaria, psoriasis, eczema, photosensitivity, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme.
- Effects on the musculoskeletal system: convulsions, myalgia , muscle weakness, arthralgia, arthritis , back pain, myositis, rhabdomyolysis.
- Effects from the genitourinary sphere: impotence , renal failure.
- General effects: fever, asthenia , pain, irritability, weakness, chest pain, malaise, flu-like syndrome , lethargy, thirst, hot flashes, weight loss.
- Laboratory changes: increased ALT activity , hyperglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, hypoglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia.
In 1-5% of patients, the formation of antibodies to interferon .
Directions for use and dosage:
For patients over 18 years of age:
Treatment with Pegasys should be carried out under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C.
In combination therapy with Pegasys, ribavirin should be used in accordance with the instructions for medical use of ribavirin.
Standard dosage regimen: the drug is administered subcutaneously, into the area of the anterior abdominal wall or thigh, 1 time per week.
Before administration, the drug must be inspected for the absence of foreign impurities and color changes.
Patients should be carefully instructed about the importance of proper storage and disposal of used materials and cautioned against reusing any needles or syringes.
special instructions
If, during treatment with the drug, signs of mental disorders occur or suicidal thoughts are detected, it is recommended to stop therapy with Pegasys and begin the necessary treatment.
It is possible to start drug therapy with the following initial values of indicators: platelets more than 90,000 elements/μl; neutrophils more than 1500 elements/μl, TSH and T4 within normal limits, CD4+ lymphocytes more than 200 elements/μl, HIV-1 RNA less than 5000 copies/ml in people with HIV .
Laboratory tests should be monitored regularly after initiation of therapy.
Therapy with the drug is associated with a temporary decrease in the number of platelets, leukocytes and neutrophils, which returned to the original level.
Pegasys has a minor effect on the ability to control mobile mechanisms. If drowsiness or weakness occurs, it is advised to abandon such activities.
Contraindications:
- autoimmune hepatitis;
- severe liver failure;
- decompensated cirrhosis of the liver;
- cirrhosis with a Child-Pugh score ≥6 in patients with HIV-CHC co-infection, provided that the increase in this indicator is not associated with indirect hyperbilirubinemia due to taking drugs such as atazanavir and indinavir;
- severe cardiovascular diseases in the stage of decompensation, incl. with an unstable, poorly controlled course in the previous 6 months;
- children under 3 years of age (since the drug contains the excipient benzyl alcohol);
- pregnancy;
- breastfeeding period;
- hypersensitivity to alpha interferons, genetically engineered drugs obtained using E. coli, to polyethylene glycol or any other component of the drug.
When combining Pegasys with ribavirin, contraindications for ribavirin should be taken into account.
Compound
- One bottle of Pegasys contains 180 or 135 mcg of peginterferon alpha-2a .
- One syringe tube of the drug Pegasys contains 180 or 135 mcg of peginterferon alpha-2a .
- One ProClick auto-injector of Pegasys contains 180 or 135 mcg of peginterferon alpha-2a .
Excipients: acetic acid, sodium chloride, benzyl alcohol, polysorbate 80, sodium acetate, water.
Analogs
Level 4 ATC code matches:
Roferon A
Genfaxon
Inferon
Lipoferon
Laifferon
Intron A
Betaferon
Grippferon
Ingaron
Alfarekin
Laferon
PegIntron
Interlock
Interferon
Nazoferon
Viferon
Infagel
Reaferon-Lipint
Reaferon-ES-Lipint
Reaferon-EC
Pegferon Peg, Alfaferon, Blastoferon, Genferon, Viferon, Peg-Interferon, Rebif, Silatron, PegIntron, Algeron.
Algeron or Pegasis, which is better?
Algeron is a relatively young drug, but its creators claim that it is more effective than its analogues and causes fewer side effects. The composition of the drugs is similar, but not the same (they differ in the structure and ratio of isomers of the active substance). The price of Algeron is an order of magnitude lower, which is noticeable for most patients. This gives access to hepatitis treatment to many people who, for economic reasons, could not afford treatment with pegylated interferons.
PegIntron or Pegasys, which is better?
PegIntron , like Pegasys, is an effective drug against the hepatitis virus, but the former has more dosage forms. The other drugs are no different (cost, method and frequency of administration). The choice should be made by a qualified specialist based on the genotype of the pathogen and the clinical picture of the disease.
Pegasis price, where to buy
Buying Pegasys 180 mcg No. 1 in Moscow will cost 6,600-11,000 rubles; the average price for Pegasis 180 mcg No. 1 in Russia is almost no different from the above.
The price in Ukraine of the drug Pegasys of the same release form is approaching 2950 hryvnia.
In rare cases, the drug is canceled due to the high cost, and the patient tries to sell the drugs he purchased on his own, placing advertisements like “Selling Pegasys.” It should be remembered that when purchasing such drugs on the secondary market, no one guarantees their effectiveness.
- Online pharmacies in UkraineUkraine
Manufacturer
The trade name of the drug is Pegasys, the manufacturer is the pharmaceutical corporation Hoffmann-La-Roche (commonly referred to as Roche). The company occupies a leading position in the production of medicines, as well as medical and diagnostic equipment, including test systems and kits for genetic research. Roche's main office is in Switzerland, but the company has subsidiaries in Japan and the USA.
In addition to Pegasys, the corporation produces a number of medicines obtained by genetic engineering. The company's products occupy a strong place in almost all branches of medicine - immunology, oncology, rheumatology, etc. Roche also has a representative office in the Russian Federation.
