What to expect from Interferon and Ribavirin therapy

The most commonly seen side effects during PEG - Intron therapy (seen in more than 10%)

I. General:

1. Fatigue


2. Malaise


3. Body pain


4. Hot flashes


5. Asthenia,


6. Injection site pain

II. Nervous System

1. Insomnia


2. Dizziness


3. Paresthesias


4. Amnesia


5. Hypoesthesia


6. Hypertonia

III. Flu - Like Symptoms

1. Headache


2. Fatigue


3. Fever


4. Myalgia


5. Rigors


6. Arthralgia


7. Increased sweating

IV. Gastrointestinal

1. Abdominal pain


2. Nausea


3. Diarrhea


4. Anorexia


5. Weight loss

V. Hematologic

1. Leukopenia


2. Granulocytopenia


3. Thrombocytopenia

VI. Musculoskeletal

1. Back pain


2. Limb pain


3. Chest pain ( not related to the heart)


4. Neck pain

VII. Psychiatric

1. Nervousness


2. Depression


3. Anxiety


4. Emotional lability


5. Abnormal thought process

VIII. Respiratory

1. Pharyngitis


2. Congestion


3. Respiratory tract infections


4. Cough


5. Sinusitus


6. Rhinitis


7. Dyspnea

IX. Dermatologic

1. Alopecia


2. Pruritus


3. Rashes

* Very rarely Major Depression, psychosis, and suicide attempts have occurred.

Most common side effects seen during Rebetron therapy attributed to Ribavirin (expected to be seen in more than 10% of patients)

I. Hemolytic Anemia ( may require dose reduction)

II. Symptoms that are worsened

1. Malaise


2. Anorexia


3. Anxiety


4. Nausea


5. Emotional lability


6. Insomnia


7. Cough


8. Dyspnea


9. Dyspepsia

III. Teratogenicity

1. Birth control must be practiced for 6 months after completion therapy