REBETRON Combination Therapy - Treatment for Hepatitis







		The Importance of Treatment
		PEG-INTRON™
		INTRON® A
		REBETRON™ Combination Therapy

REBETRON™ Combination Therapy
Treatment for Hepatitis

The following link accesses the Treatment for Hepatitis section of the web site for REBETRON™ Combination Therapy containing REBETOL® (Ribavirin, USP) Capsules and INTRON® A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) Injection:

www.rebetron.com/treat/rebetron/index.htm

See also Prescribing Information.

WARNINGS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS

Anemia associated with therapy may exacerbate symptoms of coronary disease or deteriorate cardiac function. It is advised that complete blood counts (CBC) be obtained at baseline and at weeks 2 and 4 of therapy or more frequently if clinically indicated.

The most common adverse experiences associated with therapy are "flu-like" symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, myalgia, and fever, which appear to decrease in severity as treatment continues. Severe psychiatric adverse events, including depression, psychoses, aggressive behavior, hallucinations, violent behavior (suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, suicides), and rare instances of homicidal ideation have occurred during combination REBETOL/INTRON A therapy, both in patients with and without a previous psychiatric disorder.

Combination REBETOL/INTRON A therapy must not be used by women, or male partners of women, who are or may become pregnant during therapy and during the 6 months after stopping therapy. Combination REBETOL/INTRON A therapy should not be initiated until a report of a negative pregnancy test has been obtained immediately prior to initiation of therapy. Women of childbearing potential and men must use effective contraception (two reliable forms) during treatment and during the 6-month posttreatment follow-up period. Significant teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects have been demonstrated for ribavirin in all animal species in which adequate studies have been conducted. These effects occurred at doses as low as one twentieth of the recommended human dose of REBETOL®. If pregnancy occurs in a patient or partner of a patient during treatment or during the 6 months after treatment stops, physicians are encouraged to report such cases by calling (800) 727-7064.

WARNING

Alpha interferons, including INTRON® A, cause or aggravate fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. Patients should be monitored closely with periodic clinical and laboratory evaluations. Patients with persistently severe or worsening signs or symptoms of these conditions should be withdrawn from therapy. In many but not all cases these disorders resolve after stopping INTRON A therapy.