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Pegasys Side Effects

Generic name: peginterferon alfa-2a

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 22, 2023.

Note: This document contains side effect information about peginterferon alfa-2a. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Pegasys.

Applies to peginterferon alfa-2a: subcutaneous solution.

Warning

Subcutaneous route (Solution)

Alpha interferons may cause or aggravate fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders. Clinical and laboratory monitoring is recommended. If severe or worsening signs or symptoms of these conditions occur, treatment should be discontinued.

Serious side effects of Pegasys

Along with its needed effects, peginterferon alfa-2a (the active ingredient contained in Pegasys) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking peginterferon alfa-2a:

More common

Less common

Incidence not known

Other side effects of Pegasys

Some side effects of peginterferon alfa-2a may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Less common

Incidence not known

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to peginterferon alfa-2a: subcutaneous kit, subcutaneous solution.

General

During hepatitis C studies, at least 1 serious side effect was reported in 10% of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and 19% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV. The most common serious side effect was bacterial infection (including sepsis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pyelonephritis, pneumonia). Other serious side effects were suicide, suicidal ideation, psychosis, aggression, anxiety, drug abuse and drug overdose, angina, hepatic dysfunction, fatty liver, cholangitis, arrhythmia, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune phenomena (e.g., hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), peripheral neuropathy, aplastic anemia, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis, colitis, corneal ulcer, pulmonary embolism, coma, myositis, cerebral hemorrhage, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, psychotic disorder, and hallucination. The most common side effects were psychiatric reactions (including depression, insomnia, irritability, anxiety), influenza-like symptoms (such as fatigue, pyrexia, myalgia, headache, rigors), anorexia, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, arthralgias, injection site reactions, alopecia, and pruritus. Psychiatric disorders, influenza-like syndrome (e.g., lethargy, fatigue, headache), dermatologic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and laboratory abnormalities (thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anemia) were the most common reasons for discontinuation of therapy.

In clinical trials, patients with chronic hepatitis B had similar side effects as CHC patients using peginterferon alfa-2a (the active ingredient contained in Pegasys) monotherapy, except for exacerbations of hepatitis. The most common or important serious side effects in the hepatitis B studies were infections (sepsis, appendicitis, tuberculosis, influenza), hepatitis B flares, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, pyrexia, headache, fatigue, myalgia, alopecia, and anorexia. Therapy was discontinued most often due to laboratory abnormalities (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, ALT elevation).[Ref]

Nervous system

Headache (monotherapy: up to 54%; combination therapy: 43%), dizziness excluding vertigo (monotherapy: 16%; combination therapy: 14%), and memory impairment (monotherapy: 5%; combination therapy: 5%) have been reported in CHC patients.

Tinnitus was reported in up to 2% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV using peginterferon alfa-2a (the active ingredient contained in Pegasys) plus ribavirin.

A 40-year-old male coinfected with hepatitis C virus and HIV experienced chorea and akathisia coincident with peginterferon alfa-2a therapy. He was administered subcutaneous peginterferon alfa-2a 180 mcg weekly and oral ribavirin 1 g daily. At week 20 of therapy, the patient presented to the clinic complaining of irritability, difficulty in sleeping, and prominent choreiform involuntary movements with myoclonic activity of the upper and lower extremities. He was diagnosed with chorea and akathisia. He was treated with ropinirole, propranolol, and clonazepam. Peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin were discontinued with complete resolution of symptoms after 5 days.[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 89%), headache (up to 56%), concentration impairment

Common (1% to 10%): Vertigo, syncope, migraine, memory impairment, weakness, hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia, tremor, taste disturbance, somnolence, tinnitus

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Cerebral hemorrhage, coma, convulsions, facial palsy

Frequency not reported: Cerebral ischemia, chorea and akathisia

Postmarketing reports: Seizures, hearing impairment[Ref]

Other

Very common (10% or more): Influenza-like signs/symptoms, fatigue/asthenia (up to 65%), pyrexia (up to 54%), fatigue (up to 51%), rigors (up to 35%), asthenia (up to 30%), pain (up to 11%), overall resistance mechanism disorders (up to 12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Fever, chills, chest pain, influenza-like illness, malaise, lethargy, shivering, hot flushes, thirst, infections (fungal, viral, bacterial), peripheral edema, flushing, earache

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Mucosal hyperpigmentation, otitis externa, substance overdose

Frequency not reported: Bacterial infections (e.g., sepsis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, pyelonephritis, pneumonia), infections (appendicitis, tuberculosis, influenza)[Ref]

Influenza-like signs and symptoms (fatigue/asthenia [monotherapy: 56%; combination therapy: 65%], pyrexia [monotherapy: up to 54%; combination therapy: 41%], rigors [monotherapy: 35%; combination therapy: 25%], pain [monotherapy: 11%; combination therapy: 10%]) and overall resistance mechanism disorders (monotherapy: 10%; combination therapy: 12%) have been reported in CHC patients.

The most common or important serious side effects reported during hepatitis B studies have included infections (sepsis, appendicitis, tuberculosis, influenza).

Fatigue has been reported in 24% of patients during hepatitis B studies.[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Very common (10% or more): Myalgia (up to 44%), arthralgia (up to 32%)

Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, arthritis, muscle weakness, bone pain, neck pain, musculoskeletal pain, muscle cramps

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Myositis

Frequency not reported: Rhabdomyolysis[Ref]

Myalgia (monotherapy: up to 37%; combination therapy: 40%), arthralgia (monotherapy: 28%; combination therapy: 22%), and back pain (monotherapy: 9%; combination therapy: 5%) have been reported in CHC patients.[Ref]

Hematologic

Very common (10% or more): Neutropenia (up to 40%), anemia (up to 28%), lymphopenia (up to 14%)

Common (1% to 10%): Thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pancytopenia

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Aplastic anemia, idiopathic or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Frequency not reported: Leukopenia, decreased hemoglobin, decreased absolute CD4+ cell count (without decrease in CD4+ cell percentage)

Postmarketing reports: Pure red cell aplasia[Ref]

Neutropenia (monotherapy: 21%; combination therapy: up to 40%), lymphopenia (monotherapy: 3%; combination therapy: 14%), anemia (monotherapy: 2%; combination therapy: up to 14%), and thrombocytopenia (monotherapy: 5%; combination therapy: up to 8%) have been reported in CHC patients.

Moderate (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] 0.5 to 0.749 x 10[9]/L: 24%) and severe (ANC less than 0.5 x 10[9]/L: 5%) neutropenia was reported in patients using peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for 48 weeks.

In 1 study, CHC patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis and baseline platelet counts as low as 50,000/mm3 were treated for 48 weeks. Hematologic laboratory abnormalities in the first 20 weeks included ANC less than 750/mm3 (30%), hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL (26.3%), and platelets less than 50,000/mm3 (13%).

Neutropenia (40%), anemia (14%), and thrombocytopenia (8%) have been reported during treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin in CHC patients coinfected with HIV. Decrease in ANC levels below 500 cells/mm3 (monotherapy: 13%; combination therapy: 11%), decrease in platelets below 50,000/mm3 (monotherapy: 10%; combination therapy: 8%), and hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL (monotherapy: 7%; combination therapy: up to 28%) were reported in coinfected patients.

Laboratory abnormalities (thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anemia) were among the most common reasons given for discontinuation of therapy.

The most common or important serious side effects reported during hepatitis B studies have included thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 40%), diarrhea (up to 26%), nausea/vomiting (up to 25%), abdominal pain (up to 15%), vomiting (up to 13%), upper abdominal pain (up to 12%)

Common (1% to 10%): Dry mouth, dyspepsia, dysphagia, mouth ulceration, gingival bleeding, glossitis, stomatitis, flatulence, gastritis, gingivitis, cheilitis, constipation, oral candidiasis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gastrointestinal bleeding

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Tongue hyperpigmentation, peptic ulcer, pancreatitis

Frequency not reported: Colitis, ischemic colitis, reversible pancreatic reaction (i.e., increased amylase/lipase with or without abdominal pain)

Postmarketing reports: Tongue pigmentation[Ref]

Gastrointestinal side effects were among the most common reasons given for discontinuation of therapy.

Nausea/vomiting (monotherapy: 24%; combination therapy: 25%), diarrhea (monotherapy: 16%; combination therapy: 11%), abdominal pain (monotherapy: 15%; combination therapy: 8%), dry mouth (monotherapy: 6%; combination therapy: 4%), and dyspepsia (monotherapy: less than 1%; combination therapy: 6%) have been reported in CHC patients.

Cheilitis was reported in up to 2% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV using peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin.[Ref]

Psychiatric

Very common (10% or more): Insomnia (up to 36%), irritability/anxiety/nervousness (up to 33%), irritability (up to 28%), depression (up to 27%), anxiety

Common (1% to 10%): Concentration impairment, mood alteration, nightmares, aggression, emotional disorders, nervousness, decreased libido, affect lability, apathy

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Suicidal ideation, hallucinations

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Suicide, psychotic disorder

Frequency not reported: Psychosis, relapse of drug abuse/overdose, impairment of desire, sexual satisfaction affected (potentially), sexual dysfunction, mania, bipolar disorders

Postmarketing reports: Homicidal ideation[Ref]

Psychiatric side effects were among the most common reasons given for discontinuation of therapy.

Irritability/anxiety/nervousness (monotherapy: 19%; combination therapy: 33%), insomnia (monotherapy: 19%; combination therapy: 30%), depression (monotherapy: 18%; combination therapy: 20%), concentration impairment (monotherapy: 8%; combination therapy: 10%), and mood alteration (monotherapy: 3%; combination therapy: 5%) have been reported in CHC patients.

Affect lability and apathy were reported in up to 2% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV using peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin.

Impairment of desire, sexual satisfaction affected (potentially), and sexual dysfunction have been reported with peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin in male patients.[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects were among the most common reasons given for discontinuation of therapy.

Alopecia (monotherapy: up to 23%; combination therapy: 28%), pruritus (monotherapy: 12%; combination therapy: 19%), dermatitis (monotherapy: 8%; combination therapy: 16%), dry skin (monotherapy: 4%; combination therapy: 10%), increased sweating (monotherapy: 6%; combination therapy: 6%), rash (monotherapy: 5%; combination therapy: 8%), and eczema (monotherapy: 1%; combination therapy: 5%) have been reported in CHC patients.

Lipodystrophy acquired was reported in up to 2% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV using peginterferon alfa-2a (the active ingredient contained in Pegasys) plus ribavirin.

Skin disorders associated with combination therapy have included lichenoid eruptions and maculopapular rashes.[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Alopecia (up to 28%), pruritus (up to 25%), dermatitis (up to 16%), rash (up to 16%), dry skin (up to 13%)

Common (1% to 10%): Increased sweating, eczema, psoriasis, urticaria, skin disorder, photosensitivity reaction, night sweats, herpes simplex, lipodystrophy acquired

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Skin infection

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, angioedema, erythema multiforme

Frequency not reported: Lichenoid eruptions, maculopapular rashes, drug-induced Sweet's syndrome

Postmarketing reports: Serious skin reactions[Ref]

Local

Very common (10% or more): Injection site reactions (up to 28%)

Frequency not reported: Cutaneous necrosis at injection sites, hyperpigmentation around/over injection sites[Ref]

Injection site reactions (monotherapy: 22%; combination therapy: 23%) have been reported in CHC patients.

Skin disorders associated with combination therapy have included cutaneous necrosis at peginterferon alfa-2a injection sites.[Ref]

Hepatic

Very common (10% or more): Elevated ALT (up to 27%)

Common (1% to 10%): Hepatic decompensation

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatic dysfunction

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hepatic failure, fatty liver, cholangitis

Frequency not reported: Elevated ALT occasionally associated with hyperbilirubinemia, exacerbations of hepatitis, hepatitis B flares, increased bilirubin[Ref]

Transient ALT elevations reported during hepatitis B therapy. ALT elevation greater than 10-fold higher than the upper limit of normal was reported in 12% and 18% during treatment and 7% and 12% posttreatment in HBeAg-negative and HBeAg-positive patients, respectively.

Hepatic decompensation has been reported in 2% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV.

The most common or important serious side effects reported during hepatitis B studies have included hepatitis B flares.[Ref]

Metabolic

Very common (10% or more): Anorexia (up to 27%), weight decrease (up to 16%), decreased appetite (up to 16%)

Common (1% to 10%): Hyperlactacidemia/lactic acidosis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dehydration, diabetes mellitus

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Diabetic ketoacidosis

Frequency not reported: Elevated triglycerides, electrolyte disturbance (hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia), hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia[Ref]

Anorexia (monotherapy: up to 17%; combination therapy: 24%) and weight decrease (monotherapy: 4%; combination therapy: 10%) have been reported in CHC patients.

Hyperlactacidemia/lactic acidosis was reported in up to 2% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV using peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin.[Ref]

Respiratory

Dyspnea (monotherapy: 4%; combination therapy: 13%), cough (monotherapy: 4%; combination therapy: 10%), and exertional dyspnea (monotherapy: less than 1%; combination therapy: 4%) have been reported in CHC patients.

Pneumonia, influenza, and pharyngolaryngeal pain were reported in up to 2% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV using peginterferon alfa-2a (the active ingredient contained in Pegasys) plus ribavirin.[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Cough (up to 19%), dyspnea (up to 15%)

Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngitis, exertional dyspnea, epistaxis, nasopharyngitis, sinus congestion, nasal congestion, rhinitis, sore throat, bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infection, pulmonary congestion, chest tightness, pneumonia, influenza, pharyngolaryngeal pain

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Wheezing

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Interstitial pneumonitis (including fatalities), pulmonary embolism

Frequency not reported: Lower respiratory tract infection[Ref]

Immunologic

Examples of autoimmune phenomena include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, thyroiditis, psoriasis.

Sarcoidosis was reported in a 65-year-old man at the 7th month of therapy. Most of the symptoms improved over the next 3 months after discontinuation of therapy.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Development of neutralizing anti-interferon antibodies

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sarcoidosis

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis

Frequency not reported: Autoimmune phenomena, development of binding antibodies to peginterferon alfa-2a, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Postmarketing reports: Liver graft rejection, renal graft rejection

Alpha interferons:

-Frequency not reported: Development or exacerbation of autoimmune disorders (including myositis, hepatitis, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial nephritis, thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus)[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Tachycardia, palpitations

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypertension

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, angina, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, pericarditis, supraventricular tachycardia, endocarditis, vasculitis

Frequency not reported: Peripheral ischemia[Ref]

Ocular

Blurred vision (monotherapy: 4%; combination therapy: 5%) has been reported in CHC patients.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Blurred vision, eye pain, eye inflammation, xerophthalmia

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Retinal hemorrhage

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Optic neuropathy, papilledema, retinal vascular disorder, retinopathy, corneal ulcers

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Vision loss

Postmarketing reports: Serous retinal detachment[Ref]

Endocrine

Common (1% to 10%): Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, clinically significant abnormal thyroid laboratory values

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Thyroiditis

Hypothyroidism (monotherapy: 3%; combination therapy: 4%) has been reported in CHC patients.

Genitourinary

Common (1% to 10%): Impotence, chromaturia[Ref]

Chromaturia was reported in up to 2% of CHC patients coinfected with HIV using peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin.[Ref]

Oncologic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hepatic neoplasm

Frequency not reported: Malignant hepatic neoplasm

Hypersensitivity

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anaphylaxis

Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic shock

Anaphylactic shock has been reported during hepatitis B studies.

Renal

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Renal insufficiency

References

1. Product Information. Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a). Roche Laboratories. 2002.

2. Guilabert A, Bosch X, Julia M, Iranzo P, Mascaro JM Jr. Pegylated interferon alfa-induced sarcoidosis: two sides of the same coin. Br J Dermatol. 2005;152:377-9.

3. Cerner Multum, Inc. UK Summary of Product Characteristics.

4. Cerner Multum, Inc. Australian Product Information.

5. Dove LM, Rosen RC, Ramcharran D, et al. Decline in male sexual desire, function, and satisfaction during and after antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Gastroenterology. 2009;137:873-84.

6. Brito MO, Doyle T. Movement and extrapyramidal disorders associated with interferon use in HIV/hepatitis C coinfection. AIDS. 2007;21:1987-9.

7. Mlika RB, Kerkeni N, Marrak H, Fenniche S, Mokhtar I, Debbiche A. Tongue hyperpigmentation during PEG-interferon-alfa/ribavirin therapy in a non-Caucasian patient with chronic hepatitis C: a case report and review of the literature. Int J Dermatol. 2013;52:643-4.

8. Peck-Radosavljevic M, Wichlas M, Homoncik-Kraml M, et al. Rapid suppression of hematopoiesis by standard or pegylated interferon-alpha. Gastroenterology. 2002;123:141-51.

9. Mize DS, Riley TR. Retrospective analysis of the effect of pegylated interferon alpha on platelet count in patients with chronic Hepatitis C. Am J Gastroenterol. 2003;98(9S):S96.

10. Arcasoy MO, Rockey DC, Heneghan MA. Pure red cell aplasia following pegylated interferon alpha treatment. Am J Med. 2004;117:619-20.

11. Espinosa M, Arenas MD, Aumente MD, et al. Anemia associated with pegylated interferon-alpha2a and alpha2b therapy in hemodialysis patients. Clin Nephrol. 2007;67:366-73.

12. Udina M, Castellvi P, Moreno-Espana J, et al. Interferon-induced depression in chronic hepatitis C: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. 2012;73:1128-38.

13. Gheorghe L, Cotruta B, Trifu V, Cotruta C, Becheanu G, Gheorghe C. Drug-induced Sweet's syndrome secondary to hepatitis C antiviral therapy. Int J Dermatol. 2008;47:957-9.

14. Lin J, Lott JP, Amorosa VK, Kovarik CL. Iatrogenic hyperpigmentation in chronically infected hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;60:882-3.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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