Selecting a Treatment Regimen
Table 2. Drug Table Drug (Brand) Interferons
Interferon alfacon-1 Infergen®
Interferon alfa-2a Roferon-A®
PegIFN alfa-2a Pegasys®
Interferon alfa-2b Intron®
A
PegIFN alfa-2b PegIntron®
Ribavirin (RBV)
Copegus® 200 mg tabs
Ribasphere® 200 mg tabs, 400 mg tabs, 600 mg tabs
Ribasphere® RibaPak® 400 mg tabs 600 mg tabs
Genotypes 1, 4
Genotypes 2, 3
Rebetol® 200 mg caps 40 mg per mL solution
Combinations
PegIFN alfa-2b with RBV PegIntron™
Combo Pack Intron®
Rebetron®
Boceprevir Victrelis™
Telaprevir Incivek™
A - Rebetol® Protease Inhibitors (PIs)b
800 mg PO tid (7-9 hours apart) with food
750 mg PO tid (7-9 hours apart) with food
Fatigue, anemia, nausea, headache and dysgeusia
Rash, pruritus, anemia, nausea, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, anorectal discomfort, dysgeusia, fatigue, vomiting, and anal pruritus
a See specific product labeling for complete prescribing information. b Indicated for the treatment of CHC genotype 1 infection, in combination with PegIFN alfa and RBV, in adult patients (≥ 18 years of age) with compensated liver disease, including cirrhosis.
6 See above /Rebetol® See above
< 75 kg: 1000 mg with 180 mcg PegIFN alfa-2a x ≤ 48 wks; ≥ 75 kg: 1200 mg with 180 mcg PegIFN alfa-2a x ≤ 48 wks
800 mg with 180 mcg PegIFN alfa-2a x 24 weeks
Adults: 800-1400 mg PO daily (weight-based dosinga Peds: 15 mg/kg/day
)
Ineffective as monotherapy
Hemolytic anemias, fetal damage
Contraindicated if ClCr
< 50 mL/min Dosea
Monotherapy: 9 mcg subcut 3x weekly x 24 wks (initial) 15 mcg 3x weekly x ≤ 48 wks (re-treat) Combination: 15 mcg daily x ≤ 48 wks (with ribavirin)
3 million units 3x weekly subcut x 48-52 wks or 6 million units 3x weekly x 12 wks, then 3 million units 3x weekly x 36 wks
180 mcg subcut weekly 3 million units 3x weekly subcut
Adults: 1.5 mcg/kg/wk Peds: 60 mcg/m2
/wk Major Side Effects
Use of monotherapy with an interferon for the treatment of hepatitis C is NOT recommended unless a patient is unable to take ribavirin
Fatal or life-threatening neuropsychiatric, autoimmune, ischemic, and infectious disorders
Dose reduction is recommended in patients experiencing serious adverse reactions
