WARNING

Skin repercussions from telaprevir could be deadly or seriously detrimental. If you have any of the following symptoms, call your physician right away or seek emergency medical attention: rash, blisters, or sores on the skin; itchiness; fever; facial swelling; sores in the mouth; or red, watery, itchy, or teary eyes. If you experience skin changes, your doctor may advise you to stop using telaprevir (as well as perhaps some other medications). You should not stop taking your prescription without first getting permission from your doctor. You shouldn’t take telaprevir once your doctor has instructed you to quit due to skin changes.

Why is this medication prescribed?

Telaprevir is used in combination with the drugs ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol) and peginterferon alfa (Pegasys) to treat chronic hepatitis C (a persistent viral infection that damages the liver) in patients who have not yet received treatment for the condition or whose condition has not responded to treatment with ribavirin and peginterferon alfa alone. Protease inhibitors, which include telaprevir, are a group of drugs. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is less prevalent in the body as a result of it. The transmission of hepatitis C to new individuals might not be stopped by telaprevir.

How should this medicine be used?

The oral tablet form of telaprevir is available. Every 10 to 14 hours, it is often taken twice daily. Within 30 minutes of taking telaprevir, you must consume a meal or snack with around 20 grams of fat. A bagel with cream cheese, 1/2 cup nuts, 3 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 cup ice cream, 2 ounces of American or cheddar cheese, 2 ounces of potato chips, or 1/2 cup of trail mix are a few examples of foods (normal forms, not low-fat or nonfat goods) that could be consumed with telaprevir. When taking telaprevir, find out from your doctor what additional foods you can eat that have 20 grams of fat. Telaprevir must be taken with food. At roughly the same time each day, take telaprevir. If there is anything you do not understand about the instructions on your prescription label, contact your doctor or pharmacist to clarify it. Take telaprevir as prescribed by your doctor. Take it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less than that amount or more frequently.

Never split, crush, or chew the tablets; instead, swallow them whole. Please let your doctor know if you are unable to take pills whole.

Even if you feel well, keep taking the telaprevir medication. Peginterferon alfa, ribavirin, and telaprevir must all be taken together for a minimum of 12 weeks. Following telaprevir therapy, peginterferon alf and ribavirin are frequently continued. Unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor, do not discontinue taking telaprevir, peginterferon alf, or ribavirin.

When you start telaprevir therapy and each time you refill your prescription, your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information leaflet (Medication Guide). If you have any questions, thoroughly read the material, then consult your physician or pharmacist.

Other uses for this medicine

Inquire with your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug may be prescribed for other purposes.

What special precautions should I follow?

When using Inflectra, it’s important to take certain precautions:

• Inform your physician and pharmacist if you have any allergies to telaprevir, ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol), peginterferon alfa (Pegasys), any other drugs, or any of the components in telaprevir tablets. For a list of the ingredients, consult your pharmacist or the Medication Guide.
• If you are using any of the following drugs or natural remedies, let your doctor know: Alfuzosin (Uroxatral), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril), cisapride (Propulsid) (no longer sold in the United States), ergot-related drugs like ergonovine, methylergonovine, and dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar, in Cafergot If you are currently on one or more of these drugs, your doctor generally won’t recommend that you take telaprevir.
• If you have undergone an organ transplant, let your doctor know. Additionally, let your doctor know if you currently or ever had anemia (not enough red blood cells in the blood to carry oxygen to the rest of the body), gout (attacks of joint pain brought on by high levels of uric acid in the blood), HIV, immune system issues, hepatitis B (HBV), or any other liver disease besides hepatitis C.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking telaprevir if you are having any type of surgery, including dental surgery.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or think you could be pregnant. Inform your doctor, if you’re a man, if your girlfriend is expecting, intends to become pregnant, or has a chance of doing so. Ribavirin, which might be harmful to the fetus, must be used alongside telaprevir. During your treatment with these medications and for six months following your therapy, you must take two forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy in either you or your partner. You should discuss your options with your doctor because hormonal treatments, such as birth control pills, patches, implants, rings, or injections, may not be effective for up to two weeks following treatment if you’re using these prescriptions. Every month during therapy and for six months after treatment, you or your partner must be tested for pregnancy. While taking these medications, call your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant.
• If you are breastfeeding, let your doctor know.

Remember, these precautions are not exhaustive, and it’s crucial to consult your healthcare provider for comprehensive information based on your specific medical condition and history.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

When using this drug, you should take extra care to stay hydrated.

Maintain your regular diet unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

If you remember that you missed a dosage less than six hours after the time it was supposed to be taken, take it right away along with a snack or meal that contains around 20 grams of fat. If, however, more than 6 hours have passed since your scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular dosing plan. Never take two doses at once to make up for missing ones.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Telaprevir may result in negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, consult your doctor:

Common side effects:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Change in ability to taste
• Itching
• Hemorrhoids
• Discomfort, burning, or itching around the anus

There can be major negative effects. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical care if you develop any of these signs or any of the ones in the IMPORTANT WARNING section:

• Pale skin
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Increased thirst
• Dark colored urine
• Dry mouth
• Decreased urination frequency or amount
• Have difficulty eating or have severe vomiting or diarrhea

It’s important to note that these lists do not encompass all possible side effects. Different individuals may experience different reactions to the medication. If you are considering or currently using Telaprevir, it is crucial to consult with your healthcare provider, who can provide detailed information about potential side effects and address any concerns you may have.

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Store this medication out of children’s reach in the tightly closed, original container. It should not be kept in the bathroom. Store it at room temperature, away from sources of extreme heat and moisture.

All medications should be kept out of the sight and reach of children, as many containers (such as weekly pill containers and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for toddlers to open. Always lock safety caps and put the medication in a secure spot right away that is up and away from where young children can access it and cannot access it, in order to prevent poisoning in young children.

To make sure that pets, kids, and other people cannot take leftover pharmaceuticals, they should be disposed of in a specific manner. You shouldn’t flush this medication down the toilet, though. The best option to get rid of your medication is instead through a medication take-back program. To find out about take-back initiatives in your neighborhood, speak with your pharmacist or get in touch with your city’s waste/recycling department.

In case of emergency/overdose

Call 1-800-222-1222 to reach the poison control hotline in the event of an overdose. Call emergency services at 911 right away if the sufferer has fallen, experienced a seizure, is having problems breathing, or cannot be roused.

The following are examples of overdose symptoms:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in taste

What other information should I know?

Do not miss any of your doctor’s or lab appointments. In order to monitor how your body is responding to telaprevir, your doctor will request specific lab tests.

Make sure only you take your medication. Regarding prescription refills, ask your pharmacist any questions you may have.

It’s crucial that you keep a written record of every medication you take, including any vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. This list should also include any over-the-counter (OTC) medications you use. When you visit a doctor or are admitted to the hospital, you should always bring this list with you. In case of crises, it is also crucial to have this information on hand.