Plegridy

Before taking this medicine

Do not use Plegridy if you have a history of an allergic reaction to natural or recombinant interferon beta, peginterferon, or any ingredient in Plegridy. Conditions requiring caution include liver problems, depression or suicidal thoughts, significant heart disease, low blood cell counts, autoimmune disorders and severe kidney impairment. Liver function and complete blood counts should be monitored. People with significant heart disease should be monitored for worsening symptoms, and those with severe kidney impairment should be monitored for side effects. Report any symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts to your healthcare provider immediately. Plegridy must be stopped if a serious allergic reaction occurs, if symptoms and laboratory findings indicate thrombotic microangiopathy (a condition involving blood clots in small blood vessels), or if pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lung arteries) is diagnosed. Your prescriber may also consider stopping treatment if liver injury, depression or a new autoimmune disorder occurs. Do not inject into an affected area of skin until it has fully healed. If several skin lesions develop, the injection site should be changed or treatment interrupted until they heal. During pregnancy, human data do not show a clear link between interferon beta use and major birth defects, but animal data suggest it may harm the unborn baby.