What is the most important information I should know about simeprevir?
If you have ever had hepatitis B, simeprevir can cause this condition to come back or get worse. You will need frequent blood tests to check your liver function.
Simeprevir is used in combination with other medications. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication in your combination therapy. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.
Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of liver problems: vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling weak or tired, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Sunlight can cause a severe rash or skin reaction while you are using simeprevir combination treatment. Use sunscreen and wear a hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing when you are outdoors.
What is simeprevir?
Simeprevir is an antiviral medicine that prevents certain viruses from multiplying in your body. Simeprevir is used in combination with other medications to treat chronic hepatitis C in adults.
Simeprevir treats specific genotypes of hepatitis C, and only in certain people. Use only the medications prescribed for you. Do not share your medicine with other people.
Simeprevir must be given in combination with other antiviral medications and it should not be used alone.
Simeprevir is sometimes used in people who also have HIV. This medicine is not a treatment for HIV or AIDS.
Simeprevir may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking simeprevir?
You should not use simeprevir if you are allergic to it. If you take simeprevir with other antiviral medicines: There may be other reasons you should not take this combination treatment. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions.
Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure simeprevir is the right treatment for your condition.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- hepatitis B;
- liver problems other than hepatitis, or if you have had a liver transplant;
- if you are receiving phototherapy (light therapy);
- if you have recently used a heart rhythm medicine called amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone); or
- if you use a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven) and you have routine "INR" or prothrombin time tests.
Simeprevir is sometimes used in combination with ribavirin. Ribavirin can cause birth defects or death in an unborn baby.
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If you are a woman, do not use ribavirin if you are pregnant. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before taking ribavirin and every month during your treatment.
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If you are a man, do not use ribavirin if your sexual partner is pregnant. An unborn baby could be harmed if you have sex with a pregnant woman while you are taking ribavirin.
While taking simeprevir with ribavirin, use at least 2 effective forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy, whether you are a man or a woman. Ribavirin use by either parent may cause birth defects.
Keep using 2 forms of birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose of ribavirin. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using ribavirin.
It is not known whether simeprevir passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
Simeprevir is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.
How should I take simeprevir?
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open a simeprevir capsule. Swallow it whole.
You will need frequent blood tests to check your liver function.
If you have ever had hepatitis B, simeprevir can cause this condition to come back or get worse. You will need liver function tests during treatment and for several months after you stop using this medicine.
Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication in your combination therapy. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with chronic hepatitis C should remain under the care of a doctor.
You should not stop using simeprevir suddenly. Stopping suddenly could make your condition harder to treat with hepatitis C antiviral medicine.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you are more than 12 hours late, skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking simeprevir?
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Simeprevir combination treatment can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, especially during the first 4 weeks of treatment. This may cause a severe sunburn or skin rash. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John's wort at the same time you are taking simeprevir.
What are the possible side effects of simeprevir?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Read all of your medication guides to learn about possible side effects of other medications you use in combination with simeprevir. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- new or worsening liver symptoms, such as vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling weak or tired, clay-colored stools, or yellowing of the skin or eyes;
- severe skin rash (redness, swelling, burning, blistering);
- eye redness or puffiness;
- mouth sores; or
- shortness of breath.
If you take simeprevir and you also take a heart rhythm medicine called amiodarone: This combination of medicines can cause dangerous side effects on your heart. Get medical help right away if you take these medicines and you have:
- very slow heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath;
- confusion, memory problems; or
- weakness, extreme tiredness, light-headed feeling (like you might pass out).
Common side effects may include:
- mild itching or rash;
- nausea; or
- headache.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect simeprevir?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Other drugs may interact with simeprevir, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about simeprevir.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
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