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The Basics About Chronic Hep C

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

VICTRELIS plus peg/riba may cause birth defects or death of your unborn baby. If you are pregnant or your sexual partner is pregnant or plans to become pregnant, do not take these medicines.

• Females and males must use 2 forms of birth control during treatment and for 6 months after treatment with VICTRELIS plus peg/riba. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as birth control pills, vaginal rings, implants and injections, may not work as well during treatment with VICTRELIS and you may become pregnant.

Read more Important Safety Information below.

Hep C Basics > The Basics About Chronic Hep C

Learn about chronic hep C

Learning about chronic hep C is an important first step in taking control of your health. The more you know about hep C, the better prepared you are to fight the virus. Let's start by learning what hep C is.

What is hep C?

Hep C is a disease that affects the liver, an organ people can't live without. Hep C is caused by the hepatitis C virus, also called HCV. Anyone can get hep C by coming in contact with blood that contains the hep C virus.
There are at least 6 different types of hep C virus, which are known as viral genotypes.
In the United States, hep C genotype 1 is the most common. Unfortunately it's also
the hardest to treat.
Once infected with hep C, the immune system begins to fight the virus. In some
people, the immune system is able to fight the virus and clear the virus for good.
In most people infected with hep C, the virus stays in the body for a
long time–this is known as chronic hep C.

What does hep C do to the liver?

The hep C virus invades healthy liver cells. This invasion signals the immune system to attack, which causes inflammation or swelling of the liver (this is the "itis" in hepatitis).
With chronic hep C this continuous inflammation damages liver cells–eventually killing them and leaving behind scarred tissue. Scarring makes it harder for the liver to function and may lead to liver failure over time.

How long does it take hep C to damage the liver?

Hep C gives few clues as to how much damage it may be causing. You may not look or feel sick, but the virus may be damaging your liver. The hep C virus attacks the liver over time. In some people, signs of liver damage can show up 20 years after being exposed to the virus. In others, signs of liver damage can be seen as early as 5 years after diagnosis.
With chronic hep C, liver damage becomes unpredictable, advancing slowly in some and quickly in others.

VICTRELIS is a prescription medicine used with the medicines peginterferon alfa and ribavirin (peg/riba) to treat chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis C genotype 1 infection in adults with stable liver problems who have not been treated before or who have failed previous treatment.
Do not take VICTRELIS alone. It is not known if VICTRELIS is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

VICTRELIS plus peg/riba may cause birth defects or death of your unborn baby. If you are pregnant or your sexual partner is pregnant or plans to become pregnant, do not take these medicines.

• Females and males must use 2 forms of birth control during treatment and for 6 months after treatment with VICTRELIS plus peg/riba. Hormonal forms of birth control, such as birth control pills, vaginal rings, implants and injections, may not work as well during treatment with VICTRELIS and you may become pregnant.
• Females must have a pregnancy test before starting treatment with VICTRELIS plus peg/riba, every month while being treated, and every month for 6 months after all treatment is over.
• If you or your female sexual partner becomes pregnant while taking VICTRELIS plus peg/riba or within 6 months after you stop taking these medicines, tell your health care provider right away.
• You or your health care provider should contact the Ribavirin Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-800-593-2214. The Ribavirin Pregnancy Registry collects information about what happens to mothers and their babies if the mother takes ribavirin while she is pregnant.

Before you take VICTRELIS, tell your health care provider if you have blood problems like anemia (low red blood cell count), have liver problems other than hepatitis C, have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other immunity problems, had an organ transplant, plan to have surgery, have any other medical condition, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if VICTRELIS passes into breast milk. You and your health care provider should decide if you will take VICTRELIS or breastfeed. You should not do both.
VICTRELIS may cause serious side effects, including blood problems. VICTRELIS can affect your bone marrow and cause low red blood cell and low white blood cell counts. In some people, these blood cell counts may fall to dangerously low levels. If your blood cell counts become very low, you can get anemia or infections.
The most common side effects of VICTRELIS with combination therapy include: tiredness, nausea, headache, and change in taste. Tell your health care provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. There may be other side effects of VICTRELIS. For more information, ask your health care provider.
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
VICTRELIS and other medicines may affect each other, causing serious or life-threatening side effects, or affecting the way VICTRELIS and your other medicines work. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your health care provider or pharmacist. For a listing of medicines that you should not take with VICTRELIS, please see the Medication Guide.
Do not take VICTRELIS if you take:
alfuzosin hydrochloride (UROXATRAL®) • anti-seizure medicines: carbamazepine (CARBATROL®, EPITOL®, EQUETRO®, TEGRETOL®, TEGRETOL® XR, TERIL™); phenobarbital; phenytoin (DILANTIN®) • cisapride (PROPULSID®) • drosperinone-containing medicines, including: YAZ®, YASMIN®, ZARAH®, OCELLA®, GIANVI®, BEYAZ®, SAFYRAL™ • ergot-containing medicines, including: dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E. 45®, MIGRANAL®); ergonovine and methylergonovine (ERGOTRATE®, METHERGINE®), ergotamine; ergotamine tartrate (CAFERGOT®, MIGERGOT®, ERGOMAR®, ERGOSTAT, MEDIHALER ERGOTAMINE, WIGRAINE, WIGRETTES) • lovastatin (ADVICOR®, ALTOPREV®, MEVACOR®) • midazolam (VERSED), when taken by mouth • pimozide (ORAP®) • rifampin (RIFADIN®, RIFAMATE®, RIFATER®, RIMACTANE) • sildenafil (REVATIO®), when used for treating lung problems • simvastatin (SIMCOR®, VYTORIN®, ZOCOR®) • St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) or products containing St. John's Wort • tadalafil (ADCIRCA®), when used for treating lung problems • triazolam (HALCION®).
Do not take VICTRELIS if you take certain medicines. VICTRELIS may cause serious side effects when taken with certain medicines. Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. VICTRELIS and other medicines may affect each other, causing serious or life-threatening side effects, or affecting the way VICTRELIS and your other medicines work. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your heath care provider.
Please read the Medication Guide before you start taking VICTRELIS. Talk to your health care provider about any questions you may have about VICTRELIS.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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