Plegridy Side Effects

Generic name: peginterferon beta-1a

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 17, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Plegridy.

Applies to peginterferon beta-1a: solution Side Effects associated with peginterferon beta-1a. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Plegridy.

Applies to peginterferon beta-1a: solution.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may cause some people to be anxious, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

The tip cap of the prefilled syringe for intramuscular injection contains dry natural rubber (a derivative of latex), which may cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to latex. Tell your doctor if you have a latex allergy before you start using this medicine.

This medicine may cause redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site. Some patients have developed serious skin infection or damage (necrosis), including a permanent depression under the skin at the injection site. Contact your doctor right away if you notice depressed or indented skin, blue-green to black skin discoloration, or pain, redness, or sloughing (peeling) of the skin.

This medicine commonly causes a flu-like reaction, with aching muscles, chills, fever, headaches, joint pain, and nausea. Using your shot at bedtime may allow you to sleep through the symptoms. Your doctor may want you to take medicine to help control the pain or fever (eg, acetaminophen or ibuprofen). Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about how to prevent or treat these symptoms.

If you are rapidly gaining weight, chest pain or discomfort, extreme tiredness or weakness, irregular breathing, irregular heartbeat, excessive swelling of the hands, wrist, ankles, or feet, or trouble breathing, check with your doctor immediately. These may be symptoms of heart problems or your body keeping too much water.

This medicine may lower the number of white blood cells in the blood. This will increase your chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects, such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

This medicine may cause pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). Check with your doctor right away if you have trouble breathing or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Serious side effects of Plegridy

Along with its needed effects, peginterferon beta-1a (the active ingredient contained in Plegridy) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking peginterferon beta-1a:

Other side effects of Plegridy

Some side effects of peginterferon beta-1a may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to peginterferon beta-1a: intramuscular solution, subcutaneous kit, subcutaneous solution.

General adverse events

The most common side effects were injection site erythema, influenza-like illness, pyrexia, headache, myalgia, chills, injection site pain, asthenia, injection site pruritus, and arthralgia.^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Congestive heart failure^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Decreased peripheral blood counts^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): Alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, gamma-glutamyl-transferase increased
• Frequency not reported: hepatic injury^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Influenza like illness (47%)
• Frequency not reported: Autoimmune disorders^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Injection site erythema (62%), injection site pain (15%), injection site pruritus (13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Injection site edema, injection site warmth, injection site hematoma, injection site rash^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Myalgia (19%), arthralgia (11%)^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (44%)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Seizures^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Pyrexia (45%), chills (17%), asthenia (13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hyperthermia, pain^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Depression, suicide^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What are the new drugs used for multiple sclerosis (MS)?
• What is Plegridy used for and is it an immunosuppressant?
• How do you use the Plegridy pen and where do you inject?

Further information

Plegridy side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer