Pegasus interferon taking paracetamol before injection

[Hughley]

I have just completed my third injection 2 of which I did myself the first by the specialist nurse I am getting a little more confident but wonder if I still need to take 2 paracetamol prior to injecting as advised by the nurse when I had my first injection can anyone advise me thank you

[WeylandYutani]

Hello Hughley,

first I'm not taking Pegasys, but Besremi, nevertheless IMHO two Paracetamol is a precaution in case you experience any side effects. I know some people taking Pegasys (or Interferon in general) and a few are taking Paracetamol because of the side effects.

In order to play it safe maybe you can reduce to one and then to zero (and one again in case of side effects).

I don't take any at all, but had only one injection so far.

Cheers!

[Hughley in reply to WeylandYutani]

Thank you for your reply I will try taking just one next week but so far don’t seem to have any trouble with side effects from Pegasus interferon

[Otterfield]

The only way to know if you are getting side effects is NOT to take Paracetamol before it. I never did take it in advance, but I would take it afterwards if and when the effects started.

[Hughley in reply to Otterfield]

That sounds the best idea thank you

[Wilbert2018]

I’ve been on Pegasys for a few years now and always take paracetamol with the injections. Only 2 and just after doing the jab. I was advised to by the MPN nurse who taught me how to do the jab, as a precaution. It’s totally up to you what you choose to do - she was really clear about that with me - but I’ve always gone with the advice from the specialist nurse. I need to be able to work the following day so I just want to limit the potential side effects and there’s no point me messing around with the advice when it seems to work, and I need to be able to work! The day after, I sometimes require a couple of paracetamol if I’m feeling a bit shivery/headachey which can happen and because of that, I’ll continue to take when I jab as long as I’m taking the interferon.

[NCB1983]

Hi Hughley,I have never taken Paracetamol as a precaution with my Pegasys but I would give the advice to make sure to stay hydrated after the injection. That said, you should do what makes you feel comfortable and everyone's conditions are different, so maybe ask the specialist nurse why they told you to take two Paracetamol (I was never given this advice hence never doing it!) and, as already suggested try doing the injection with only taking one Paracetamol or none.

Hope this helps

[hunter5582]

I am not taking anything when I take my PEG injection. Don't need it as I do not get the flu-like effects. It really is an individual thing. If you do not get any symptoms, there is no reason to take anything. fewer drugs is always better in my view. I already take to bloody many 😲

[Hughley in reply to hunter5582]

Good idea hunter I speak to my consultant n,etc Wednesday and will mention it to him thank you

[Mandy-moo74]

Hi HughleyI take Pegasys and interferon beforehand. I was advised to take paracetamol beforehand to limit the flu like symptoms you can get, did not take them once completely forgot and had a bad night with rigors feeling flu like symptoms and just generally not pleasant at all. So I always take just one paracetamol and this keeps those symptoms away, I feel I have to live my life as comfortable and symptom free as possible so 1 paracetamol each time I inject is not an issue for me.

[DottyDaisy]

Hi Hughley, I am seeing the CNS next week to get me started on Peg next week and hadn't even thought about paracetamol, so thanks for bringing it up.The obvious thing to me would be Vitamin C. In general, probably for the last ten years or more, if ever I get any symptoms such as the snuffles, headache, sore throat and so on, I just take an extra dose of Vitamin C. Repeat hourly till symptoms go away. Repeat more frequently if symptoms more severe.

I certainly wouldn't start by thinking paracetamol for fever unless dangerously high as fever is the body's way of burning off infection but that's a whole other story.

In fact I will start increasing my daily dose right now. So thank you again. Regards, Daisy