Before taking telaprevir,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to telaprevir, ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol), peginterferon alfa (Pegasys), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in telaprevir tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications or herbal products: alfuzosin (Uroxatral); carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril); cisapride (Propulsid) (no longer available in the United States); ergot medications such as dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar, in Cafergot, in Migergot), ergonovine, and methylergonovine (Methergine); lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor, in Advicor); midazolam taken by mouth; phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); pimozide (Orap); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater); sildenafil (only Revatio brand used for lung disease); simvastatin ( Zocor, in Simcor, in Vytorin); St. John's wort; triazolam (Halcion); and tadalafil (only Adcirca brand used for lung disease). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take telaprevir if you are taking one or more of these medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: alprazolam (Niravam, Xanax); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), or voriconazole (Vfend); bosentan (Tracleer); budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort, in Symbicort); calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc, in Amturnide, in Tekamlo), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia XT, Dilacor, Diltzac, Dilt-CD, Tiazac, Taztia XT, others), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Afeditab CR, Adalat, Procardia), nisoldipine (Sular), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan, in Tarka); certain cholesterol-lowering medications such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet, in Liptruzet), fluvastatin (Lescol), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), and rosuvastatin (Crestor); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); colchicine (Colcrys, in Col-probenecid); digoxin (Lanoxin); efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, others); escitalopram (Lexapro); fentanyl (Abstral, Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Lazanda, Subsys); fluticasone (in Advair, Flonase, Flovent); hormone replacement therapy (HRT); immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf); medications for erectile dysfunction (ED) such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn); medications for irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), flecainide, lidocaine (Lidoderm, Lidopen, Xylocaine), propafenone (Rhythmol), or quinidine; methadone (Dolophine, Methadose); midazolam injection; oral contraceptives ('birth control pills'); oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol, Medrol, Solu-Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos); repaglinide (Prandin, in Prandimet); rifabutin (Mycobutin); ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra) used in combination with other HIV protease inhibitors such as atazanavir (Reyataz), darunavir (Prezista), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), and lopinavir (in Kaletra); salmeterol (Serevent, in Advair); telithromycin (Ketek); tenofovir (Viread, in Atripla, in Stribild, in Truvada); trazodone (Oleptro); and zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo, Zolpmist). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with telaprevir, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
tell your doctor if you have had an organ transplant. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had anemia (not enough red blood cells in the blood to carry oxygen to the rest of the body), gout (attacks of joint pain caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), problems with your immune system, hepatitis B (HBV) or liver disease other than hepatitis C..
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking telaprevir.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or can possibly become pregnant. If you are male, tell your doctor if your partner is pregnant, plans to become pregnant, or can possibly become pregnant. Telaprevir must be taken with ribavirin, which can harm the fetus. You must use two methods of birth control to prevent pregnancy in you or your partner during your treatment with these medications and for 6 months after your treatment. Talk to your doctor about which methods you should use; hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, implants, rings, or injections) may not work well in women who are taking these medications and for up to 2 weeks after treatment. You or your partner must be tested for pregnancy every month during your treatment and for 6 months after your treatment. If you or your partner becomes pregnant while taking these medications, call your doctor immediately.
tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.