About telaprevir
Direct-acting antiviral; HCV protease inhibitor
Used for
- Previously used with other medicines to treat chronic hepatitis C genotype 1.
Usual adult dose
Historically, 750 mg by mouth every 8 hours with food for 12 weeks, alongside peginterferon and ribavirin.
Common side effects
- Rash, sometimes severe
- Itching
- Anemia
- Nausea or diarrhea
Important warnings
- Withdrawn or discontinued in many countries; not recommended in current hepatitis C treatment.
- Severe skin reactions, including rare life-threatening reactions, have occurred.
- Must be combined with other hepatitis C medicines; resistance can develop if treatment is incomplete.
- Liver disease and drug resistance affect treatment suitability.
Pregnancy
Used with ribavirin, which can cause severe birth defects; pregnancy must be avoided during ribavirin treatment.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding safety is unknown; ribavirin combination treatment is not recommended during breastfeeding.
Interactions
- Many interactions through CYP3A; some medicines are contraindicated.
- Can interact with hormonal contraceptives, reducing contraceptive effectiveness.
- Rifampin and St John’s wort can reduce telaprevir levels.
- May raise levels of some statins, sedatives, and heart medicines.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.