Boceprevir, Oral boh-SEH-preh-veer

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: HCV protease inhibitor

Generic and brand names: boceprevir, oral; Victrelis

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat continuing (chronic) hepatitis C virus infections in adults. This medicine alone is not effective in the treatment of hepatitis C. Peginterferon and ribavirin must also be given in order for the treatment to be effective.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• an organ transplant
• blood disorders such as low red blood cell count (anemia) or low white blood cell count (neutropenia)
• HIV infection (You may become resistant to another type of this medicine used to treat HIV if you take this medicine)
• kidney disease
• liver disease other than hepatitis C

Taking this medicine with certain other medicines may be life-threatening. Tell your provider about ALL of the medicines and natural remedies you take, especially antibiotics, antipsychotics, sedatives, St. John's Wort, medicines for migraine headaches, birth control hormones, and medicines to treat cholesterol, an enlarged prostate, pulmonary hypertension, or seizures.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine can cause birth defects. Read the information that comes in the medicine package. Your healthcare provider will check that you are not pregnant before starting this treatment, each month during treatment, and for 6 months after stopping treatment. Use 2 or more forms of an effective birth control method while you are taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping it. Hormonal forms of birth control may not work as well during treatment with this medicine. Talk to your healthcare provider about effective forms of birth control. Stop taking this medicine at the first sign that you may be pregnant. If you think you may be pregnant while taking this medicine or within 6 months after stopping this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

Males: Use 2 or more forms of an effective birth control method while you are taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping it. Talk to your healthcare provider about effective forms of birth control. Do not use this medicine if your female partner is pregnant.

How do I take it?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. Your symptoms may get worse if you stop taking this medicine too soon. Do not run out of this medicine.

This medicine comes in single daily-use bottles. Each bottle has one day’s worth of medicine. Take this medicine with food. Take it 3 times each day, along with the other medicines. Make sure you understand how to take all medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it (with food) as soon as you remember, unless it is less than 2 hours before the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose or you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

You should be tested for HIV infection before taking this medicine and while taking this medicine. If you have an HIV infection and take this medicine, the HIV infection can become more difficult to treat.

This medicine does not cure hepatitis C or keep you from spreading it to other people. Do not share needles, toothbrushes, or razor blades with others.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine. Carry an ID card or a Medic Alert bracelet. If you become unconscious, the ID tells emergency healthcare providers that you may need special care.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Unusual weakness or tiredness, shortness of breath, coldness in your hands and feet, pale skin, chest pain, unusual bruising or bleeding, fever or other signs of infection.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, change in sense of taste, decreased appetite, tiredness, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, rash, hair loss, dry mouth, dry skin.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alpha blockers such as alfuzosin (Urotraxal), silodosin (Rapaflo), and tamsulosin (Flomax)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), isoniazid, metronidazole (Flagyl), rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin), rifapentine (Priftin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), desipramine (Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro), nefazodone, trazodone (Oleptro), trimipramine (Surmontil), and venlafaxine (Effexor)
• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), and voriconazole (VFEND)
• anti-HIV medicines such as efavirenz (Sustiva), nevirapine (Viramune), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• antipsychotic medicines such as aripiprazole (Abilify), haloperidol, lurasidone (Latuda), and pimozide (Orap)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), clonazepam (Klonopin), ethosuximide (Zarontin), fosphenytoin (Cerebyx), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• cisapride
• colchicine (Colcrys)
• dexamethasone
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac), digoxin, disopyramide (Norpace), dronedarone (Multaq), eplerenone (Inspra), felodipine, flecainide (Tambocor), isradipine (DynaCirc CR), lidocaine, nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), propafenone (Rythmol), ranolazine (Ranexa), quinidine, and verapamil (Calan, Verelan)
• hormonal birth control pills, rings, shots, and implants that contain drospirenone, such as (Angeliq, Beyaz, Yaz) (Talk to your health care provider if you need birth control)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• medicines to treat breathing problems such as budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase, Veramyst), mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex), salmeterol (Serevent) and salmeterol/fluticasone (Advair)
• medicines to treat erectile dysfunction such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra)
• medicines to treat low sodium such as conivaptan (Vaprisol) and tolvaptan (Samsca)
• medicines to treat pulmonary hypertension such as bosentan (Tracleer), sildenafil (Revatio) and tadalafil (Adcirca)
• methylergonovine (Methergine)
• migraine medicines such as dihydroergotamine (Migranal Nasal Spray, DHE 45) and ergotamine (Ergomar)
• nilotinib (Tasigna)
• pain medicines such as buprenorphine (Butrans, Subutex) and methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• sedatives such as alprazolam (Xanax), buspirone (BuSpar), clorazepate (Tranxene), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), eszopiclone (Lunesta), flurazepam, midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), and zolpidem (Ambien)
• St. John's wort
• stimulants such as armodafinil (Nuvigil) and modafinil (Provigil)
• toremifene (Fareston)
• warfarin (Coumadin)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine in the refrigerator if possible. You may store it at room temperature for up to 3 months. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.