A female patient who has hepatitis c is being treated

8.
A female patient who has hepatitis C is being treated with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin
[Ribasphere]. It will be important for the nurse to teach this patient that:
Ribavirin causes severe fetal injury and is contraindicated during pregnancy. Women taking
ribavirin must rule out pregnancy before starting the drug, monthly during treatment, and
monthly for 6 months after stopping treatment. Inhaled ribavirin is also embryo lethal and
teratogenic. Adding a protease inhibitor will reduce the efficacy of oral contraceptives. Women
using ribavirin should use two reliable forms of birth control.
9.
A male patient with hepatitis C will begin triple drug therapy with pegylated interferon alfa 2a
[Pegasys], ribavirin [Ribasphere], and boceprevir [Victrelis]. The patient tells the nurse that his
wife is pregnant. What will the nurse tell him?
The triple combination is dangerous for pregnant women whose partners are using it, so it is
contraindicated for any man whose partner is pregnant. Barrier contraceptives should be used by
couples to prevent pregnancy when either partner is taking the triple combination therapy.
Ribavirin is teratogenic and is not safe when a partner is pregnant. This combination is not safe
for pregnant women whose partners are taking these drugs.

10.
A patient with hepatitis B begins treatment with adefovir [Hepsera] and asks the nurse how long
the drug therapy will last. The nurse will tell the patient that the medication will need to be taken
for:
Current guidelines recommend treatment only for patients at highest risk; it is unknown whether
treatment should continue lifelong. Treatment is usually prolonged, without a specific period of
time. Nephrotoxicity is common but is not the deciding factor when determining length of
effective treatment.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 1117
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiologic Integrity: Pharmacologic and Parenteral Therapies