Ribavirin, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiviral; nucleoside analogue

Generic and brand names: ribavirin, oral; Copegus; Rebetol; Ribasphere

What is this medicine used for?

Ribavirin is taken by mouth (capsules) along with interferon (given by injection) to treat hepatitis C. It may be used for other liver conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

This medicine alone (taken by mouth) is not effective in the treatment of hepatitis C. Interferon shots 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
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, lupus, or from medicines to prevent rejection after an organ transplant
• breathing problems or lung disease
• depression, hallucinations, or other mental illnesses
• diabetes
• eye problems
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• high triglyceride levels
• kidney problems
• liver disease (other than hepatitis C virus infection)
• problems with drug or alcohol abuse
• sickle cell anemia or other blood disorders
• thyroid disease.

Tell your provider if you have received interferon treatment for hepatitis C in the past.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine can cause birth defects. Read the information that comes in the medicine package. Your healthcare provider check that you are not pregnant before starting this treatment. Use an effective birth control method while you are taking this medicine and for 6 months after stopping it. Stop taking this medicine at the first sign that you may be pregnant and contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

Males: Do not use this medicine if your female partner is pregnant.

How do I use it?

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.

Take it with food, and at the same time each day. Drink plenty of water while taking this medicines.

If you miss any doses of this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for 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 if 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?

This medicine must NOT be used by women who are pregnant or by the male partners of women who are pregnant. This medicine can cause severe birth defects. Use 2 forms of birth control to avoid pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your treatment ends. This is very important whether you are a man or a woman.

This medicine can cause anemia, a decrease in the number of red blood cells. This can be dangerous, especially if you have heart or breathing problems. This may make heart or circulatory problems worse. Some people may have chest pain and rarely, a heart attack.

This medicine can cause severe psychiatric side effects, including depression, thoughts of suicide, aggressive or violent behavior, and hallucinations. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

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

Do not drink alcohol while taking these medicines. Alcohol increases the risk of serious side effects.

This medicine is not effective for the treatment of HIV infection.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Your mouth may get dry. Drinking plenty of water, chewing sugarless gum, or sucking on hard sugarless candy may help to relieve dry mouth symptoms. This medicine may increase the risk of dental problems. Have regular dental check-ups.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. This medicine may also affect your blood sugar if you are not diabetic. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

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 are unable to reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat; trouble breathing.)

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Depression, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), thoughts of suicide, vision changes, unusual bleeding or bruising, paleness, fast heartbeat, dark urine, light colored bowel movements, yellowish skin or eyes, chest pain, stomach pain.

Other: Headache, tiredness, irritability, muscle or joint pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, cough, itching.

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:

• drugs to treat HIV such as zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir), lamivudine (Epivir), didanosine (Videx), zalcitabine (Hivid), abacavir (Ziagen), adefovir (Hepsera), and stavudine (Zerit)
• influenza vaccine

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

The capsules can be stored at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect 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 medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.