Brand Name:

Ribabiovir^®

Dosage:

200 mg

Generic Name:

Ribavirin

Pharmacotherapeutic Group:

Antiviral (systemic)

Therapeutic Indication:

Ribavirin: In combination with recombinant interferon alfa-2b injection for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with compensated liver disease previously untreated with alpha interferon or who have relapsed following alpha interferon therapy.

Dosage and Administration:

ADULTS: PO Patients  75 kg: two 200 mg capsules in the morning and three 200 mg capsules in the evening. Patients > 75 kg: three 200 mg capsules in the morning and evening. In patients whose hemoglobin levels fall < 10 g/dL, reduce the ribavirin dose to 600 mg/day (one 200 mg capsule in the morning and two 200 mg capsules in the evening). Permanently discontinue ribavirin in patients whose hemoglobin levels fall < 8.5 g/dL

Side Effects:

• CV: Cardiac arrest, hypotension,
• CNS: Headache, dizziness, insomnia, irritability, depression, emotional lability, impaired concentration, nervousness, fatigue
• DERM: Rash; alopecia, pruritus, injection site inflammation and reaction.
• EENT: sinusitis, taste perversion, hearing disorders, vertigo.
• GI: Nausea, anorexia, dyspepsia, vomiting.
• HEM: hemolytic anemia, changes in hemoglobin, neutrophil, and platelet values.
• RESP: dyspnea.
• OTHER: Myalgia, arthralgia, musculo-skeletal pain, rigors, fever, flu-like symptoms, asthenia, chest pain.