What are the contraindications of ribavirin?

What are the contraindications of ribavirin?

Who should not take RIBAVIRIN?

  • sarcoidosis.
  • thalassemia.
  • sickle cell anemia.
  • a type of blood disorder where the red blood cells burst called hemolytic anemia.
  • significant anemia.
  • decreased blood platelets.
  • low levels of a type of white blood cell called neutrophils.
  • a heart attack.

What is the ribavirin treatment and how does it work?

Ribavirin is in a class of antiviral medications called nucleoside analogues. It works by stopping the virus that causes hepatitis C from spreading inside the body.

What are the side effects of interferon and ribavirin?

In conclusion, the present meta-analysis indicated that treatment with peg IFN + ribavirin or interferon only is associated with a wide range of neuropsychiatric side effects, including fatigue, mood disorders, anxiety, irritability, emotional ability and agitation.

What is the mode of action of ribavirin?

The mechanism by which ribavirin up-regulates antiviral genes can explain ribavirin’s antiviral activity against both DNA and RNA viruses. In addition, it can explain how ribavirin synergistically acts with interferon. This mechanism of action would also limit development of resistant viral strains.

What are the most common side effects of ribavirin?

More common

  • Acid or sour stomach.
  • being forgetful.
  • belching.
  • bone pain.
  • change in taste or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste.
  • cracked, scaly skin.
  • crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin.
  • difficulty with moving.

Does ribavirin have a black box warning?

This drug has black box warnings. A black box warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A black box warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Ribavirin usage warning: Ribavirin shouldn’t be used alone to treat your hepatitis C virus infection.

What are the benefits of ribavirin?

Ribavirin is used in combination with other antiviral medications (such as interferon, sofosbuvir) to treat chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis C, a viral infection of the liver. Chronic hepatitis C infection can cause serious liver problems such as scarring (cirrhosis), or liver cancer.

Why ribavirin is used with interferon?

Pegylated interferon doubles the sustained viral response rate. When combined with pegylated interferon, ribavirin improves response rates for most populations to 42 to 46 percent for patients with genotype 1 and 76 to 82 percent for patients with genotypes 2 and 3.

What is ribavirin target?

Ribavirin mediates direct antiviral activity against a number of DNA and RNA viruses by increasing the mutation frequency in the genomes of several RNA viruses. It is a member of the nucleoside antimetabolite drugs that interfere with duplication of the viral genetic material.

How do you administer ribavirin?

It is given by oral inhalation, which means breathing the medicine as a fine mist through the mouth. Your child will use a special nebulizer (sprayer) that is attached to an oxygen hood, oxygen tent, or face mask .

What is ribavirin toxicity?

The primary clinical toxicity of Ribavirin is hemolytic anemia. The anemia associated with Ribavirin therapy may result in worsening of cardiac disease and lead to fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions.

What is side effect of ribavirin?

Nausea, diarrhea, stomach upset, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, trouble sleeping, cough, low appetite, weight loss or gain, dry skin, or changes in taste/hearing may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

What is a significant adverse reaction associated with the use of ribavirin?

Vertigo and hearing disorder have been reported during postmarketing experience with ribavirin capsules/oral solution in combination with interferon alfa-2b or peginterferon alfa-2b. Headache and dizziness have been reported in health care workers exposed to aerosolized ribavirin.

What is the antiviral drug ribavirin?

Producing a broad-spectrum activity against several RNA and DNA viruses, Ribavirin is a synthetic guanosine nucleoside and antiviral agent that interferes with the synthesis of viral mRNA. It is primarily indicated for use in treating hepatitis C and viral hemorrhagic fevers.

How do direct-acting antivirals work?

Direct-acting antivirals work by blocking the action of proteins which are essential for making new hepatitis C viruses.

Why is ribavirin used?

Ribavirin is used in combination with injectable interferon alfa-2b, peginterferon alfa-2a, or peginterferon alfa-2b to treat chronic hepatitis C infection. This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms: Tablet.

What are the indications for ribavirin?

VIRAZOLE (ribavirin) is indicated for the treatment of hospitalized infants and young children with severe lower respiratory tract infections due to respiratory syncytial virus. Treatment early in the course of severe lower respiratory tract infection may be necessary to achieve efficacy.

Does ribavirin cause itchy skin?

Ribavirin has been found to cause itching, nasal stuffiness, recurrent bronchitis, and asthmalike symptoms. These histamine-like side effects occur in 10–20% of patients and are usually mild to moderate in severity. Stryjek-Kaminska and colleagues6 have reported photoallergic skin reactions from ribavirin.

Is Ribavirin a direct-acting antiviral?

The role of ribavirin in direct acting antiviral drug regimens for chronic hepatitis C – PMC. The .

What are the musculoskeletal side effects of ribavirin?

Musculoskeletal side effects associated with oral ribavirin in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2b, or interferon alfa-2b have included myalgia (up to 64%), arthralgia (up to 34%), musculoskeletal pain (up to 28%), and back pain (5%).

What is the clinical pharmacology of ribavirin?

Ribavirin – Clinical Pharmacology 1 Mechanism of Action. Ribavirin is an antiviral drug [see MICROBIOLOGY ( 12.4) ]. 2 Pharmacokinetics. Multiple dose Ribavirin pharmacokinetic data are available for HCV patients who received Ribavirin in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a. 3 Microbiology.

Should ribavirin be reduced in patients with low creatinine clearance?

The dose of Ribavirin should be reduced in patients with creatinine clearance less than or equal to 50 mL/min; and the dose of peginterferon alfa-2a should be reduced in patients with creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ( 2.4 ); USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS ( 8.7 )].

What is the recommended dose of ribavirin tablets?

The recommended dose of Ribavirin tablets is provided in Table 1. The recommended duration of treatment for patients previously untreated with Ribavirin and interferon is 24 to 48 weeks. The daily dose of Ribavirin is 800 mg to 1200 mg administered orally in two divided doses.