Ribavirin (Systemic)
Brand Names : Copegus, Rebetol, Virazole, Virazid, tribavirin
Before Receiving This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor
will make. For ribavirin, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you or your child has ever had
any unusual or allergic reaction to ribavirin . Also tell your health care
professional if you or your child is allergic to any other substances, such
as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Ribavirin for inhalation is not usually prescribed
for teenagers or adults. However, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant
may be exposed to ribavirin that is given off in the air if they spend time
at the child's bedside while ribavirin is being given. Although studies have
not been done in humans, ribavirin has been shown to cause birth defects and
other problems in certain animal studies. Be sure you have discussed this
with your doctor. Ribavirin for oral use should not be used while you are pregnant, if you
plan on becoming pregnant, or by men whose female partners are pregnant or
are planning to become pregnant. It has been shown to cause serious birth
defects and other problems in animals. Be sure you have discussed this with
your doctor.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether ribavirin passes into
human breast milk. However, ribavirin passes into the breast milk of animals
and has been shown to cause problems in nursing animals and their young. It
may be necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop breast feeding
during treatment with ribavirin. Be sure you have discussed the risks and
benefits of this with your doctor.
Children - Children may be sensitive to the effects of ribavirin.
This may increase the chance of side effects or other problems during treatment.
Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of this with your doctor.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore it may not be known if they work the same way that
they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems
in older people than they do in younger adults.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
ribavirin it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know
if you are taking any of the following:
-
Didanosine (e.g., Videx) - this medicine should not be used
at the same time as ribavirin because serious side effects can occur.
-
Stavudine (e.g., Zerit) or
-
Zidovudine (e.g., Retrovir) - these medicines should not be
used at the same time as ribavirin
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other
cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction
might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other
precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are
taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC])
medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems
may affect the use of ribavirin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have
any other medical problems, especially:
-
Anemia (blood disorder) or
-
Autoimmune hepatitis (liver inflammation) - Ribavirin could make
these conditions worse and lead to very serious side effects.
-
Heart disease - Patients with heart disease or a history of heart
disease should not use ribavirin oral dosage forms because serious side effects
can occur.
-
Blood conditions such as
-
Sickle Cell Anemia (red blood cell disorder) or
-
Thalassemia major (genetic blood disorder) - Ribavirin should
not be used in patients with these conditions.
-
Hepatic decompensation - Ribavirin medicine should not be used
in patients with this condition
-
Mental depression - Ribavirin should be used carefully in patients
with this condition, especially adolescents as serious side effects can occur
-
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) - Ribavirin should
suspended in patients with symptoms of this condition and stopped in patients
who have this condition
|