DESCRIPTION
Ribavirin belongs to a class of drugs known as antivirals. Rebetol is used to treat hepatitis C in combination with another antiviral known as peginterferon alfa. It is not known if treatment with ribavirin and interferon alfa (an immunomodulator drug) or peginterferon alfa therapies will prevent the spread of hepatitis C to other persons, cure hepatitis C, or prevent complications associated with this liver disease. Side effects include headache, heartburn, itching, nausea, skin rash, and vomiting.

ORIGINAL USES (ON-LABEL)
Inhalation: treatment of severe lower respiratory tract infections due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in infants and children.
Oral: Used in combination with interferon alfa-2b or peginterferon alfa-2b for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with liver disease who have received previous treatment with or relapsed after interferon therapy

NEWLY DISCOVERED USES (OFF-LABEL)
Influenza A and B treatment, liver cirrhosis, liver fibrosis, therapy-resistant hepatitis C, viral hemorrhagic fever.

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Inhalation: Fatigue, headache, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, anemia.

Oral (in combination therapy with interferon alpha-2b): Agitation, anxiety, emotional lability, impaired concentration, depression, dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, hair loss, itching, rash, dry skin, increased sweating, abdominal pain, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, anemia, joint aches, muscle pain and aches, fever, cough, sore throat, change in taste sensation, headache, dry mouth, injection site reaction.

CAUTIONS
  • This drug can cause malformations in fetuses and is not for use if you are pregnant or trying to conceive with a male patient who is on therapy. If of childbearing age, you must use at least two forms of effective contraception during therapy and for six months after therapy is completed. Requires negative pregnancy test to start therapy. Pregnancy testing should be performed monthly during therapy and for six months after therapy is completed.
  • This drug should not be used in patients with pancreatitis.
ORAL:
  • Notify your doctor if you have sarcoidosis, lung disease, heart disease, or history of psychiatric disorders.
  • Primary toxicity is hemolytic anemia, occurring in 10% of those who receive this drug, usually occurring within one to two weeks of initiation of therapy. Requires blood testing before therapy begins and periodically during therapy.
  • Heart attacks have been reported in patients with drug-induced anemia. Notify your doctor if you have heart disease prior to the initiation of therapy. Cardiac status should be monitored during therapy.
  • This drug should not be used in patients with decreased kidney function.
  • Not for use as monotherapy in the treatment of hepatitis C.
  • Not for use in patients with autoimmune hepatitis, anemia, or severe heart disease.
  • Safety and efficacy not established in organ transplant patients, certain types of liver disease, concurrent hepatitis B or HIV, or patients less than three years old.
  • Requires periodic testing during therapy for blood disorders, liver function, thyroid function, and pregnancy.
INHALATION:
  • Not for use in patients requiring ventilation. Not for use in adults.
  • Should be used cautiously in people with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, congenital heart disease.
  • Requires monitoring of respiratory function during therapy.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Oral: antacids containing magnesium, aluminum, and simethicone, zidovudine, stavudine.

FOOD INTERACTIONS
High-fat meals may ease absorption and blood levels (oral formulations). May take capsules with or without food, but should be consistent. Should take capsules with food if taking with peginterferon alfa-2b. Tablets should be taken with food.

HERBAL INTERACTIONS
Unknown

PREGNANCY AND BREAST-FEEDING CAUTIONS
FDA Pregnancy Risk Category X. Excretion in breast milk is unknown. Do not breast-feed during therapy.

SPECIAL INFORMATION
All formulations of this drug have a black box warning that describes various risks associated with therapy (see cautions). Read the Medication Safety Guide prior to therapy and discuss such risks with your doctor.

Spanish researchers noted the use of rebetol alone for six months in four patients with therapy-resistant hepatitis C that did not respond to treatment with alfa interferon. In these patients, rebetol was well tolerated and researchers concluded that this drug has a role, most likely in combination with interferon, in the treatment of therapy-resistant hepatitis C. Physicians recommend using oral ribavirin along with pegylated interferon alfa drugs for patients who have been treated with standard interferon alone or in combination with oral rebetol but still have high levels of the virus in their blood. Study results have found that 15 percent to 20 percent of patients with therapy-resistant hepatitis C that did not respond to standard treatment improved and sustained low or undetectable levels of the virus after treatment with oral ribavirin and peginterferon alfa.

In another study, the combination of oral ribavirin and pegylated interferon significantly reduced the level of the virus in the blood in 55% of the patients. In general, this treatment combination appears to be a well-recognized, possible treatment option in people with therapy-resistant hepatitis C who do not respond to conventional therapy.

Buy Ribavirin online

Where can I buy Ribavirin without prescription?
Rebetol is a prescription drug that comes in 200 mg capsules. It is available on prescription only as capsules for oral use, but the online pharmacy, will sell Rebetol without prescription. You may be able to order Ribavirin from them online and save the local pharmacy markup.

Whether I can pay my Ribavirin order by Credit Card?
Pharmacies accept credit cards Visa and Mastercard, online checks (ACH), EuroDebit, Wire transfers.

Is the Ribavirin purchase legal?
Yes, it is legal. You confirm, that buy Ribavirin capsules only for personal use without the purposes of resale. All medicines are solved for application in the majority of the countries. Generic Rebetol should pass any customs house, including American, without problems. If you have problems with customs house, inform pharmacy, they shall repeat (free-of-charge) your Rebetol order.

If I'm buying Ribavirin online for the first time?
Buy Rebetol online after comparing prices to your local pharmacy and you'll agree - any drugstore can sell you generic cheap Ribavirin at a reduced cost.

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What is Ribavirin?
This drug blocks the reproduction of RNA and DNA in viruses. It also exhibits inhibitory activity against influenza.
BRAND NAME
Ribasphere, Virazole, Rebetol, Copegus

GENERIC NAME
Ribavirin

CHEMICAL CLASS
Nucleoside analog

THERAPEUTIC CLASS
Antiviral
AVAIL FORMS
Capsules — Oral 200 mg.
DOSAGE
Adult
Influenza A or B: INH sol of 6 g in 300 ml additive free sterile water administered by small particle aerosol generator for 18 hr then 4 hr tid per day for 3 days.
Lassa fever: Treatment, IV 30 mg/kg load, then in 6 hr, 16 mg/kg q6h for 4 days, then 8 mg/kg q8h for 6 days; prevention in high-risk contacts, PO 500 mg q6h for 7-10 days.
Hantavirus-associated hemorrhagic fever: Treatment, IV 33 mg/kg (max 2000 mg) load, then in 6 hr, 16 mg/kg (max 1000 mg) q6h for 15 doses, then 8 mg/kg (max 500 mg) q8h for 9 doses.

Child
RSV infection: INH sol of 6 g in 300 ml additive free sterile water administered by small particle aerosol generator for 12-18 hr per day for 3-7 days.
Lassa fever: Prevention in high-risk contacts, age >9 yr, PO 500 mg q6h for 7-10 days; age 6-9 yr, PO 400 mg q6h for 7-10 days.

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