Medications and Drugs

GENERIC NAME: RIBAVIRIN - ORAL CAPSULES (rye-buh-VYE-rin)

BRAND NAME(S): Rebetol

Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage | Medical Alert

WARNING: Ribavirin may cause birth defects and/or fetal death when used during pregnancy. Women of childbearing potential and their male partners must use two forms of reliable birth control (contraception) during treatment with this product and for 6 months after this medication has been stopped to avoid pregnancy. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for additional information.

USES: Ribavirin is used in combination with interferon to treat chronic hepatitis C infection. Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes swelling or enlargement of the liver.

HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth usually twice daily with or without food or as directed by your doctor. It is important to take this medication consistently either with food or without food. Taking it inconsistently (sometimes with food, sometimes without food) may decrease the effectiveness and/or increase your risk of side effects. It may be best to take this medicine with food (more medicine might be absorbed into your bloodstream). The dosage and length of treatment is based on your weight, medical condition, and response to therapy. Antiviral medications work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. It is recommended that female patients or female partners of male patients take a pregnancy test before this medication is started. Refer to the pregnancy warning in the Precautions section (below). Drink plenty of water while being treated with this medication; doing so will decrease the risk of serious side effects.