{"id":21716,"date":"2022-06-08T07:35:18","date_gmt":"2022-06-08T07:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/?p=21716"},"modified":"2022-06-08T10:09:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-08T10:09:13","slug":"rebetol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/medicines\/rebetol\/","title":{"rendered":"Rebetol &#8211; Ribavirin uses, dose and side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>200 mg&nbsp;hard capsules<br>ribavirin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Rebetol is and what it is used for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebetol contains the active substance ribavirin.\u00a0This medicine prevents the proliferation of\u00a0the hepatitis\u00a0C\u00a0virus.\u00a0Rebetol should not be used alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the genotype of the\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C\u00a0virus\u00a0you have, your doctor may choose to treat you with a combination of this medicine and other medicines.\u00a0Depending on whether you have been previously treated or not treated for\u00a0chronic\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C\u00a0infection, there may be additional treatment restrictions.\u00a0Your doctor will recommend the best treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The combination of Rebetol and other medicines is used in the treatment of adult patients with&nbsp;chronic&nbsp;hepatitis&nbsp;C (&nbsp;HCV&nbsp;).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebetol can be used in children (aged 3 years and older) and adolescents who have not been treated before and who do not have severe liver disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For children and adolescents weighing less than 47 kg, this medicine is available in the form of an&nbsp;oral&nbsp;solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you need to know before using Rebetol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do not take Rebetol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not take Rebetol if any of the following apply to you or the child for whom you are responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are not sure,&nbsp;<strong>talk to your doctor<\/strong>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<strong>pharmacist<\/strong>&nbsp;before taking Rebetol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>is\u00a0<strong>allergic<\/strong>\u00a0to ribavirin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).<\/li><li>is\u00a0<strong>pregnant or planning to become pregnant<\/strong>\u00a0(see section \u201cPregnancy and breastfeeding\u201d).<\/li><li>Ammar.<\/li><li>has had a serious\u00a0heart problem\u00a0for the past six months.<\/li><li>have any\u00a0blood disease, such as\u00a0anemia\u00a0(low\u00a0red blood cell count\u00a0),\u00a0thalassemia,\u00a0or sickle cell anemia.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Reminder: Read the \u201cDo not take\u201d section of the package leaflet for the other medicines used in combination with this medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warnings and cautions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several serious&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;associated with combination therapy with ribavirin and (peg)&nbsp;interferon&nbsp;alfa.&nbsp;These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Mental effects and effects on the\u00a0central nervous system\u00a0(such as depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, aggressive behavior, etc.).\u00a0Be sure to seek emergency care if you notice that you are depressed or have suicidal thoughts or that your behavior is changing.\u00a0You may want to consider asking a family member or close friend for help in drawing attention to signs of depression or changes in your behavior.<\/li><li>Serious eye changes<\/li><li>Dental and gum problems: Dental and gum problems have been reported in patients receiving Rebetol in combination with (peg)\u00a0interferon\u00a0alfa \u2011 2b.\u00a0You should brush your teeth thoroughly twice daily and go for regular dental checkups.\u00a0In addition, some patients may vomit.\u00a0If you get this reaction, rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward<\/li><li>Inability to reach full length as an adult can occur in some children and adolescents<\/li><li>Increase in\u00a0hormones\u00a0that affect the thyroid gland (\u00a0TSH\u00a0) in children and adolescents<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Children and young people<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are responsible for a child and your doctor decides not to wait for combination therapy with peginterferon alfa \u2011 2b or\u00a0interferon\u00a0alfa \u2011 2b until adulthood, it is important to note that this combination therapy causes growth retardation that may be permanent in some patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, the following events have occurred in patients taking Rebetol:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hemolysis: Rebetol can cause a breakdown of&nbsp;red blood cells&nbsp;leading to&nbsp;anemia&nbsp;which can impair your heart function or worsen the symptoms of heart disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pancytopenia: Rebetol may cause a decrease in\u00a0platelet counts, as well as read and\u00a0white blood cells\u00a0when used in combination with peginterferon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Standard<\/strong>\u00a0blood tests will be taken to check blood, kidney, and liver function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Regular blood tests will be done to help your doctor know if the treatment is working.<\/li><li>Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor may change\/adjust the number of hard capsules you or the child you are responsible for taking,\u00a0prescribe\u00a0a different pack size of this medicine, and\/or change the duration of treatment.<\/li><li>If you have or develop severe kidney or liver problems, treatment will be stopped.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Seek medical attention\u00a0<strong>immediately<\/strong>\u00a0if you develop symptoms of a severe\u00a0allergic reaction\u00a0(such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, or hives) during treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Talk to a doctor<\/strong>&nbsp;about you or the child you are responsible for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>is a woman of\u00a0<strong>childbearing<\/strong>\u00a0potential (see section \u201cPregnancy and breastfeeding\u201d).<\/li><li>is\u00a0male\u00a0and your female partner is of childbearing potential (see section \u201cPregnancy and breast-feeding\u201d).<\/li><li>previously had a\u00a0heart\u00a0condition or have heart disease.<\/li><li>have any other\u00a0liver\u00a0problems in addition to\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C\u00a0infection.<\/li><li>if you have\u00a0<strong>kidney<\/strong>\u00a0problems.<\/li><li>have\u00a0<strong>HIV\u00a0(<\/strong>\u00a0human immunodeficiency virus) or ever had problems with the immune system.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read the (peg)&nbsp;interferon&nbsp;alfa package leaflet for more detailed information on these safety issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reminder: Read the \u201cWarnings and Precautions\u201d section of the Package Leaflet for the other medicines used in combination with Rebetol before starting the combination treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use for children and adolescents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the child weighs less than 47 kg or can not swallow, Rebetol is available in the form of an&nbsp;oral&nbsp;solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other medicines and Rebetol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you or the child you are taking, have recently taken, or might take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>azathioprine, a drug that suppresses your immune system, which in combination with Rebetol may increase the risk of developing severe blood clots.<\/li><li>anti-human immunodeficiency virus (\u00a0HIV\u00a0) \u2011drug [reverse nucleoside analog transcriptase (\u00a0NRTI\u00a0) and\/or combined\u00a0antiretroviral\u00a0therapy (\u00a0cART\u00a0)]:<ul><li>Taking this drug in combination with alpha-interferon and anti &#8211;\u00a0HIV\u00a0drugs may increase the risk of lactic acidosis, liver failure, and the development of blood clots (decreased number of\u00a0red blood cells\u00a0that carry oxygen, certain\u00a0white blood cells\u00a0that fight\u00a0infections,\u00a0and\u00a0platelets\u00a0that coagulate the blood).<\/li><li>With\u00a0zidovudine\u00a0or\u00a0stavudine, it has not been established whether this medicine can change the way these medicines work.\u00a0Your blood will therefore be tested regularly to ensure that\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection\u00a0does\u00a0not worsen.\u00a0If it gets worse, your doctor will decide if your treatment with Rebetol needs to be changed.\u00a0In addition, patients treated with\u00a0zidovudine\u00a0and\u00a0ribavirin\u00a0in combination with\u00a0alpha-interferon\u00a0may develop\u00a0anemia\u00a0(low\u00a0red blood cell count).\u00a0Therefore, the use of zidovudine and ribavirin in combination with alpha interferon is not recommended.<\/li><li>Due to the risk of lactic acidosis (accumulation of\u00a0lactic acid\u00a0in the body) and pancreatitis, the use of\u00a0ribavirin and didanosine\u00a0is not recommended and the use of\u00a0ribavirin and stavudine\u00a0should be avoided.<\/li><li>For patients who are concomitantly infected with HCV \/ HIV, receive cART, and have advanced liver disease, there is a risk that liver function will worsen.\u00a0The addition of treatment with alpha-interferon alone or in combination with ribavirin may increase that risk in this patient population.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Reminder: Read the \u201cOther medicines\u201d section of the package leaflet for the other medicines used in combination with Rebetol before starting combination therapy with this medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pregnancy and breastfeeding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are\u00a0<strong>pregnant<\/strong>, do not use this medicine.\u00a0This medicine can be very harmful to your unborn baby (fetus).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both women and men must take&nbsp;<strong>special precautions<\/strong>&nbsp;in their sexual intercourse if there is a possibility that pregnancy will occur:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Girl<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>woman<\/strong>\u00a0of\u00a0childbearing potential: You must show a negative pregnancy test before treatment, every month during treatment, and for 9 months after the end of treatment.\u00a0You must use effective contraception during your treatment and for 9 months after the last\u00a0dose.\u00a0You should discuss this with your doctor.<\/li><li>you should not have intercourse with a pregnant woman unless they are\u00a0using a condom.\u00a0This reduces the risk of ribavirin remaining in the woman&#8217;s body.\u00a0If your female partner is not pregnant now but is of\u00a0childbearing potential, she must have a pregnancy test every month during treatment and for 6 months after treatment has ended.\u00a0You or your female partner must use an effective contraceptive while you are taking Rebetol and for 6 months after stopping treatment.\u00a0You should discuss this with your doctor (see section \u201cDo not take Rebetol\u201d).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are a woman who is\u00a0<b>breastfeeding<\/b>, do not use this medicine.\u00a0Stop breastfeeding before you start taking this medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Driving and using machines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine does not affect your ability to drive or use machines.\u00a0However, other medicines used in combination with Rebetol may have some effect on your ability to drive and use machines.\u00a0Therefore, do not drive or use machines if you get tired, drowsy, or confused by this treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rebetol contains lactose and sodium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lactose<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each capsule contains a small amount of\u00a0<strong>lactose<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have been told by your doctor that you\u00a0<strong>have an intolerance to some\u00a0sugars<\/strong>, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sodium<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg)&nbsp;sodium&nbsp;per capsule, ie essentially &#8216;sodium-free&#8217;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to use Rebetol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>General information on how to take this medicine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you.&nbsp;Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not take more than the recommended&nbsp;dose&nbsp;and take the medicine for the time it is prescribed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your doctor has determined the correct&nbsp;dose&nbsp;of one of these medicines based on how much you or the child you are responsible for weighs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adults<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The recommended&nbsp;dose&nbsp;of Rebetol and the duration of treatment depend on the patient&#8217;s weight and the medicines used in combination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Use for children and adolescents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dosage\u00a0for children older than 3 years and adolescents depends on how much the person weighs and on the drugs used in combination.\u00a0The recommended\u00a0dose\u00a0of Rebetol used in combination with\u00a0interferon\u00a0alfa \u2011 2b or peginterferon alfa \u2011 2b is shown in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>The rebetol dose is based on body weight when combined with&nbsp;interferon&nbsp;alfa \u2011 2b or peginterferon alfa \u2011 2b in children older than 3 years and adolescents<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>If the\u00a0<strong>child\/adolescent<\/strong>\u00a0weighs (kg)<\/td><td>Common daily Rebetoldos<\/td><td>Number of 200 mg capsules<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>47 &#8211; 49<\/td><td>600 mg<\/td><td>1 capsule in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>50 &#8211; 65<\/td><td>800 mg<\/td><td>2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&gt; 65<\/td><td>See adult dose<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Take your prescribed\u00a0dose\u00a0by mouth with water and with your meal.\u00a0Do not chew the hard capsules.\u00a0For children or adolescents who are unable to swallow hard capsules, there is an\u00a0oral\u00a0solution to this medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reminder: This medicine is used in combination with other medicines to treat\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C\u00a0virus\u00a0infection.\u00a0For complete information, read the section \u201cHow to take\u201d in the package leaflets of the other medicines used in combination with Rebetol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you take more Rebetol than you should<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you forget to take Rebetol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Take\/miss the missed\u00a0dose\u00a0as soon as possible on the same day.\u00a0If a full day has passed, consult your doctor.\u00a0Do not take a double\u00a0dose\u00a0to make up for a forgotten\u00a0dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Possible side effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like all medicines, this medicine can cause\u00a0side effects, although not everybody gets them.\u00a0Although not all of these\u00a0side effects\u00a0occur, they may require medical attention if they do occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The side effects\u00a0in this section were mainly observed when ribavirin was used in combination with drugs containing\u00a0interferon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When this drug was used in combination with other drugs to treat\u00a0hepatitis\u00a0C (also called direct-acting\u00a0antivirals\u00a0) in\u00a0clinical trials\u00a0in adults, the most common\u00a0side effects\u00a0were low\u00a0red blood cell count\u00a0(\u00a0anemia\u00a0), nausea, vomiting, fatigue, fatigue, difficulty to fall asleep, cough, shortness of breath,\u00a0itching,\u00a0and rash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, read the package leaflet for the other medicines used in combination with ribavirin for information on\u00a0the side effects\u00a0of these products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tell your doctor immediately<\/strong>&nbsp;if you notice any of the following&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;occurring with combination therapy with other medicines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>chest pain or persistent cough, changes in how your heart beats, fainting,<\/li><li>confusion, depression, suicidal ideation or aggressive behavior, suicide attempts, thoughts of threatening others to live,<\/li><li>numbness or stinging sensation,<\/li><li>difficulty sleeping or thinking or concentrating,<\/li><li>severe abdominal pain, black or tar-like stools, blood in the stools or urine, pain in the lower back or side,<\/li><li>painful or awkward urination,<\/li><li>severe bleeding from the nose,<\/li><li>fever or chills that occur after a few weeks of treatment,<\/li><li>problems with your vision or hearing,<\/li><li>severe skin rash or severe\u00a0redness.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The following&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;have been reported with combination therapy with hard capsules of this medicine and an alpha interferon product&nbsp;<strong>in adults<\/strong>&nbsp;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Very common&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;reported&nbsp;<\/em><em>&nbsp;(may affect more than 1 user in 10):<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>decreased number of\u00a0red blood cells\u00a0(which can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness), decrease in some\u00a0white blood cells\u00a0(which makes you more susceptible to various\u00a0infections\u00a0),<\/li><li>difficulty concentrating, feeling anxious or nervous, mood swings, depression or irritability, feeling tired, difficulty falling asleep or sleeping,<\/li><li>cough,\u00a0dry mouth,\u00a0inflammation\u00a0of the throat (sore throat),<\/li><li>diarrhea, dizziness, fever,\u00a0flu-like symptoms, headache, nausea, chills, viral infection, vomiting, weakness,<\/li><li>decreased appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain,<\/li><li>dry skin, irritation, hair loss,\u00a0itching, muscle aches, muscle aches, joint and muscle pain, and rash.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Commonly reported&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(&nbsp;<\/em><em>may affect up to 1 in 10 people):<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Decreased\u00a0platelet count\u00a0(which is involved in\u00a0coagulation\u00a0), which can cause bruising and spontaneous bleeding, decreased\u00a0white blood cell count\u00a0lymphocytes\u00a0that\u00a0help fight\u00a0infection, decreased thyroid activity (which can make you feel tired, depressed, do that you become sensitive to cold and other symptoms), excess sugar and\u00a0uric acid\u00a0(as in\u00a0gout\u00a0) in the blood, low calcium levels in the blood, severe\u00a0anemia,<\/li><li>fungal or bacterial infections, crying, upset, memory loss, memory loss, nervousness, abnormal behavior, aggressive behavior, anger, confusion, lack of interest, mental disorder, mood swings, unusual dreams, desire to hurt oneself, drowsiness, lack of sleep, absence. or ability to have sex, dizziness (feeling of rotation),<\/li><li>blurred vision or abnormal vision, irritation or pain or\u00a0infection\u00a0in the eyes, dry or watery eyes, hearing or voice changes, tinnitus, ear infection, earache, cold sores (\u00a0herpes\u00a0simplex), taste changes, loss of taste, bleeding gums or sores in the mouth, burning sensation on the tongue, sore tongue, inflamed gums, dental problems,\u00a0migraines, respiratory infections, sinusitis, nosebleeds, dry cough, rapid or difficult breathing, stuffy or runny nose, thirst, dental disease<\/li><li>wheezing\u00a0(abnormal sounds from the heartbeat), chest pain or discomfort, fainting, malaise, swelling, increased sweating, heat intolerance and profuse sweating, low or high\u00a0blood pressure, palpitations (beating heartbeat), rapid heartbeat,<\/li><li>bloating, constipation, stomach upset,\u00a0flatulence, increased appetite, intestinal irritation, prostate irritation, jaundice (yellowish skin), loose stools, pain on the right side of the ribs, enlarged liver, upset stomach, frequent need to urinate, urinate more than common, urinary tract infection, abnormal urine,<\/li><li>severe, irregular or absent menstruation, abnormally heavy and long periods of menstruation, painful menstruation, ovarian or vaginal disorders, chest pain, erection problems,<\/li><li>abnormal hair structure,\u00a0acne,\u00a0arthritis, bruising,\u00a0eczema\u00a0(inflamed, red, itchy, and dry skin possibly with exuding sores), hives, increased or decreased sensitivity to touch, nail problems, muscle twitching, numbness or tingling sensation, pain in an arm or leg, joint pain, trembling hands,\u00a0psoriasis, swollen hands and ankles, sensitivity to sunlight, raised skin rashes, reddening or skin problems, facial swelling, swollen\u00a0glands\u00a0(swollen\u00a0lymph nodes\u00a0), tense muscles,\u00a0tumor\u00a0(unspecified), unsteady gait, dehydration.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Uncommon reported&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(&nbsp;<\/em><em>may affect up to 1 in 100 people):<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>to hear and see images that do not exist,<\/li><li>heart attack, panic attack,<\/li><li>hypersensitivity reaction\u00a0to the drug,<\/li><li>pancreatitis, bone pain,\u00a0diabetes mellitus,<\/li><li>muscle weakness.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rarely reported&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(&nbsp;<\/em><em>may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)&nbsp;<\/em><em>:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>cramps,<\/li><li>pneumonia,<\/li><li>rheumatoid arthritis, kidney problems,<\/li><li>dark or bloody stools, intense abdominal pain,<\/li><li>sarcoidosis\u00a0(a disease characterized by persistent fever, weight loss, aching and swollen joints, skin changes, and swollen\u00a0glands\u00a0),<\/li><li>inflammation\u00a0of the vessel wall.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Very rarely reported&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(&nbsp;<\/em><em>may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)&nbsp;<\/em><em>:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>suicide,<\/li><li>stroke&nbsp;(cerebrovascular events).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>No known frequency of side effects&nbsp;<\/em><em>(affects an unknown number of users):<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>thoughts of threatening others to live,<\/li><li>mania (excessive or unfounded enthusiasm),<\/li><li>pericarditis (\u00a0inflammation\u00a0of the pericardium), pericardial effusion (fluid accumulation that develops between the pericardium and the heart itself),<\/li><li>discoloration of the tongue.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Side effects&nbsp;are in children and adolescents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;have been reported with combination therapy with this drug and an&nbsp;interferon&nbsp;alfa-2b product&nbsp;<strong>in children and adolescents<\/strong>&nbsp;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Very common&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;reported&nbsp;<\/em><em>(may affect more than 1 user in 10):<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>decreased number of\u00a0red blood cells\u00a0(which can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness), decrease in some\u00a0white blood cells\u00a0(which makes you more susceptible to various\u00a0infections\u00a0),<\/li><li>decreased thyroid activity (which may make you feel tired, depressed, make you sensitive to colds and other symptoms),<\/li><li>depression or irritability, feeling sick to the stomach, feeling sick, mood swings, feeling tired, difficulty falling asleep or sleeping viral infection, weakness,<\/li><li>diarrhea, dizziness, fever,\u00a0flu-like symptoms, headache, decreased or increased appetite, weight loss, decrease in growth rate (height and weight), pain on the right side of the ribs,\u00a0inflammation\u00a0of the throat (sore throat), chills, abdominal pain, vomiting,<\/li><li>dry skin, hair loss, irritation,\u00a0itching, muscle aches, muscle aches, joint and muscle pain, and rash.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Commonly reported&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(&nbsp;<\/em><em>may affect up to 1 in 10 people)&nbsp;<\/em><em>:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>decreased\u00a0platelet counts, cells involved in\u00a0coagulation\u00a0(it can cause bruising and spontaneous bleeding),<\/li><li>excess fats (\u00a0triglycerides\u00a0) in the blood, excess\u00a0uric acid\u00a0(as in\u00a0gout\u00a0) in the blood, increased thyroid activity (which can make you nervous, intolerant of heat and sweat a lot, lose weight, have palpitations, tremble),<\/li><li>agitation, anger, aggressive behavior, behavioral disorders, difficulty concentrating, emotional instability, fainting, feeling of anxiety or nervousness, feeling cold, confusion, restlessness, tiredness, lack of interest and attention, mood swings, drowsiness, drowsiness, drowsiness dreams, the desire to hurt oneself,<\/li><li>bacterial infections, colds, fungal infections, abnormal vision, dry or watery eyes, ear infections, irritation or pain or\u00a0infection\u00a0in the eyes, taste changes, voice changes, cold sores, cough, inflamed gums, nosebleeds, irritation of the nose, pain in the mouth,\u00a0inflammation\u00a0of the throat (sore throat ), rapid breathing, respiratory infections, flaking lips and self-cracks in the mouth pores, shortness of breath, sinusitis, sneezing, sores in the mouth, sore tongue, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, toothache, teeth problems (including warts), dizziness (feeling of rotation), weakness,<\/li><li>chest pain, hot flashes, palpitations (beating heartbeat), rapid heartbeat,<\/li><li>liver dysfunction,<\/li><li>acid regurgitation, back pain, bedwetting, constipation, problems with the stomach or rectum,\u00a0incontinence, increased appetite,\u00a0inflammation\u00a0of the gastrointestinal mucosa, upset stomach, loose stools,<\/li><li>urination problems, urinary tract infection,<\/li><li>severe, irregular or absent menstruation, abnormally heavy and long periods of menstruation, vaginal problems,\u00a0inflammation\u00a0of the vagina, pain in the testicles, development of male body features,<\/li><li>acne, bruising,\u00a0eczema\u00a0(inflamed, red, itchy, and dry skin possibly with exuding sores), increased or decreased sensitivity to touch, increased sweating, increased muscle movements, tense muscles, pain in the\u00a0extremities, nail problems, numbness or tingling sensation, pale skin, rash with raised patchy changes, trembling hands, reddening of the skin or skin problems, discoloration of the skin, skin sensitive to sunlight, skin ulcers, swelling due to accumulation of water, swollen\u00a0glands\u00a0(swollen lymph nodes), tremors,\u00a0tumor\u00a0(unspecified).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Uncommon reported&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;(&nbsp;<\/em><em>may affect up to 1 in 100 people):<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>abnormal behavior, emotional disturbances, fear, nightmares,<\/li><li>bleeding in the mucous membranes covering the inner surface of the eyelids, blurred vision, drowsiness, photosensitivity, itchy eyes, facial pain, inflamed gums,<\/li><li>chest problems, difficulty breathing,\u00a0infection\u00a0of the lungs, discomfort from the nose,\u00a0pneumonia, wheezing \/ wheezing,<\/li><li>low\u00a0blood pressure,<\/li><li>enlarged liver,<\/li><li>painful menstruation,<\/li><li>itchy rectal opening (tapeworm or flushing worm), a rash with blisters (\u00a0shingles\u00a0), decreased sensitivity to touch, muscle twitching, skin pain, pallor, flaky skin,\u00a0redness, swelling.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Self-harm attempts have also been reported in adults, children, and adolescents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine in combination with an alpha interferon product may also cause:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>aplastic anemia, lack of\u00a0red blood cells\u00a0(a condition in which the body stops or reduces the production of\u00a0red blood cells\u00a0);\u00a0this can cause severe\u00a0anemia\u00a0with symptoms that may include unusual tiredness and lack of energy,<\/li><li>delusions,<\/li><li>upper and lower respiratory tract infection,<\/li><li>inflammation\u00a0of the pancreas,<\/li><li>severe skin rash that may be associated with blisters in the mouth, nose, eyes, or other mucous membranes (erythema multiforme,\u00a0Stevens-Johnson syndrome\u00a0),\u00a0toxic epidermal necrolysis\u00a0(blisters and flaking of the upper layer of skin).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The following other&nbsp;side effects&nbsp;have also been reported when treatment with this medicine is combined with an alpha interferon product:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>abnormal thoughts, hearing or visual hallucinations, altered mental state, disorientation,<\/li><li>angioedema\u00a0(swollen hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth, or throat which may make it difficult to swallow or breathe),<\/li><li>Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (an\u00a0autoimmune\u00a0inflammatory\u00a0disease that affects the eyes, skin, and\u00a0membranes\u00a0in the ears, brain, and spinal cord),<\/li><li>bronchoconstriction and\u00a0anaphylaxis\u00a0(a severe\u00a0allergic reaction\u00a0throughout the body), persistent cough,<\/li><li>eye problems including damage to the retina, narrowing of the retinal artery,\u00a0inflammation\u00a0of the\u00a0optic nerve, swelling of the eye and cotton exudate (white spots on the retina),<\/li><li>enlarged abdomen, heartburn, problems with bowel movements or painful bowel movements,<\/li><li>Acute\u00a0hypersensitivity reactions\u00a0include\u00a0urticaria\u00a0(hives), bruising, intense pain in one\u00a0extremity, leg, or thigh, loss of range of motion, stiffness,\u00a0and sarcoidosis\u00a0(a disease characterized by persistent fever, weight loss, joint pain and swelling, skin damage, and swollen\u00a0glands\u00a0).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine in combination with peginterferon alfa-2b or&nbsp;interferon&nbsp;alfa-2b may also cause:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>dark, cloudy, or abnormally colored urine,<\/li><li>difficulty breathing, altered heartbeat, chest pain, pain in the lower left arm, pain in the jaw,<\/li><li>loss of consciousness,<\/li><li>loss of ability to use facial muscles, sagging or weakened facial muscles, loss of sensation,<\/li><li>vision loss.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You or your guardian should talk to a doctor immediately if you get any of these\u00a0side effects.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u00a0<strong>are an adult and infected with both HCV \/ HIV and receiving anti-\u00a0HIV\u00a0treatment<\/strong>, the addition of this medicine and peginterferon alfa may increase the risk of hepatic impairment (combined\u00a0antiretroviral\u00a0therapy (cART)) and increase the risk of lactic acidosis, liver failure and the development of abnormal blood counts (decrease in the number of\u00a0red blood cells\u00a0that carry oxygen, certain\u00a0white blood cells\u00a0that fight\u00a0infections\u00a0and\u00a0blood cells\u00a0that coagulate and are called\u00a0platelets\u00a0) (NRTIs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In patients with concomitant\u00a0HCV\u00a0and\u00a0HIV\u00a0infection\u00a0who receive cART, the following other\u00a0side effects\u00a0have occurred with the combination of Rebetol hard capsules and peginterferon alfa-2b (not listed above as\u00a0side effects\u00a0in adults):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>decreased appetite,<\/li><li>back pain,<\/li><li>decrease in CD4\u00a0lymphocyte count,<\/li><li>disturbed fat metabolism,<\/li><li>hepatitis,<\/li><li>pain in the\u00a0extremity\u00a0you,<\/li><li>mouth infection\u00a0caused by candida fungi (cod),<\/li><li>abnormal laboratory values \u200b\u200bfor the blood.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to store Rebetol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton.&nbsp;The expiration date is the last day of the specified month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not store above 30 \u00b0 C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not use this medicine if you notice any change in the appearance of the hard capsules without consulting a doctor or pharmacist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.&nbsp;Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required.&nbsp;These measures will help to protect the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contents of the pack and other information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Content declaration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The active substance is ribavirin 200 mg.<\/li><li>The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose,\u00a0lactose monohydrate\u00a0(40 mg), croscarmellose sodium, and magnesium stearate.\u00a0The capsule cover contains gelatin, and titanium dioxide (E 171).\u00a0The capsule print contains shellac, propylene glycol (E 1520), ammonium hydroxide, and dye (E 132).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the medicine looks like and the contents of the pack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine is a white, opaque, hard capsule with blue ink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This medicine is available in different pack sizes containing 84, 112, 140, or 168 200 mg capsules to be swallowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all pack sizes may be marketed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your doctor will&nbsp;prescribe&nbsp;the pack size that is best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Marketing Authorization Holder<\/strong>&nbsp;:<\/td><td><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>&nbsp;:<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme BVWaarderweg 392031 BN HaarlemNetherlands<\/td><td>SP Labo NVIndustrial Park 30B-2220 Heist-op-den-BergBelgium<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact the representative of the marketing authorization holder to find out more about this medicine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Belgium \/ Belgique \/ Belgien<\/strong>MSD BelgiumTel: +32 (0) 27766211dpoc_belux@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>Lithuania<\/strong>UAB Merck Sharp &amp; DohmeTel.&nbsp;+370 5 278 02 47msd_lietuva@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Bulgaria<\/strong>Mark Harp and Doom Bulgaria BulgariaTel: +359 2 819 3737info-msdbg@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>Luxembourg \/ Luxemburg<\/strong>MSD BelgiumTel: +32 (0) 27766211dpoc_belux@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Czech Republic<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme sroTel: +420 233 010 111dpoc_czechslovak@merck.com<br><\/td><td><strong>Hungary<\/strong>MSD Pharma Hungary Kft.Tel .: +36 1 888 5300hungary_msd@merck.com<br><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Denmark<\/strong>MSD Danmark ApSTel: + 45 4482 4000dkmail@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>Malta<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme Cyprus LimitedTel .: 8007 4433 (+356 99917558)malta_info@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Germany<\/strong>MSD Sharp &amp; Dohme GmbHTel: 0800 673 673 673 (+49 (0) 89 4561 0)e-mail@msd.de<\/td><td><strong>The Netherlands<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme BVTel: 0800 9999000 (+31 23 5153153)medicalinfo.nl@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Eesti<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme O\u00dcTel: +372 6144 200msdeesti@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>Norway<\/strong>MSD (Norge) ASTel: +47 32 20 73 00msdnorge@msd.no<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Greece<\/strong>MSD \u0391.\u03a6.\u0392.\u0395.\u0395.:\u0397\u03bb: +30 210 98 97 300dpoc_greece@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>Austria<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme Ges.mbHTel: +43 (0) 1 26 044msd-medizin@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Spain<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme de Espa\u00f1a, SATel: +34 91 321 06 00msd_info@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>Poland<\/strong>MSD Polska Sp.&nbsp;z ooTel: +48 22 549 51 00msdpolska@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>France<\/strong>MSD FranceTel: + 33 (0) 1 80 46 40 40<br><\/td><td><strong>Portugal<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme, LdaTel: +351 21 4465700inform_pt@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Croatia<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme dooTel: + 385 1 6611 333croatia_info@merck.com<br><\/td><td><strong>Romania<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme Romania SRLTel: +40 21 529 2900msdromania@merck.com<br><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Ireland<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme Ireland (&nbsp;Human&nbsp;Health) LimitedTel: +353 (0) 1 2998700medinfo_ireland@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>Slovenia<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme, innovative zdravila dooTel: +386 1 5204 201msd.slovenia@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Iceland<\/strong>Vistor hf.Phone: + 354 535 70 00<br><\/td><td><strong>Slovak Republic<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme, sroTel: +421 2 58282010dpoc_czechslovak@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Italy<\/strong>MSD Italia SrlTel: +39 06 361911medicalinformation.it@merck.com<br><\/td><td><strong>Finland \/ Finland<\/strong>MSD Finland OyPuh \/Tel: +358 (0) 9 804 650info@msd.fi<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>.\u03a0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme Cyprus Limited.:\u0397\u03bb .: 800 00 673 (+357 22866700)cyprus_info@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>Sweden<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme (Sweden) ABTel: +46 77 5700488medicinskinfo@merck.com<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Latvia<\/strong>SIA Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme LatvijaTel: +371 67364224msd_lv@merck.com<\/td><td><strong>United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)<\/strong>Merck Sharp &amp; Dohme Ireland (&nbsp;Human&nbsp;Health) LimitedTel: +353 (0) 1 2998700medinfoNI@msd.com<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rebetol contains the active substance ribavirin. This medicine prevents the proliferation of hepatitis C virus . Rebetol should not be used alone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2200,18529],"tags":[22426,22429,22430,22421,22424,22425,22427,22422,22428,22423],"class_list":["post-21716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-medicines","category-r","tag-rebetol","tag-rebetol-capsule","tag-rebetol-side-effects","tag-ribavirin","tag-ribavirin-capsule","tag-ribavirin-side-effects","tag-what-is-rebetol","tag-what-is-ribavirin","tag-what-rebetol-is-used-for","tag-what-ribavirin-is-used-for"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21716"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21739,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21716\/revisions\/21739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zeepedia.com\/medical\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}