Treating hepatitis C infection in certain patients when used in combination with interferon. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Ribavirin is an antiviral medicine. How Ribavirin works to treat hepatitis C is not completely understood.
Do NOT use Ribavirin if:
you are pregnant
your female sexual partner is pregnant or could become pregnant within the next 6 months
you have certain blood disorders (eg, sickle-cell anemia, thalassemia major), a history of serious heart problems, severe kidney problems, or inflammation of your pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
you are also using interferon and have autoimmune hepatitis (liver problems caused by your own body instead of a virus) or severely decreased liver function
you are taking didanosine
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Ribavirin :
Some medical conditions may interact with Ribavirin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have a female sexual partner who is of childbearing age
if you have a history of cancer, heart problems or heart attack, high blood pressure, kidney problems, diabetes, pancreas problems, lung or breathing problems, sarcoidosis, blood problems (eg, anemia), thyroid problems, or HIV infection
if you have liver problems (other than hepatitis C infection) such as hepatitis B infection, cirrhosis of the liver, or decreased liver function
if you have a history of anxiety or other mood or mental disorders, thoughts of suicide, or suicidal behavior
if you have used interferon before to treat hepatitis C and it did not work
if you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Ribavirin. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
Didanosine or other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (eg, lamivudine), immunosuppressants (eg, cyclosporine), or other antiretroviral medicines for HIV infection because serious side effects, including risk of infection, nerve problems (peripheral neuropathy),
pancreas problems, lactic acidosis, and severe or fatal liver failure, may
be increased by Ribavirin
Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the effectiveness of Ribavirin may be decreased
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Ribavirin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Ribavirin :
Use Ribavirin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
Ribavirin comes with an additional patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Ribavirin refilled.
Ribavirin should be taken with food.
Drinking extra fluids while you are taking Ribavirin is recommended. Check with your doctor for instructions.
Take Ribavirin regularly to receive the most benefit from it. Taking Ribavirin at the same times each day will help you remember to take it.
Continue to use Ribavirin even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
If you miss a dose of Ribavirin , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Ribavirin.
Important safety information:
Ribavirin may cause dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, confusion, or blurred vision. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Ribavirin. Using Ribavirin alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive
or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
Avoid drinking alcohol, including beer, wine, and liquor, because it could worsen liver disease.
LAB TESTS, including pregnancy tests; blood counts; hemoglobin levels; and heart, liver, kidney, thyroid, and lung function tests, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
At least 2 reliable forms of effective birth control must be used during treatment with Ribavirin and for 6 months after treatment with Ribavirin is stopped.
Women of childbearing potential who either take Ribavirin or are sexual partners of men who take Ribavirin must have a pregnancy test before therapy with Ribavirin is started, monthly during therapy, and monthly for 6 months after Ribavirin is stopped.
Caution is advised when using Ribavirin in CHILDREN because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
Use Ribavirin with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Ribavirin if you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. It is unknown if Ribavirin is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Ribavirin.
Possible side effects of Ribavirin :
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Cough; diarrhea; dizziness; dry mouth; dry skin; loss of appetite; mild headache, nausea, or vomiting; mild pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site; tiredness; upset stomach; weakness or fatigue
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; itching; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry stools; changes in hearing, taste, or vision; chest pain; dark urine; decrease in the amount of urine; fever, chills, or sore throat; hair loss; irregular heartbeat; joint pain; loss of appetite;
muscle pain or weakness; numbness or tingling of arms or legs; prolonged nausea
and vomiting; rapid breathing; severe headache; severe stomach or back pain;
shortness of breath; sinus problems; thoughts of suicide; trouble sleeping;
unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual mental or mood changes; unusual or severe
tiredness and fatigue; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; weight loss;
yellowing of eyes or skin.
What is the shelf life of the pills?
The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
Regarding the effect: I do notice an increase in bloodflow and a better
stamina using the pills (I use 50mg). A side-effect I have noticed is that
my nose clogs up so I seem like I have a cold for an hour or so after taking
one pill. No other side-effects than that.
Why do doctors in the USA get away with being so unethical and denying women informed consent?
By tying birth control to pap smears? There is no medical reason for a pap smear to be required before getting birth control. All that's needed to safely prescribe birth control pills is a check of the circulatory system (blood pressure and heart) and a medical history.
That's not saying pap smears aren't helpful for some women, but why don't women have the right to choose their own healthcare plans like men do? We are just told and coerced into doing "what's best for us." If a woman wants to have pap smears every three or five years instead of annually that shouldn't mean a doctor can hold her birth control prescription hostage. If a woman wants to get a birth control prescription from her family doctor and go to a gyno a few months later for a pap smear, that should be her prerogative. Women should have the right to make an informed choice and accept the risks and benefits of that choice. Men aren't coerced into getting prostate exams (a MUCH more common cancer than cervical btw) in order to get viagra or condoms.
Not to mention in most other countries these "well woman" exams are not even recommended at all. Finland has the lowest rates of cervical cancer in the world and they don't start paps until age 30 and every 5 years.
megan, it doesn't matter if it's in the woman's best interest. The point is that it's for HER to decide when, where and IF she has one. A prostate exam is in the man's best interest but he is always given the option and not witheld services or treated like a naughty child for not having one.
And you're clearly deceived if you think a pap smear has one thing to do with safety of birth control. A pap smear is a cancer test, period. It has nothing to do with birth control safely. This question is not about me anyway, this is about the sorry way women are treated.
megan you just aren't getting the point. It's great if a woman goes in for regular paps and they can be useful, but there is no reason for it to be tied to birth control! That "policy" is just a paternalistic attitude on part of the doctors. A woman can get birth control on one visit and come back later for a pap smear, there's no reason it should have to go hand in hand.
When they withhold your birth control, yes they are pretty much forcing you, and for no medical necessary reason. Because it's either have the pap right then, or not get pills and probably get pregnant. And once again you just really don't understand that it's about the difference between how men and women are treated, not about whether the exam is important or not because I agree with you pap smears are helpful. But it's not right to take away informed consent just by virtue of someone being female.
about longer hair growth?
I am 33 years old male. I am suffering from androgenic alopecia, i am using minoxidil and finasteride even my hair not growing properly. It is very short and i would like to my hair to grow long. Any body please suggest me how to grow hair healthy and long. please please please..........
How long do I wait after drinking vodka before I can take tramadol ?
I want to drink vodka but I take tramadol if I'm going to stop taking tramadol tommorow morning and not have them untill after I drink in aprox 45 hours time how long do I wait before I can take my 50 my tablet
JUST TRYING TO FINISH MY OTHER.?
Well my question got put in Earth Day and I don't know how to move it. My previous question was in Diabetic? MY CONCLUSION IS: MY DOG TOOK DEREMAXX AT 0630 and then became disoriented and ate the poo which in effect had NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE LIFE THREATENING SEIZURES. SHE WOULD BE LETHARGIC, DISORIENTED, LISTLESS, CATATONIC, NO EATING,I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT IF DIABETIC INSULIN CAT POO COULD BE TOXIC SO I WOULD KNOW HOW TO TREAT HER FOR WHAT I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WAS SEVERE HYPOGLYCEMIA OR ADESONIAN CRISIS. Please be careful with DEREMAXX. It helped my dog for months but then something went WRO G OR TOXIC OR SOMETHING AND I KEPT DIGGING TO FIGURE IT OUT. I think I came just shy of killing my dog because it didn't seem there was any answer for these episodes until I read a blog about DEREMAXX. So I stopped the DEREMAXX 8 Days ago and there has been NO SEIZURE/HYPOGLYCEMIC/ADESONIAN EPISODES AND I WASN'T TROLLING (whatever that is) and LASTLY MY DOG HASN'T MESSES WITH THE CATBOX EITHER BECAUSE WE HAVE BLOCKED HER FROM GETTING TO IT ESPECIALLY IN THE NIGHT. Conclusion DEREMAXX: CAUTION. Now I just give my dog Tramadol and DASEQUIN and she is happier than she has been in months. Thank you!
Problems with tramadol hcl 50mg?
I got prescribed this for middle ear infections in both my ears a few days ago and now I'm feeling really weird. Like...I'm laying in my bed about to fall asleep and it feels like everything is jumping. And my heart feels like it's racing really fast. I don't know if this is supposed to happen or what. But it's really freaking me out and I don't want to go to sleep. Anyone ever experienced this before with this medicine? What do I do to make it stop? I'm not gonna take these pills anymore. I'll just deal with the pain. But idk what to do. Please help me.
medication jumble.... too many combinations?
I'm usually on Prozac for depression, birth control (irrelevant), Buspar for anxiety, weening off xanax (4mg) (doc said to take a little buspar and ease it in as im easing off xanax), cyclobenzaprine for tmj pain and tramadol (100mg) for tmj pain. This is a lot and I don't know if they are a doctor or not but is this a lot?
What are the side affects of ( ETODOLAC ) 500mg blue tablet?
What are the side affects of ( ETODOLAC ) 500mg blue tablet?
And what are the side affects of one ( 500mg ETODOLAC & five 50mg TRAMADOL )
I took 5 tramadol and 1 etodolac only because i have a very high tollerance to pain pills and it made me feel really loopy for almost 12 hours now, is that normal?
If anyone has any thoughts or more information about these two pill being taken together or seperate please feel free to add on,
Thanks
Prescribed Ultram and Tramadol at the same time?
Today my doctor gave me 2 prescriptions for pain medications 1 was Ultram, and the other was Tramadol. He said I could take these together. I looked up both and they seem to be the same thing. I also read that they can cause seizures if you take too much. Im not sure whether or not to trust my doctor on this one. Does anyone know anything about these medications or have any advice on what I should do?
has anyone tried pink viagra for women?
If anyone has or you know someone who did, did it work? Im considering ordering it online since the FDA has not approved it but I want to make sure Im not buying some useless pill.
Voting Question: What medications should I avoid touching in the pharmacy if I'm pregnant?
I'm a pharmacy tech, and I'm 15 weeks pregnant. I was just told by the pharmacist yesterday that there are a few medications I should avoid touching. She only named Methotrexate, Avodart, and Finasteride. She couldn't remember what else. I can't find a list anywhere online, can someone please help?