- Chronic hepatitis C infection in combination with Pegterferon alfa-2a:
- Adults: PO 400-700mg BD OR 600mg-1000mg OD
- Children ≥ 3yrs:
- <47kg: PO 15mg/kg/day divided BD *12-24 weeks
- 47-49kg: PO 600mg/day divided BD *12-24 weeks
- 50-56kg: PO 800mg/day divided BD *12-24 weeks
- 66-80kg: PO 1000mg/day divided BD *12-24 weeks
- >80kg: PO 1200mg/day divided BD *12-24 weeks
Tablet: 200mg
- To be taken with meals
- If you vomit while taking ribavirin, rinse your mouth out with water to prevent damage to your teeth or gums
Antiviral
It is thought to inhibit the initiation and elongation of RNA fragments by inhibiting polymerase activity, therefore resulting in the inhibition of viral protein synthesis.
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Fever
- Rigors
- Arthralgia
- Myalgia
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Alopecia
- Neutropenia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Anorexia
- Depression
- Pruritus
- Dizziness
- Dyspnea
- Anemia
- Diarrhea
- Impaired concentration
- Cough
- Rash
- Thrombocytopenia
- Hypersensitivity to class/components
- Pregnancy
- Male patients with pregnant sexual partners
- Significant or unstable cardiac disease
- Hemoglobinopathy
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Hepatic impairment
WARNING
- Monotherapy ineffective for chronic HCV and should be avoided
- Hemolytic anemia is the primary toxicity, which may result in worsening of cardiac disease and lead to fatal and nonfatal MI therefore do not use in history of significant or unstable cardiac disease
- Teratogenic and/or embryocidal effects demonstrated in all animal species
- Avoid pregnancy during and for 6 months after treatment in female patients and female partners of male patients
- Use 2 forms reliable contraception during and for 6 months after treatment
- Didanosine
Drug Status
| Availability | Prescription only |
| Pregnancy | Contraindicated |
| Breastfeeding | Contraindicated |
| Schedule | Not controlled |