Ribavirin is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection in combination with Pegylated interferon alfa-2a in patients 5 years of age and older with compensated liver disease not previously treated with interferon alpha, and in adult CHC patients coinfected with HIV.

Hepatitis C

• Chronic hepatitis C: Ribavirin is administered according to body weight and genotype
• Chronic hepatitis C with HIV coinfection: 800 mg by mouth daily for a total of 48 weeks, regardless of genotype.
• Dose reduction or discontinuation is recommended in patients experiencing certain adverse reactions or renal impairment.

Most common adverse reactions were-

• fatigue
• asthenia
• pyrexia/ fever
• myalgia
• headache

Fatigue

Asthenia

Fever

Myalgia

• Ribavirin monotherapy, including Ribavirin, does not work to treat chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
• Hemolytic anemia caused by ribavirin therapy may worsen cardiac disease and lead to fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions. Ribavirin should not be used in patients who have a history of significant or unstable cardiac disease.
• Ribavirin has been shown to have significant teratogenic and embryocidal effects in all animal species tested. As a result, Ribavirin is contraindicated in pregnant women and in the male partners of pregnant women. Pregnancy must be avoided during therapy and for 6 months after treatment completion in both female patients and female partners of male patients receiving Ribavirin therapy.
• Risk of hepatic failure and death: Monitor hepatic function throughout treatment and discontinue if hepatic decompensation occurs.
• Severe hypersensitivity reactions, such as urticaria, angioedema, bronchoconstriction, and anaphylaxis, as well as serious skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Pulmonary diseases such as pulmonary function impairment and pneumonitis, as well as fatal cases of pneumonia
• Severe depression and suicidal ideation, autoimmune and infectious disorders, bone marrow suppression, pancreatitis, and diabetes are all possibilities.
• Azathioprine coadministration suppresses bone marrow.
• Pediatric patients' growth is hampered by combination therapy.