Rebetol

Liver Diseases, HIV Positive, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections + 1 more

Treatment

0 Active Studies for Rebetol

Treatment for

Liver Diseases

What is Rebetol

Ribavirin

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Ribavirin is an antiviral medication used to treat hepatitis C and some types of viral hemorrhagic fever. It works by blocking the synthesis of viral mRNA and can be used as part of combination therapies to increase the effectiveness of other medications. Ribavirin is typically prescribed as an adjunct therapy for HCV in combination with other drugs like sofosbuvir and daclatasvir and is known to increase the risk of anemia. It can also be used in combination with other medications such as elbasvir/grazoprevir, harvoni, telaprevir/boceprevir, technivie

Virazole

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Rebetol Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Virazole

Ribavirin

1986

Effectiveness

How Rebetol Affects Patients

Ribavirin works by increasing the amount of mistakes made when viruses copy their genetic material. It is part of a group of drugs that prevent viruses from replicating and is similar in structure to the building blocks of RNA molecules. Ribavirin also stops an enzyme called RNA dependent RNA polymerase from working, which prevents the virus from multiplying.

How Rebetol works in the body

Ribavirin works in multiple ways to stop viral replication. It binds to the nucleotide binding sites of viral enzymes, preventing them from connecting to the correct nucleotides. Ribavirin also mimics a molecule in our body, causing an enzyme to be blocked that is necessary for the production of other molecules needed for viral replication. Additionally, ribavirin causes an increase in mutations in the virus, leading to defective virions. Finally, it shifts the body's immune response to the virus, leading to increased production of antibodies that help fight off the virus.

When to interrupt dosage

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Chronic Hepatitis C

, 200.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 600.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 6000.0 mg, 40.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL

, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Kit, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Aerosol; Powder, for solution - Respiratory (inhalation), Respiratory (inhalation), Aerosol; Powder, for solution, Capsule; Powder, for solution, Oral; Subcutaneous, Capsule; Powder, for solution - Oral; Subcutaneous, Capsule; Kit; Liquid - Oral; Subcutaneous, Capsule; Kit; Liquid, Solution - Oral, Solution, Liquid - Oral, Liquid, Powder, for solution, Powder, for solution - Respiratory (inhalation), Solution; Tablet - Oral; Subcutaneous, Solution; Tablet, Intravenous, Liquid - Intravenous, Kit - Oral

HIV Positive

, 200.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 600.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 6000.0 mg, 40.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections

, 200.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 600.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 6000.0 mg, 40.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL

Liver Diseases

, 200.0 mg, 400.0 mg, 600.0 mg, 500.0 mg, 6000.0 mg, 40.0 mg/mL, 100.0 mg/mL

Warnings

Rebetol Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

Hepatitis, Autoimmune

Do Not Combine

Pulse Frequency

Do Not Combine

Anemia, Sickle Cell

Do Not Combine

pregnant partner

Do Not Combine

Pulse Frequency

Do Not Combine

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Rebetol.

Common Rebetol Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Didanosine

Major

The serum concentration of dideoxyadenosine 5’-triphosphate, an active metabolite of Didanosine, can be increased when used in combination with Ribavirin.

Aclidinium

Minor

Ribavirin may decrease the excretion rate of Aclidinium which could result in a higher serum level.

Acrivastine

Minor

Ribavirin may decrease the excretion rate of Acrivastine which could result in a higher serum level.

Albutrepenonacog alfa

Minor

Ribavirin may decrease the excretion rate of Albutrepenonacog alfa which could result in a higher serum level.

Allylestrenol

Minor

Ribavirin may decrease the excretion rate of Allylestrenol which could result in a higher serum level.

Rebetol Toxicity & Overdose Risk

Taking Rivabirin and PEG-Interferon Alfa-2A together may lead to flu-like symptoms, depression, suicide, insomnia, irritability, relapse of drug abuse/overdose, liver failure in 2% of HIV co-infected patients, and bacterial infections. Ribavirin also causes anemia which gets worse with higher doses. Tests have shown that ribavirin has the potential to cause cancer in humans, as it caused mutations in a mouse lymphoma test. The toxic dose of ribavirin in rats is 2700 mg/kg and 1300 mg/kg in mice.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Rebetol Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Rebetol?

Currently, three clinical trials are assessing the potential of Rebetol in managing Chronic Hepatitis C, HIV Positive status and Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Chronic Hepatitis C

0 Actively Recruiting

HIV Positive

0 Actively Recruiting

Liver Diseases

0 Actively Recruiting

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections

0 Actively Recruiting

Rebetol Reviews: What are patients saying about Rebetol?

Patient Review

9/6/2011

Rebetol for Chronic Hepatitis C

The virus was undetectable after 4 months of treatment, but my diabetes became much worse and more out of control.

Patient Review

10/21/2008

Rebetol for Chronic Hepatitis C

This treatment didn't work for me and actually made things worse. I developed a severe skin rash that was incredibly painful. I had to stop taking the medication for a month to let the rash heal, and even then it came back. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

Patient Review

12/18/2007

Rebetol for Chronic Hepatitis C

My uncle started taking this "experimental" drug for his disease and ended up in the hospital just four days later. We lost him two days after that.

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Patient Q&A Section about rebetol

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What is Sovaldi used for?

"SOVALDI is not recommended for treatment of HCV genotype 1 or 4 infection. SOVALDI should be used with caution in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

SOVALDI is a drug used to treat children 3 years of age and older with chronic HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis in combination with ribavirin. SOVALDI is not recommended for treatment of HCV genotype 1 or 4 infection. SOVALDI should be used with caution in patients with decompensated cirrhosis."

Answered by AI

What does ribavirin do to the body?

"Ribavirin is an antiviral medication that works by stopping the virus that causes hepatitis c from spreading inside the body."

Answered by AI

What is Rebetol used for?

"Rebetol is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of chronic hepatitis c. Rebetol can be used by itself or with other medications. Rebetol belongs to a class of drugs called hepatitis b/hepatitis C agents; RSV agents. The safety and effectiveness of Rebetol in children younger than 3 years of age is not known."

Answered by AI

Is Rebetol discontinued?

", the FDA announced that Merck would be discontinuing their Rebetol (ribavirin) oral solution. This is due to business reasons and not because of any safety, efficacy or quality issues. Rebetol will be discontinued on or near June 2019, but the brand Rebetol capsules will continue to be available."

Answered by AI