Rebetol (200 mg)
Ribavirin is the generic name of Rebetol. Rebetol is found in the market under various other trade names like Copegus and Virazole. It is an anti-viral drug helpful in treating severe RSV infection and even hepatitis C infection. This prodrug looks like purine RNA nucleotides after metabolizing. This medication is found in the World Health Organisation’s List of Essential Medicines.
It belongs to the pregnancy category X and is usually orally administered or sometimes inhaled.
Composition of Rebetol
Rebetol is a form of nucleoside analogue, synthetic in nature. It is a white coloured crystalline powder. The inactive ingredients present in a single capsule of rebetol are:
- Titanium dioxide
- Silicon dioxide
- Sodium lauryl sulphate
- Gelatine
- Magnesium stearate
- Croscarmellose sodium
- Lactose monohydrate
- Microcrystalline cellulose
Rebetol oral solution consists of the following inactive ingredients:
- Glycerine
- Sucrose
- Propylene glycol
- Sorbitol
- Sodium citrate
- Sodium benzoate
- Citric acid
- Artificial and natural flavour of bubble gum
- Water
Uses of Rebetol
Rebetol can be taken with a combination of different antiviral drugs like interferon and sofosbuvir for treating severe and long-lasting hepatitis C that affects the liver. This infection may result in other serious medical issues related to the liver like scarring (cirrhosis) and even liver cancer.
Side-effects of Rebetol
Using Rebetol for antiviral treatment may result in different side-effects in the human body. Some of these are mentioned below:
- Tarry and black stools
- Anxiety
- Chest pain
- Body pain or aches
- Congestion
- Hoarseness or cough
- Depersonalization
- Crying
- Diarrhoea
- Laboured or difficult breathing
- Discouragement
- Drying of the throat
- Dry mouth
- Euphoria
- Dysphoria
- Feeling empty or sad
- Chills or fever
- Feeling of illness or discomfort
- Headache
- Irregular heartbeats
- Joint pain
- Irritability
- Lack of appetite
- Nervousness
- Nausea
- Feeling usually cold
- Pale skin
- Difficult or painful urination
- Side or lower back pain
- Hyperventilation
- Shaking
- Runny nose
- Restlessness
- Poor concentration
- Paranoia
- Overreact emotionally
- Frequent changes in mood
- Right upper stomach or abdominal pain
- Shivering
- Sore throat
- Sweating
- Breathlessness
- Ulcers, white spots, or sores in the mouth or on the lips
- Unable to sleep
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Difficulty while swallowing
- Trouble in concentration
- Tightening in the chest
- Unusual weakness or tiredness
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
- Constipation
Contraindications of Rebetol
Under certain conditions Rebetol is refrained. They are:
- Allergy to Ribavirin
- Severe anaemia
- Pancreatitis
- Heart attack
- Interstitial Pneumonitis
- Liver hardening
- Thalassemia
- Pregnancy
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Any severe disease of the arteries
- Decreased Neutrophils
Rebetol and Pregnancy
If the patient plans or is pregnant, Rebetol must not be consumed by her. Rebetol is very harmful for the body during pregnancy and may cause the death of the foetus.