Rebetol 200mg

Rebetol (ribavirin) is an antiviral medication. Rebetol must be used together with an interferon alfa product (such as PegIntron or Intron A) to treat chronic hepatitis C.

Rebetol is not effective when used alone to treat hepatitis C. It must be used together with an interferon alfa product (such as PegIntron or Intron A) to treat chronic hepatitis C. You should not take Rebetol if you are allergic to ribavirin, or if you have severe liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, a hemoglobin disorder (anemia, thalassemia, and others), if you are also taking didanosine (Videx), or if you are pregnant woman, or a man whose female sexual partner is pregnant.

General information:
It is not known if treatment with Rebetol will cure hepatitis C virus infections or prevent cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer that can be caused by hepatitis C virus infections.  It is not known if taking Rebetol will prevent you from infecting another person with the hepatitis C virus.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide.  Do not use Rebetol for a condition for which it was not prescribed. 

Before you take Rebetol, tell your healthcare provider if you have or ever had:

• treatment for hepatitis C that did not work for you.
• breathing problems.  Rebetol may cause or worsen breathing problems you already have.
• vision problems.  Rebetol may cause eye problems or worsen eye problems you already have.

You should have an eye exam before you start treatment with Rebetol.

• certain blood disorders such as anemia (low red blood cell count).   
• high blood pressure, heart problems, or have had a heart attack.
• thyroid problems
• liver problems other than hepatitis C infection
• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any immunity problems
• mental health problems, including depression or thoughts of suicide
• kidney problems
• an organ transplant
• diabetes. Rebetol may make your diabetes worse or harder to treat.
• any other medical condition
• are breast feeding. It is not known if Rebetol passes into your breast milk. 

You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take Rebetol or breast feed.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.  Rebetol may affect the way other medicines work.