The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
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- Headache
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness or weakness
- Shaking chills
- Nausea
- Changes in mood, feeling more irritable
- Vomiting
- Not feeling as hungry
Less Common Side Effects
- Sweating
- Hard time concentrating
- Stomach pain
- Infections
- Change in taste
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Constipation
- Blurred vision
Ribavirin serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reactions (hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, mouth, lips, or throat)
- Severe stomach pain that spreads to your back along with nausea and vomiting (signs of pancreatitis)
- Serious eye problems that can lead to loss of vision
- Serious blood disorders that can lead to heart attacks
- Serious lung infections
- Worsening of depression or thoughts of harm to self or others
Source: DailyMed
The following Ribavirin side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
black, tarry stools
body aches or pain
congestion
cough or hoarseness
crying
depersonalization
difficult or labored breathing
discouragement
dryness of the throat
dysphoria
euphoria
feeling sad or empty
feeling unusually cold
fever or chills
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
hyperventilation
irregular heartbeats
irritability
joint pain
lack of appetite
loss of interest or pleasure
lower back or side pain
mental depression
muscle aches and pains
nervousness
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
paranoia
poor concentration
quick to react or overreact emotionally
rapidly changing moods
restlessness
right upper abdominal or stomach pain
shaking
shivering
shortness of breath
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
sweating
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness in the chest
trouble with concentrating
trouble with sleeping
trouble with swallowing
troubled breathing with exertion
unable to sleep
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
voice changes
vomiting
Less common
Bleeding gums
blood in the urine or stools
depressed mood
dry skin and hair
feeling cold
husky voice
muscle cramps and stiffness
pinpoint red spots on the skin
right upper abdominal or stomach fullness
slowed heartbeat
Incidence not known
Blistering, flaking, or peeling of the skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Acid or sour stomach
being forgetful
belching
blurred vision
bone pain
change in taste or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
cracked, scaly skin
crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
difficulty with moving
dizziness or lightheadedness
feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
hair loss or thinning of the hair
indigestion
lack or loss of strength
menstrual changes
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
rash
sensation of spinning
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
swelling
swollen joints
Less common
Back pain
burning, dry, or itching eyes
discharge, excessive tearing
feeling of warmth
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
skin rash, encrusted, scaly, and oozing
Incidence not known
Change in hearing
loss of hearing
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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