Virazole
Virazole (ribavirin) is an inhaled solution used to treat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in children. It must be given by a healthcare provider in the hospital.
What is Virazole (ribavirin)?
What is Virazole (ribavirin) used for?
- Severe respiratory synctial virus (RSV) infection in hospitalized infants and children
How Virazole (ribavirin) works
Virazole (ribavirin) is an antiviral medication that works against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It's not clear how the medication treats RSV, but it's thought to stop the virus from making copies of itself in the lungs.
Drug facts
Side effects of Virazole (ribavirin)
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
- Worsening lung function
- Anemia (low blood count)
- Rash
Virazole (ribavirin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Worsening lung function
The following Virazole (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 or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Back, leg, or stomach pains
bleeding gums
bluish color of fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds
blurred vision
chest pain or discomfort
confusion
coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
dark urine
difficult, fast, noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly
extremely shallow or slow breathing
fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
fever or chills
general body swelling
headache
increased sweating
lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
loss of appetite
low blood pressure or pulse
nausea or vomiting
nosebleeds
not breathing
pale skin
severe pain in chest
shortness of breath
stopping of heart
sudden onset of severe breathing problems
sweating
swelling in the legs and ankles
tightness in the chest
trouble with breathing when moving or walking
unconsciousness
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
yellow eyes or 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:
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.
Pros and cons of Virazole (ribavirin)
Pros
- One of the few antiviral medications with activity against RSV
- As an inhaled medication, unlikely to have interactions with oral or injectable medications
- Can shorten the time of hospital stay
Cons
- Can only be used in hospitalized children with severe RSV infections
- Some infants have had worsening lung function after using this medication.
- Can't be used for prevention of RSV infection like other medications
Pharmacist tips for Virazole (ribavirin)
- Virazole (ribavirin) is only used to treat severe RSV infections and will always be administered by a healthcare provider.
- In the hospital, Virazole (ribavirin) will be given with "supportive care," which will help make sure your child's body is getting enough oxygen. Supportive care may include oxygen, fluids, and a ventilator if needed.
- Always make sure the hospital has an updated list of your child's medication allergies. Anyone who has had an allergic reaction to Virazole (ribavirin) in the past shouldn't be given the medication again.
Common questions about Virazole (ribavirin)
No, Virazole (ribavirin) has no anti-viral activity against COVID-19. It's only used for RSV infections.
Virazole (ribavirin) is not FDA-approved for treatment of RSV in adults. This may be due to the design of the clinical trials, since most people who are infected with RSV are young children and infants.
Virazole (ribavirin) is only used for severe RSV infections, because most people with mild-to-moderate infections don't need antiviral medications. Those with mild-to-moderate infections are treated in the clinic setting with treatment depending on their symptoms.
No, Virazole (ribavirin) is only for severe infections in the hospital with the use of a SPAG-2 device. If someone has an infection that's severe enough to require Virazole (ribavirin), they should be in the hospital so they can also receive important supportive care. Some people given Virazole (ribavirin) have also had worsening lung function after using the medication, which the hospital staff will monitor.
No, Virazole (ribavirin) needs to be inhaled through a face mask covering the mouth and nose when used for treatment of RSV. This allows the medication to get to the lungs and lowers the risk of side effects.
How to save using GoodRx
Risks and warnings for Virazole (ribavirin)
Virazole (ribavirin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
WORSENING LUNG FUNCTION
Some people have had worsening lung function after starting Virazole (ribavirin). The healthcare providers in the hospital will closely monitor your child's lung function if they're receiving Virazole (ribavirin). If your child's lung function worsens, they may stop the medication.
FERTILITY PROBLEMS
Virazole (ribavirin) is not currently approved for use in adults. This may be due to the fact that RSV is most often seen in young children. Nevertheless, it should be noted that ribavirin has been shown to harm unborn babies and cause testicular lesions in animal studies. Given ribavirin's potential to harm an unborn baby when taken by mouth, it's likely that the inhaled medication may have the same effect. If you are an adult who may get exposed to Virazole (ribavirin) (e.g., healthcare staff) and are pregnant or may become pregnant, let your provider or employer know right away, so that the appropriate steps can be taken.
PROPER HANDLING
Specially-trained healthcare providers will help administer Virazole (ribavirin) if it needs to be used in someone who's mechanically ventilated. These experts will know how to administer Virazole (ribavirin) correctly to lower the risk of mechanical ventilator malfunction and potential lung problems that it can cause.
DEATH
There have been cases of people treated with Virazole (ribavirin) who have died during or shortly after the medication was given. It's not known if this was caused by the medication, the infection, or mechanical ventilator malfunction.
Virazole (ribavirin) dosage
Typical dosage for Virazole (ribavirin)
Virazole (ribavirin) will be given to your child by a healthcare provider in the hospital. In general, the recommended dose is a 20 mg/mL solution administered through nebulization during 12 to 18 hours in a day for 3 to 7 days. Nebulization is the process of turning the inhalation solution into a mist that your child can inhale through their mouth and nose and into their lungs using a machine called a SPAG-2 nebulizer.
Interactions between Virazole (ribavirin) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Interferon Alfa-2b
Virazole (ribavirin) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Virazole (ribavirin) will not be safe for you to take.
- Currently pregnant or may become pregnant during exposure to Virazole (ribavirin)
