Ribavirin
Ribavirin, the active ingredient in Copegus, is an antiviral used alongside interferon to treat chronic hepatitis C. It comes in a 200 mg strength and is never taken alone.
Key points
- Ribavirin is a nucleoside analogue antiviral, indicated for chronic hepatitis C in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a in patients 5 years and older with compensated liver disease.
- Hemolytic anemia is the primary toxicity; it may worsen cardiac disease and lead to fatal or nonfatal heart attacks. Patients with significant or unstable cardiac disease should not receive ribavirin.
- Ribavirin is contraindicated in pregnancy and in male partners of pregnant women; pregnancy must be avoided during therapy and for 6 months after completion.
How does Ribavirin work?
Ribavirin interferes with viral RNA and the cell’s messenger RNA, stopping the hepatitis C virus from replicating inside the body. As a nucleoside analogue, it mimics the building blocks the virus uses to copy its genetic material and disrupts that process. Copegus is the only ribavirin product listed under Hepatitis Treatment.