Ribavirin, Aerosol

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given to treat severe lung infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus in infants and young children.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiviral

Generic and brand names: ribavirin, aerosol; Virazole

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat severe lung infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants and young children. It may be used for other virus infections as determined by your healthcare provider.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How do I use it?

Your child needs to be in the hospital while being treated with this medicine. Specially trained healthcare providers will give this medicine to your child. A face mask or oxygen tent may be needed to inhale the medicine.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine has been reported to cause birth defects. Pregnant or breast-feeding family members or friends should not be in the room while treatments are being given. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If your child needs emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist that your child has received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Infants and young children will be watched very closely while receiving this medicine. Healthcare providers will observe and treat serious side effects such as: bluish lips or fingernails; fast or slow heartbeat; wheezing; tiredness; trouble sleeping; skin irritation; itching; irritation or redness of the eyes (conjunctivitis).

What products might interact with this medicine?

When your child takes this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if your child takes:

• HIV medicines such as abacavir, atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), didanosine (ddI), emtricitabine (Emtriva), entecavir (Baraclude), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lamivudine (Epivir, Epivir-HBV), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), stavudine (Zerit), and zidovudine (Retrovir)

If you are not sure if your child's medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your child's medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat your child about all the products your child is taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.