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Ribavirin
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RBV

What is ribavirin?What is ribavirin?

What is ribavirin?

Ribavirin is an antiviral prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). Ribavirin is always used in combination with other drugs.

HCV can be an opportunistic infection (OI) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems. To learn more about OIs, read the HIVinfo What is an Opportunistic Infection? fact sheet.

To learn how HIV and HCV are connected, read the HIVinfo HIV and Hepatitis C fact sheet. The fact sheet includes information about how HCV is spread, symptoms of HCV, and treatment options.

How is ribavirin used in people with HIV?How is ribavirin used in people with HIV?

How is ribavirin used in people with HIV?

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV, the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children With and Exposed to HIV, and/or the AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance include recommendations on the use of ribavirin to treat HCV in people with HIV.

The recommended uses may not always be consistent with FDA-approved uses of ribavirin. See the Adult and Pediatric Opportunistic Infection Guidelines and the AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance for complete information on recommended uses of ribavirin in adults and children with HIV. Ribavirin may have other recommended uses not listed above.

What should I tell my health care provider before taking ribavirin?What should I tell my health care provider before taking ribavirin?

What should I tell my health care provider before taking ribavirin?

Before taking ribavirin, tell your health care provider:

  • If you are allergic to ribavirin or any other medicines.
  • About any medical conditions you have or have had, including:
  • If you have ever had treatment for hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) that did not work for you.
  • About anything that could affect your ability to take medicines, such as difficulty swallowing or remembering to take pills.
  • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Ribavirin should not be used during pregnancy. Talk to your health care provider about the risks of taking ribavirin during pregnancy.
  • If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For mothers with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. Mothers with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk. Although most medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding, some medicines should be avoided. Always let your health care provider know about all the medicines and supplements you are taking before you start breastfeeding.
  • About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Ribavirin may interact with other medicines or supplements. For a list of medicines and supplements that may interact with ribavirin, see the drug labels for ribavirin capsule and tablet (film coated) or ask your health care provider or pharmacist. You can also look up potential interactions between your HCV medicine and other drugs using the HEP Drug Interaction Checker online.

How should I take ribavirin?How should I take ribavirin?

How should I take ribavirin?

Take ribavirin according to your health care provider’s instructions. Your health care provider will tell you how much ribavirin to take and when to take it.

It is important to complete the full prescribed course of treatment with ribavirin, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop using ribavirin too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be fully treated.

Before you start ribavirin and each time you get a refill, read any printed information that comes with your medicine.

What side effects can ribavirin cause?What side effects can ribavirine cause?

What side effects can ribavirin cause?

Ribavirin may cause side effects that can be mild or serious. To learn about possible side effects of ribavirin, see the FDA drug labels for ribavirin capsule and tablet (film coated) or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist. Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should ribavirin be stored?How should ribavirin be stored?

How should ribavirin be stored?

  • Store ribavirin tablets and capsules at room temperature, between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C).
  • Keep ribavirin in the container that it came in and keep the container tightly closed.
  • Do not use ribavirin if the original seal over the medicine container opening is broken or missing.
  • Throw away ribavirin that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
  • Keep ribavirin and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about ribavirin?Where can I find more information about ribavirin?

Where can I find more information about ribavirin?


Last Reviewed: October 2, 2026