Novia Tablets 400mg Tablets

Ribavirin is an antiviral medicine. It is used together with other hepatitis C medicines, such as peginterferon, to treat long-term (chronic) hepatitis C infection.

Ribavirin does not work against hepatitis C when used alone.

Take ribavirin exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, always together with your other hepatitis C medicine.

• Take it with food.
• Drink plenty of fluids during treatment.
• Do not change your dose or stop without talking to your doctor.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. If you only remember the next day, call your doctor. Never take two doses together.
• You will need regular blood tests before and during treatment.

Common side effects include:

• tiredness, trouble sleeping or poor concentration
• feeling sick, vomiting, loss of appetite or weight loss
• cough, dry mouth or a change in taste
• rash, dry or itchy skin, hair loss
• muscle or bone pain

Get medical help straight away if you have:

• extreme tiredness, dizziness, a fast heartbeat or chest pain (possible signs of anaemia)
• low mood or thoughts of harming yourself
• yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, or black or bloody stools
• vision changes or signs of infection
• swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:

• have heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or autoimmune hepatitis
• have had an organ transplant
• have depression or another mental health condition
• have diabetes or thyroid problems
• take other medicines, especially didanosine
• are breastfeeding

Avoid alcohol, as it can make liver disease worse.

Keep the tablets in the original, tightly closed container at room temperature, away from heat and moisture (not in the bathroom), and out of the reach of children.

Pregnancy: ribavirin can cause serious birth defects. Women must not take it if pregnant or planning pregnancy, and men must not take it if their partner is pregnant. Both partners must use two forms of birth control during treatment and for 6 months after, with regular pregnancy tests. Contact your doctor at once if pregnancy happens.

Anaemia: it can lower red blood cells, which can make heart problems worse.

It may cause dizziness or confusion, so do not drive until you know how it affects you.