Ribavirin (Oral Route)

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Side Effects

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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Anxiety
• Black, tarry stools
• Body aches or pain
• Chest pain
• Congestion
• Cough or hoarseness
• Crying
• Depersonalization
• Diarrhea
• Difficult or labored breathing
• Discouragement
• Dry mouth
• Dryness of the throat
• Dysphoria
• Euphoria
• Feeling sad or empty
• Feeling unusually cold
• Fever or chills
• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• Headache
• Hyperventilation
• Irregular heartbeats
• Irritability
• Joint pain
• Lack of appetite
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Lower back or side pain
• Mental depression
• Muscle aches and pains
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Painful or difficult urination
• Pale skin
• Paranoia
• Poor concentration
• Quick to react or overreact emotionally
• Rapidly changing moods
• Restlessness
• Right upper abdominal or stomach pain
• Runny nose
• Shaking
• Shivering
• Shortness of breath
• Sleeplessness
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• Sweating
• Tender, swollen glands in the neck
• Tightness in the chest
• Trouble with concentrating
• Trouble with sleeping
• Trouble with swallowing
• Troubled breathing with exertion
• Unable to sleep
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Voice changes
• Vomiting
• Wheezing

• Bleeding gums
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Constipation
• Depressed mood
• Dry skin and hair
• Feeling cold
• Hair loss
• Husky voice
• Muscle cramps and stiffness
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Right upper abdominal or stomach fullness
• Slowed heartbeat
• Weight gain

• Blistering, flaking, or peeling of the 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:

• Acid or sour stomach
• Being forgetful
• Belching
• Blurred vision
• Bone pain
• Change in taste or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• Cracked, scaly skin
• Crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
• Difficulty with moving
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• Hair loss or thinning of the hair
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Lack or loss of strength
• Menstrual changes
• Pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
• Rash
• Sensation of spinning
• Sneezing
• Stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
• Stuffy nose
• Swelling
• Swollen joints
• Weight loss

• Back pain
• Burning, dry, or itching eyes
• Discharge, excessive tearing
• Feeling of warmth
• Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• Redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
• Skin rash, encrusted, scaly, and oozing

• Change in hearing
• Loss of hearing

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.

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