Pregnancy—Rebetol for inhalation is not usually prescribed for teenagers or adults. However, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant may be exposed to Rebetol that is given off in the air if they spend time at the patient's bedside while Ribavirin is being given. Although studies have not been done in humans, Rebetol has been shown to cause birth defects and other problems in certain animal studies. Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.

Breast-feeding—Rebetol for inhalation is not usually prescribed for teenagers or adults. However, Ribavirin passes into the breast milk of animals and has been shown to cause problems in nursing animals and their young.

Children—Ribavirin has been tested in children, and, when used as it should be and in effective doses, has not been shown to cause serious side effects or problems.

Older adults—Rebetol for inhalation is not usually prescribed for use in elderly patients.

Rebetol : Full Prescribing Information

Dosing—

The dose of Rebetol will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions. The following information includes only the average doses of Rebetol. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

For the inhalation dosage form:
For treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection:
Adults and teenagers—Dose has not been determined since Ribavirin is not usually prescribed for teenagers or adults.
Infants and children—Dose must be determined by the doctor.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. The following side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Rare
Headache; itching, redness, or swelling of eyes; skin rash or irritation

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Additional Information
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, Rebetol is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions: Influenza A and B (given by aerosol inhalation)
Lassa fever (either given orally or by injection)
For patients taking this medicine by mouth or injection for Lassa fever:

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Unusual tiredness and weakness
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. The following side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
Less common
Headache; loss of appetite; nausea; trouble in sleeping; unusual tiredness or weakness
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.

Rebetol : Full Prescribing Information