Pricing
Prices are indicative MRP and may vary by pharmacy. Trend compares against the last recorded price.
All price changes →Save on this medicine
Same active ingredient — pay up to 24% less
These brands contain the same active ingredient (Ribavirin). Strength and form may differ — confirm substitution with your doctor or pharmacist before switching.
Indications & Uses
Celbarin, when combined with Peginterferon alfa-2a or Interferon alfa, is used to treat chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection in patients aged 5 years and older who have compensated liver disease and have not previously received interferon alpha treatment. Celbarin is not effective when used alone and should never be taken as a standalone therapy.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
The recommended treatment duration for patients who have not previously been treated with Interferon or Peginterferon is 24 to 48 weeks. Ribavirin is taken by mouth at a daily dose of 800 mg to 1200 mg, split into two doses given in the morning and evening. For genotypes 2 and 3, treatment beyond 24 weeks has not shown any added benefit. Special dosing notes: If severe adverse reactions or abnormal lab results occur during treatment, the dose should be adjusted until these effects settle. Because ribavirin therapy is known to cause haemolysis, separate guidelines apply to patients with a history of cardiovascular disease. Use in kidney impairment: Patients with a creatinine clearance of 50 ml/minute or less should receive a reduced total daily dose of Ribavirin. Use in the elderly (65 years and older): There is not enough clinical study data on the effectiveness and safety of Ribavirin combined with interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alfa in this age group. Use in children under 5 years: The safety and effectiveness of Ribavirin combined with interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alfa have not been evaluated in this age group.
Side Effects
The main adverse reaction seen with Celbarin is haemolytic anaemia. In patients receiving Celbarin together with interferon alfa or polyglycated interferon alfa, the following have been reported: cough, anxiety, depression, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms (e.g. fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches), headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, chest pain, a fast heartbeat, breathlessness, a drop in neutrophil count, and a drop in platelet count.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Celbarin used as part of combination therapy should be administered under the guidance of a qualified physician experienced in hepatitis C treatment. Sometimes it may lead to moderate to severe adverse reactions requiring dose reduction, temporary cessation of dosing, or discontinuation of further therapy. Because cardiac disease may be worsened by the anaemia that Celbarin can induce, patients should be assessed before starting therapy and should be appropriately monitored during treatment. If there is any deterioration of cardiovascular status, Celbarin therapy should be suspended or discontinued. It is recommended that patients with pre-existing cardiac abnormalities have an electrocardiogram before starting Celbarin therapy. The most common adverse reactions include kidney disease, blood disorders (e.g. sickle cell anaemia, low haemoglobin), other types of hepatitis (autoimmune hepatitis), diabetes, allergy, and similar conditions. Caution should be exercised in elderly patients. A complete blood count (CBC), differential count, platelet count, electrolytes, serum creatinine, liver function tests, and uric acid must be checked in all patients before therapy begins. After Celbarin therapy is started, haematological tests should be carried out at 2 and 4 weeks, and biochemical tests should be carried out at 4 weeks of therapy.
Contraindications
Contraindications for Ribavirin This medicine should not be used by anyone who is hypersensitive to ribavirin or to any of its excipients. It must not be used during pregnancy, and it should also be avoided by men whose female partners are pregnant. It is likewise contraindicated in patients with haemoglobinopathies such as thalassaemia major or sickle cell anaemia, in those with autoimmune hepatitis, and in patients who have hepatic decompensation, whether this is present before treatment or develops during it.