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Other brands with the same active ingredient
These brands contain the same active ingredient (Ribavirin). Same strength and form. Confirm the switch with your doctor or pharmacist.
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.
Pharmacology
Ribavirin is a man-made (synthetic) nucleoside that works against several viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus and herpes simplex virus. Exactly how it works is not fully understood. It is thought to act at more than one site in the cell, including certain cellular enzymes, to interfere with the virus's ability to build its nucleic acid. Its mono- and triphosphate forms are the derivatives known to be responsible for this antiviral effect.
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.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnancy: Pregnant women, and women who are expecting a child, must not use Ribavirin because the drug may have a teratogenic effect. Male patients and their female partners of childbearing age need to be counselled to use 2 forms of effective contraception during treatment with Ribavirin and for 6 months after treatment has ended. Don't start Ribavirin until a negative pregnancy test report has been obtained, taken immediately before therapy begins. Patients must then do a pregnancy test every month during therapy and for 6 months after it.
Brestfeeding: Nobody knows whether Ribavirin passes into human milk. Because it could cause adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made either to stop nursing or not to start therapy.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Storage
Keep Ribavirin in a dry place at a temperature not above 30°C, and protect it from light. Keep it out of reach of children.
Drug Interactions
Common questions about Chrocee 200 200 mg
What is Chrocee 200 200 mg Capsule?
Chrocee 200 200 mg Capsule is a medicine that contains Ribavirin. It is made by Advanced Chemical Industries PLC. It belongs to the Hepatic viral infections (Hepatitis C) group of medicines.
What is Chrocee 200 used for?
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.
What are the side effects of Chrocee 200?
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.
Can I take Chrocee 200 during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Pregnancy: Pregnant women, and women who are expecting a child, must not use Ribavirin because the drug may have a teratogenic effect. Male patients and their female partners of childbearing age need to be counselled to use 2 forms of effective contraception during treatment with Ribavirin and for 6 months after treatment has ended. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
How should I store Chrocee 200?
Keep Ribavirin in a dry place at a temperature not above 30°C, and protect it from light. Keep it out of reach of children.
Can I take other medicines with Chrocee 200?
Some medicines can interact with Ribavirin, for example: Zidovudine, Azathioprine, Lamivudine + Zidovudine + Nevirapine, Peginterferon alfa-2a [Pegylated Interferon alfa-2a], Lamivudine + Zidovudine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every medicine you take.
Do I need a prescription for Chrocee 200?
Chrocee 200 is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.