How does it work?

Virazole inhalation solution contains the active ingredient ribavirin, which is a type of medicine called a nucleoside analogue. Ribavirin is an antiviral medicine which can be used treat infants and young children with severe lung infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory illness in infants and young children. It causes infection and inflammation of the lungs and breathing passages, such as bronchiolitis.

Once the virus is inside the lungs it multiplies. Part of this process involves the virus making copies of its genetic material (RNA). Ribavirin works by stopping the virus doing this.It is not fully understood exactly how ribavirin works. However, it has been shown to reduce the amount of respiratory syncytial virus in the lungs and thus help the body to control the infection.

Ribavirin is given under medical supervision to babies and young children in hospital. The medicine is given using a machine called a nebuliser, or a small particle aerosol generator (SPAG). These machines turn the liquid medicine into tiny particles that can be inhaled. The child breathes the medicine in using a face mask or an infant oxygen hood. This allows the medicine to act directly on the infected lungs. Treatment is carried out for 12 to 18 hours per day for at least three and no more than seven days. The medicine is more effective if used early in the illness.

What is it used for?

• Treatment of severe inflammation in the lungs (bronchiolitis) caused by respiratory syncytical virus (RSV) in infants and children.

Warning!

• This medicine can be released in to the air whilst being administered via an aerosol generator or nebuliser. For this reason it is necessary to turn off the machine five to ten minutes before visitors or hospital staff attend to the child for long periods of time.
• Pregnant women, women planning a pregnancy, and women who are breastfeeding should avoid exposure to this medicine, because it may potentially be harmful to a developing baby.

Use with caution in

• Children who are being helped to breathe using a machine (assisted ventilation).

Not to be used in

• Pregnancy.
• Breastfeeding.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• Exposure to this medicine should be avoided by pregnant women, women planning a pregnancy and by breastfeeding mothers, because the medicine may potentially be harmful to a developing baby.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Bacterial pneumonia.
• Difficulty with breathing.
• Collapse of the lung.
• Low red blood cell count (anaemia).
• Increase in the number of immature red blood cells in the blood (reticulocytosis).

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

This medicine is not known to affect other medicines.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient