Does ribavirin protect from the flu/cold?

[tired2013]

Since we are on ribavirin, does it protect us against colds and the flu?

[brianeblair]

No flu vaccines does nothing but make a cold flu worse, And it can actually give you the flu! Vaccines is more or less a push to force us to pay money for something worthless that we do not even need! About the only vaccine you need is for Tetanus and that's it! To answer your question, If Ribavirin can protect you against flu, NO! It can't! Would it have some effect on a flu? Yes, It is a a anti-viral drug! But it won't do enough to make it worth spending the money, Or risking killing your immune system!

[BoceprevirGal]

  I had NO cold virus on Tx, but more bacterial infections (stomach bugs 2 or 3 times) but 5 moths post Tx,a cold/flu virus for a month!!!

[Idyllic]

The aeorsol version of Riba (mentioned in that study from the 80's) or even the oral version we currently use when treating didn't really pan out when considered again a few years ago.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc0905290

n our opinion, the studies that we identified in the published literature regarding the use of oral or aerosolized formulations of ribavirin and data on EIND use of intravenous ribavirin are inconclusive regarding the potential clinical benefit of the drug for the treatment of influenza.

Substantial safety issues, such as the risk of hemolytic anemia and of teratogenicity, present further challenges to address if ribavirin is to be used for the treatment of influenza.4,5 To further address these issues, formal trials of ribavirin should be conducted to assess safety and efficacy.

[pooh55811]

I had not thought too much about it but it is an interesting question. I mainly stayed clear of crowds and most people while I was in treatment. That worked. I never got the flu or a cold.

[Idyllic]

Thanks for the answers. Has anyone taken theraflu while on treatment?  My boyfriend has a cold and I did my shot last night, so I wont know if it is the shot or the cold?
__________________

Is this why you are asking about the flu?

I am going to go out on a limb here and saying maybe the shot or at best maybe each. The Theraflu site contrasts between a cold and the flu:
http://www.theraflu.com/flu_center/do_i_have_the_flu.shtml


But you saying you are going to wait and see which it is compels me to wonder if per chance you realize one of theclinical adverse events in patients on treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin are ★¸¸.☆flu-like symptoms.★¸¸.☆ A frequent suggestion on shot days is to take Tylenol prior to the shot.
http://www.flyingpublisher.com/0011_06.php

[tired2013]

Thanks everyone!!!!!

[flcyclist]

The following was published in 1995, a bit dated, but interesting to see it was originally developed for influenza.  I must admit, I haven't had the flu since I began trt, and still almost a year past eot.  Could just be a coincidence.  (((knocking on wood))).

http://yarchive.net/med/ribavirin.html

"Ribavirin was developed first as an influenza drug, and shows
impressive reduction of mortality in mice in influenza models.
In human trials, however, results were mixed (some studies were
positive and some negative), and the FDA's eventual, and perhaps
somewhat capricious, failure to approve the drug in the U.S. for
influenza once caused ICN's stock to drop to such a precipitous
extent that the stockholders actually sued the company for false
representation.  ICN to this day maintains that the drug is
active for influenza, but that the negative clinical trials were
flawed.  The author, after reviewing the data, agrees with ICN.

Ribavirin is active against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a
common infection in children.  It is approved by the FDA for this
use in the U.S., but the approved preparation is a liquid
preparation for aerosol delivery.  Though some of the drug is
absorbed orally when used in this fashion, no oral preparation
has been approved in the U.S.   Use of the pediatric formulation
in adults for other purposes would be prohibitively expensive.

Ribavirin is available as an over-the-counter flu medication in
Mexico, where it is known as ribavirina, and by the tradename
Vilona (ICN)."

[willbb]

does it protect us against colds and the flu?
---------
It is not prescribed specifically for these aliments ,

However,actually, when doing  HCV therapy your immune system is ramped up in high gear with the strongest antiviral medications there is. So it may be "less likely " for a viral infection to take hold.

The meds can deplete white blood cells therefore you  "may" have a tougher time fighting off bacterial infections(altho the data on this is that there are only very "rare instances)  ..hence the warning to hands wash, etc.

Good luck  with your tx..
Will

[BoceprevirGal]

  I didnt have a cold, the whole time I was on the Riba, but then again I am in California, and treted from feb 7th until august 21st, and I never get colds or Flu's in that time period anyhoo.
   BUT....when I began Treatment last Feb, both my children had colds and so did my husband, and I didn't catch it.
    I hope you will be fine, and try not to worry. Just eat home-cooked meals containing veggies with tons of vitamins~
  

[hrsepwrguy]

Drug Interactions Results

Copegus (ribavirin)
Incivek (telaprevir)
Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a)
Theraflu Flu & Cough (acetaminophen / chlorpheniramine / dextromethorphan / pseudoephedrine)

Interactions between your selected drugs

No results found - however, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. ALWAYS consult with your doctor or pharmacist.

http://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=2009-1782,3328-15346,1806-1159,40-7453

[tired2013]

Thanks for the answers. Has anyone taken theraflu while on treatment?  My boyfriend has a cold and I did my shot last night, so I wont know if it is the shot or the cold?!!?? SO, if I start to get symptoms just wondering if theraflu is okay in combo with the triple including incivek

[desrt]

As mentioned above, the best protetion against flu is vaccination. The ribavirin sold in Mexico for treatment of viral influenza is an inhaler. In other words it's applied directly to the lungs once you've already contracted influenza. As such, it's probably more effective than drugs still used  in the US such as amantadine and rimantadine which have gone from being aprox. 90% effective to being about 10% effective due to vral adaptation. SOC for treating flu is now a different class of drugs, oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

[HectorSF]

No. Only current flu vaccine protects you against the various strains of flu.

If you read the Ribavirin Prescribing Information for ribavirin, right at the top of the label it says...

Indications and Usage for Ribavirin

'The safety and efficacy of Ribavirin tablet therapy for the treatment of adenovirus, RSV, parainfluenza or influenza infections have not been established. Ribavirin tablets should not be used for these indications.'


Hector

[Diana66]

I do not know about protecting but it appears that Riba is used to treat influenza cases. However the opinions are split

In Mexico, ribavirin ("ribavirina") has been sold for use against influenza.

In a randomized, controlled study of ribavirin aerosol treatment of influenza A(H1N1) virus infection among college students, treated patients had a significantly shorter duration of fever than control patients. There was a trend of more rapid recovery in treated patients.

Ribavirin, an antiviral drug with in vitro activity against both DNA and RNA viruses, is approved in the United States for the treatment of hepatitis C and respiratory syncytial virus.


A loading dose and short-term administration of oral ribavirin significantly improved symptoms and signs of influenza type A or B infection in 25 patients. The antiviral effect was not significant. No adverse clinical effects or significant laboratory values were observed. Oral treatment of patients with influenza A or B infection might be possible with ribavirin.

[Idyllic]

I will let others get into the specifics about how antivirals work but in short: no. Ribavarin on its own does very little. It works in tandem with Interfon and possibly other combinations of drugs (as being studied in the "all oral" trials).

Plus my GI encouraged me to get a flu shot prior to treatment. This turned out to be wise advice since we had a bad outbreak of the flu this year.