A 32-year-old member asked:
What are common side effects of combination (ribavirin + interferon) treatment?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sidney Vinsonanswered
Gastroenterology 28 years experience
Lots...: Fatigue, headache, rigors, fever, insomnia, irritability, depression, dizziness, impaired concentration, anxiety, emotional lability, hair loss, pruritus, dry skin , rash, nausea, anorexia , weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, anemia, injection site reaction, muscle and joint pains, shortness of breath, cough, flu-like symptoms, birth defects, chest pain, suicidal behavior to start.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Jack Mutnickanswered
Allergy and Immunology 18 years experience
Side effects: Treatment-related side effects are nearly universal.
Most common:
fatigue (interferon and ribavirin)
flulike symptoms: fever, headache, muscle ache (interferon and ribavirin)
mild anxiety (interferon)
skin rash (ribavirin)
depression (interferon)
gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, diarrhea (interferon and ribavirin)
monitoring for severe side effects (eg, marked anemia) is an important part of tre.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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A 34-year-old member asked:
What are common side effects of ribavirin treatment?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Last updated Nov 20, 2013
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