Page "Ribavirin" Paragraph 13

In Mexico, oral ribavirin has been available since the 1980s as an over-the-counter drug (" ribavirina ," ICN pharmaceuticals Spanish tradename Vilona ), for treating influenza.

In this form it was occasionally brought into the U. S. for HIV / AIDS patients.

However, ribavirin has proven to have little if any clinical usefulness against HIV, and it can greatly increase blood levels and also toxicity of the HIV antiviral didanosine ( ddI, Videx ).

Other interactions with nucleoside antivirals for HIV should be considered when HIV / AIDS patients use ribavirin to treat hepatitis C ( see " aidsinfo " external link ).