Copegus
Copegus is a brand of ribavirin, an antiviral tablet used with another medicine for hepatitis C, sold here as 100mg tablets in packs of 30, 60 or 90.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100mg | 30 tablets | $189.60 | $6.32 |
| 100mg | 60 tablets | $310.20 | $5.17 |
| 100mg | 90 tablets | $437.40 | $4.86 |
- Category
- Antivirals
- Active ingredient
- Ribavirin
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet
- Strengths
- 100mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Hepatitis C
- Therapeutic Class
- Antiviral
- Pharmacological Class
- Nucleoside Analogue
- Minor Side Effects
- Fatigue, Nausea, Headache
- Moderate Side Effects
- Itching, Insomnia, Dry skin
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Roche
- Onset Time
- Several weeks
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Didanosine, Zidovudine
- Age Restrictions
- For adults
What you will receive
Copegus is the originator brand name, made by Roche. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Copegus.
- The same active ingredient (Ribavirin) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which strengths and pack sizes of generic Copegus can I order?
Generic Copegus comes as 100mg tablets in packs of 30, 60 or 90. This is generic ribavirin, not the original Copegus. Larger packs cost less per tablet.
How is generic Copegus delivered to Hong Kong?
Generic Copegus can go by tracked courier in 5 to 9 business days with online tracking, or by standard airmail in 14 to 21 business days, up to 30, untracked. Every order arrives in plain, unbranded packaging.
What is another name for ribavirin?
Copegus, Rebetol and Virazole are brand names of ribavirin, which is also sold as Vilona. Here, ribavirin can be bought online as generic Copegus, and also as generic Rebetol. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can Copegus be used on its own for hepatitis C?
No. Ribavirin is only used as part of a combination with another hepatitis C medicine, such as an interferon or a direct-acting antiviral. Taken alone, it does not treat the infection.
Can I drink alcohol with Copegus?
Best avoided. Alcohol puts extra load on a liver the virus has already inflamed, and heavy drinking makes liver damage worse, so most people leave it out for the length of treatment.
What is the difference between Copegus and Rebetol?
Both contain ribavirin. Copegus here is generic ribavirin 100mg tablets; Rebetol is ribavirin 200mg capsules. The strength and form differ, but the active ingredient is the same. The rest of the hepatitis C regimen determines which strength is used.
Can I take Copegus with food?
Yes, and that is the usual way: the tablets are swallowed with a meal, once in the morning and once in the evening. Some people find food also makes stomach upset less likely.
Do men need to avoid pregnancy risk while on Copegus?
Yes. Ribavirin can harm an unborn baby, so a man taking it must avoid fathering a child during treatment and for six months afterwards, just as a woman must avoid becoming pregnant.
About Copegus
What Copegus is used for
Copegus is a brand name for ribavirin, an antiviral medicine. It is used together with another hepatitis C medicine — usually an interferon or a direct-acting antiviral — to treat chronic hepatitis C, a virus that infects the liver. Ribavirin does not work on its own for hepatitis C, so it is always part of a combination. The aim is to stop the virus from multiplying and to lower the amount of virus in the blood.
How ribavirin works
Ribavirin belongs to a group called nucleoside analogues. It looks enough like one of the building blocks the virus needs to copy its RNA that the virus uses it by mistake. That blocks the assembly of new viral particles. It may also make infected cells easier for the immune system to clear.
How to take Copegus
Copegus tablets go down whole with food, one dose in the morning and one in the evening. The number of tablets in a dose is set by body weight and the genotype (strain) of the virus, and a course commonly lasts 24 to 48 weeks or longer. Blood tests during treatment follow the virus level and the red blood cell count.
Side effects and important risks
Tiredness, headache, nausea, trouble sleeping, irritability and dry skin are common. Ribavirin can also lower the number of red blood cells, causing anaemia. That can make you unusually tired or pale, and it can worsen heart problems. Breathlessness, a fast heartbeat or chest pain needs urgent attention. Ribavirin can harm an unborn baby, so pregnancy must be avoided during treatment and for six months afterwards by both male and female patients. Combining ribavirin with didanosine raises the risk of pancreas and blood problems.
Copegus or Rebetol?
This listing is generic ribavirin as 100mg tablets. The other ribavirin listing here is Rebetol, a 200mg capsule: same active ingredient, different brand, form and strength. The ribavirin page covers the ingredient itself. Keep the tablets in the pack they came in.
Sources
- Ribavirin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Label: RIBAVIRIN tablet, film coated — DailyMed / U.S. National Library of Medicine