ing condition such as prematurity, immunosuppression or cardiopulmonary disease may increase the severity of clinical manifestations and complications of rsv infection. use of aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in patients requiring mechanical ventilator assistance should be undertaken only by physicians and support staff familiar with this mode of administration and the specific ventilator being used (see warnings , and dosage and administration ). diagnosis rsv infection should be documented by a rapid diagnostic method such as demonstration of viral antigen in respiratory tract secretions by immunofluorescence 3,4 or elisa 5 before or during the first 24 hours of treatment. treatment may be initiated while awaiting rapid diagnostic test results. however, treatment should not be continued without documentation of rsv infection. non-culture antigen detection techniques may have false positive or false negative results. assessment of the clinical situation, the time of year and other parameters may warrant reevaluation of the laboratory diagnosis. description of studies non-mechanically-ventilated infants: in two placebo controlled trials in infants hospitalized with rsv lower respiratory tract infection, aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp treatment had a therapeutic effect, as judged by the reduction in severity of clinical manifestations of disease by treatment day 3. 3,4 treatment was most effective when instituted within the first 3 days of clinical illness. virus titers in respiratory secretions were also significantly reduced with ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in one of these original studies. 4 additional controlled studies conducted since these initial trials of aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in the treatment of rsv infection have supported these data. mechanically-ventilated infants : a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp at the recommended dose was conducted in 28 infants requiring mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure caused by documented rsv infection. 6 mean age was 1.4 months (sd, 1.7 months). seven patients had underlying diseases predisposing them to severe infection and 21 were previously normal. aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp treatment significantly decreased the duration of mechanical ventilation required (4.9 vs. 9.9 days, p=0.01) and duration of required supplemental oxygen (8.7 vs. 13.5 days, p=0.01). intensive patient management and monitoring techniques were employed in this study. these included endotracheal tube suctioning every 1 to 2 hours; recording of proximal airway pressure, ventilatory rate, and f l o 2 every hour; and arterial blood gas monitoring every 2 to 6 hours. to reduce the risk of ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp precipitation and ventilator malfunction, heated wire tubing, two bacterial filters connected in series in the expiratory limb of the ventilator (with filter changes every 4 hours), and water column pressure release valves to monitor internal ventilator pressures were used in connecting ventilator circuits to the spag-2. employing these techniques, no technical difficulties with ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp administration were encountered during the study. adverse events consisted of bacterial pneumonia in one case, staphyloccus bacteremia in one case and two cases of post-extubation stridor. none were felt to be related to ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp administration.

ted increased pulmonary pressures. these procedures include the use of bacteria filters in series in the expiratory limb of the ventilator circuit with frequent changes (every 4 hours), water column pressure release valves to indicate elevated ventilator pressures, frequent monitoring of these devices and verification that ribavirin crystals have not accumulated within the ventilator circuitry, and frequent suctioning and monitoring of the patient (see clinical studies). those administering aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in conjunction with mechanical ventilator use should be thoroughly familiar with detailed descriptions of these procedures as outlined in the spag-2 manual.

aerosol generator. administration by face mask or oxygen tent may be necessary if a hood cannot be employed (see spag-2 manual). however, the volume and condensation area are larger in a tent and this may alter delivery dynamics of the drug. mechanically ventilated infants the recommended dose and administration schedule for infants who require mechanical ventilation is the same as for those who do not. either a pressure or volume cycle ventilator may be used in conjunction with the spag-2. in either case, patients should have their endotracheal tubes suctioned every 1-2 hours, and their pulmonary pressures monitored frequently (every 2-4 hours). for both pressure and volume ventilators, heated wire connective tubing and bacteria filters in series in the expiratory limb of the system (which must be changed frequently, i.e., every 4 hours) must be used to minimize the risk of ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp precipitation in the system and the subsequent risk of ventilator dysfunction. water column pressure release valves should be used in the ventilator circuit for pressure cycled ventilators, and may be utilized with volume cycled ventilators (see spag-2 manual for detailed instructions). method of preparation ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp is supplied as 6 grams of lyophilized powder per 100 ml vial for aerosol administration only. by sterile technique, reconstitute drug with a minimum of 75 ml of sterile water for injection, usp or sterile water for inhalation, usp in the original 100 ml glass vial. shake well . transfer to the clean, sterilized 500 ml spag-2 reservoir and further dilute to a final volume of 300 ml with sterile water for injection, usp, or inhalation. the final concentration should be 20 mg/ml. important: this water should not have had any antimicrobial agent or other substance added. the solution should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration. solutions that have been placed in the spag-2 unit should be discarded at least every 24 hours and when the liquid level is low before adding newly reconstituted solution.

nhalation solution, usp precipitation within the ventilator apparatus led to excessively high pulmonary pressures and diminished oxygenation. in these cases the monitoring procedures described in the current package insert were not employed (see description of studies , warnings , and dosage and administration ). pulmonary and cardiovascular pulmonary function significantly deteriorated during aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp treatment in six of six adults with chronic obstructive lung disease and in four of six asthmatic adults. dyspnea and chest soreness were also reported in the latter group. minor abnormalities in pulmonary function were also seen in healthy adult volunteers. in the original study population of approximately 200 infants who received aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp, several serious adverse events occurred in severely ill infants with life-threatening underlying diseases, many of whom required assisted ventilation. the role of ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in these events is indeterminate. since the drug's approval in 1986, additional reports of similar serious, though non-fatal, events have been filed infrequently. events associated with aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp use have included the following: pulmonary: worsening of respiratory status, bronchospasm, pulmonary edema, hypoventilation, cyanosis, dyspnea, bacterial pneumonia, pneumothorax, apnea, atelectasis and ventilator dependence. cardiovascular: cardiac arrest, hypotension, bradycardia and digitalis toxicity. bigeminy, bradycardia and tachycardia have been described in patients with underlying congenital heart disease. some subjects requiring assisted ventilation experienced serious difficulties, due to inadequate ventilation and gas exchange. precipitation of drug within the ventilatory apparatus, including the endotracheal tube, has resulted in increased positive end expiratory pressure and increased positive inspiratory pressure. accumulation of fluid in tubing ("rain out") has also been noted. measures to avoid these complications should be followed carefully (see dosage and administration ). hematologic although anemia was not reported with use of aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in controlled clinical trials, most infants treated with the aerosol have not been evaluated 1 to 2 weeks post-treatment when anemia is likely to occur. anemia has been shown to occur frequently with experimental oral and intravenous ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in humans. also, cases of anemia (type unspecified), reticulocytosis and hemolytic anemia associated with aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp use have been reported through post-marketing reporting systems. all have been reversible with discontinuation of the drug. other rash and conjunctivitis have been associated with the use of aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp. these usually resolve within hours of discontinuing therapy. seizures and asthenia associated with experimental intravenous ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp therapy have also been reported. adverse events in health care workers studies of environmental exposure to aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in health care workers administering care to patients receiving the drug have not detected adverse signs or symptoms related to exposure. however, 152 health care workers have reported experiencing adverse events through post-marketing surveillance. nearly all were in individuals providing direct care to infants receiving aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp. of 358 events from these 152 individual health care worker reports, the most common signs and symptoms were headache (51% of reports), conjunctivitis (32%), and rhinitis, nausea, rash, dizziness, pharyngitis, or lacrimation (10-20% each). several cases of bronchospasm and/or chest pain were also reported, usually in individuals with known underlying reactive airway disease. several case reports of damage to contact lenses after prolonged close exposure to aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp have also been reported. most signs and symptoms reported as having occurred in exposed health care workers resolved within minutes to hours of discontinuing close exposure to aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp (also see information for health care personnel ). the symptoms of rsv in adults can include headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat and/or cough, fever, hoarseness, nasal congestion and wheezing, although rsv infections in adults are typically mild and transient. such infections represent a potential hazard to uninfected hospital patients. it is unknown whether certain symptoms cited in reports from health care workers were due to exposure to the drug or infection with rsv. hospitals should implement appropriate infection control procedures.

were decreased in aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp treated infants compared to placebo treated infants. 3 one study also showed that rsv-specific ige antibody in bronchial secretions was decreased in patients treated with aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp. in rats, ribavirin administration resulted in lymphoid atrophy of the thymus, spleen and lymph nodes. humoral immunity was reduced in guinea pigs and ferrets. cellular immunity was also mildly depressed in animal studies. the clinical significance of these observations is unknown. pharmacokinetics assay for ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp in human materials is by a radioimmunoassay which detects ribavirin and at least one metabolite. ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp, when administered by aerosol, is absorbed systemically. four pediatric patients inhaling ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp aerosol administered by face mask for 2.5 hours each day for 3 days had plasma concentrations ranging from 0.44 to 1.55 µm, with a mean concentration of 0.76 µm. the plasma half-life was reported to be 9.5 hours. three pediatric patients inhaling aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp administered by face mask or mist tent for 20 hours each day for 5 days had plasma concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 14.3 µm, with a mean concentration of 6.8 µm. the bioavailability of aerosolized ribavirin for inhalation solution, usp is unknown and may depend on the mode of aerosol delivery. after aerosol treatment, peak plasma concentrations of ribavirin are 85% to 98% less than the concentration that reduced rsv plaque formation in tissue culture. after aerosol treatment, respiratory tract secretions are likely to contain ribavirin in concentrations many fold higher than those required to reduce plaque formation. however, rsv is an intracellular virus and it is unknown whether plasma concentrations or respiratory secretion concentrations of the drug better reflect intracellular concentrations in the respiratory tract. in man, rats, and rhesus monkeys, accumulation of ribavirin and/or metabolites in the red blood cells has been noted, plateauing in red cells in man in about 4 days and gradually declining with an apparent half-life of 40 days (the half-life of erythrocytes). the extent of accumulation of ribavirin following inhalation therapy is not well defined. animal toxicology ribavirin, when administered orally or as an aerosol, produced cardiac lesions in mice, rats, and monkeys, when given at doses of 30, 36 and 120 mg/kg or greater for 4 weeks or more (estimated human equivalent doses of 4.8, 12.3 and 111.4 mg/kg for a 5 kg child, or 2.5, 5.1 and 40 mg/kg for a 60 kg adult, based on body surface area adjustment). aerosolized ribavirin administered to developing ferrets at 60 mg/kg for 10 or 30 days resulted in inflammatory and possibly emphysematous changes in the lungs. proliferative changes were seen in the lungs following exposure at 131 mg/kg for 30 days. the significance of these findings to human administration is unknown.

in are 85% to 98% less than the concentration that reduced rsv plaque formation in tissue culture. after aerosol treatment, respiratory tract secretions are likely to contain ribavirin in concentrations many fold higher than those required to reduce plaque formation. however, rsv is an intracellular virus and it is unknown whether plasma concentrations or respiratory secretion concentrations of the drug better reflect intracellular concentrations in the respiratory tract. in man, rats, and rhesus monkeys, accumulation of ribavirin and/or metabolites in the red blood cells has been noted, plateauing in red cells in man in about 4 days and gradually declining with an apparent half-life of 40 days (the half-life of erythrocytes). the extent of accumulation of ribavirin following inhalation therapy is not well defined.