ribavirin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “ribavirin” mean?
A synthetic antiviral drug used to treat certain viral infections, particularly hepatitis C and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A synthetic antiviral drug used to treat certain viral infections, particularly hepatitis C and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
A nucleoside analogue that interferes with viral RNA synthesis and viral messenger RNA capping, thereby inhibiting viral replication. It is often used in combination with other antiviral agents.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical technical/medical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to specialist fields.
Grammar
How to Use “ribavirin” in a Sentence
The patient was treated with ribavirin.Ribavirin is administered orally.The regimen combines ribavirin and sofosbuvir.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ribavirin” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The ribavirin component of the therapy.
American English
- The patient is on a ribavirin-based regimen.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceutical industry reports or investment discussions concerning antiviral drug portfolios.
Academic
Common in medical, virology, and pharmacology research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
The primary context of use, in clinical guidelines, patient records, and scientific literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ribavirin”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ribavirin”
- Misspelling as 'ribaverin', 'ribivarin', or 'ribovirine'.
- Using it as a general term for any antiviral medication.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, often in combination with other drugs, and for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in hospitalised infants and children.
For hepatitis C, its use has declined with the advent of newer, more effective direct-acting antivirals with fewer side effects. It is still a treatment option in certain cases and regions. Its use for RSV is also now less common.
Common side effects include haemolytic anaemia (breakdown of red blood cells), fatigue, nausea, and rash. It is also teratogenic (can cause birth defects), requiring strict contraception during and after treatment.
For hepatitis C, it is almost never used as monotherapy due to low efficacy. It is used in combination with other antiviral agents, such as pegylated interferon or direct-acting antivirals like sofosbuvir.
A synthetic antiviral drug used to treat certain viral infections, particularly hepatitis C and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Ribavirin is usually technical/medical in register.
Ribavirin: in British English it is pronounced /ˌraɪbəˈvaɪrɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌraɪbəˈvaɪrɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RIBonucleic Acid + VIRal INhibitor' = RIB-A-VIR-IN.
Conceptual Metaphor
A KEY that jams the viral replication LOCK.
Practice
Quiz
Ribavirin is primarily classified as what type of drug?