Should ribavirin be mixed with saline or glucose solution?

Generally, ribavirin can be prepared with either normal saline or glucose solution. Both solvents comply with medical standards, and the specific choice should be based on the patient's physical condition and therapeutic needs. The detailed analysis is as follows:

For ordinary patients without special underlying diseases, normal saline is a commonly used option. Its osmotic pressure closely matches that of human body fluids, causing minimal vascular irritation, ensuring stable drug dissolution, and avoiding additional metabolic burden. It is particularly suitable for intravenous infusion when minimizing physiological stress is needed, and is widely used in clinical practice due to its high safety profile.

For patients with hypoglycemia, inability to eat normally, or those requiring energy supplementation, glucose solution is more appropriate. These patients need carbohydrate supplementation alongside medication to maintain stable blood glucose levels, and glucose solution can simultaneously serve the purposes of drug dissolution and energy supply.

The preparation and administration of ribavirin must strictly follow medical instructions. Whether using saline or glucose solution, proper drug concentration and infusion rate must be controlled. The solution should be used promptly after preparation to avoid reduced efficacy due to prolonged storage.