Ilona

Sorry I don't know what you mean. Extra medication?

I take my (3) riba in the MORNING (because they make us stay awake) and (2) at NIGHT so I can sleep better (still I need to take my Ambien)

You might want to ask your doctor if you can do it that way since it really makes absolutely no difference - once the serum level is built up in your blood...it's built up.

insted of taking 5 pills a day, I will take 2 only.

I switched my Riba to three in the morning instead of evening after  reading one of your posts earlier about sleeping.  I didn't see where it would be a big deal to switch. My GI doesn't even know I'm on tx, so I am sure he doesn't care!

It sounds like Ilona is talking about some new way of these drugs are made. They do come out with new stuff all the time.

Several months ago we discussed an announcement that at least one of the riba manufacturers were going to start packaging riba in 300 and/or 400 mg capsules.  I was just thinking about this the other day wondering if anyone had yet seen them.

Guy-
Oh so it's the same med in a bigger dosage that makes sense. I was wondering WHAT it could be since nothing I know of has been made a new protocol for tx'ing except Riba ya know?

Gal-
Since I was only supposed to take 4 pills originally (but argued to take extra) someone advised me to switch it up to 3 in the am.  The doc told me it didn't matter at all do what I was comfortable with...so I'm sure it's the same for you.

I do notice on shot night when I take 3 in am and 3 in pm (I'm crazy dont' ask it makes no sense except psychologically I feel like I'm fighting harder or something) I crash from the Interferon big time and then later wake up from the extra Riba that my body isn't used to.  I really think taking the 3 in the morning really does help.

The 'Riba-Pack' concept, depending on what it is could be very helpful to those of us who have a tough time keeping track of what they swallowed, or didn't.  On a few occassions I've had to take steroids for a 'dose pack'.  Printed right there, in a blister packages, is the number of pills and time of day (am - pm)to take them.

Illona - does the riba pack pak come with those kind of instructions and in a blister wrapping?

I did not get them yet. I just got a prescription.

In the end, riba is riba.  Probably just fewer capsules.  Let us know what it looks like when you get the rx filled.

Still...you have to remember to pick up the pack twice a day...same thing as picking up the "bottle" twice a day.

It's the darn "twice a day" that gives me trouble sometimes you know?  Thank God it's not more often then that!

I think that I read in one of those VX-950 trial thinggys that it's dosed every 8 hours.  Riba is a little more shotgun like but it seems like with Vertex compliance is a little more strict.

Yeah, we get those, they are 400 mg each, hey I think its easier take less pills, same miligrams.
lilmoma

I would call the pharmacy before cashing the rx and confirm the actual dosage in each pill, as doctors and NP's do screw up more than we'd like.

I say this because you're now taking 2 in morning and 3 in evening, so unless the RibaPak formulates each of the two pills differently, to me your new regimen indicates a dosage change. This may be intentional or unintentional but I would check it out now, even though I'm pretty sure it's OK.

If lil' Moma is correct, then it appears your doctor has reduced your dosage from 1000 mg/day of riba to 800 mg/day of riba. Is this something he discussed with you? As stated, riba is riba and 800 mg is not 1000 mg, unless I'm missing something here.

FL:<i>depending on what it is could be very helpful to those of us who have a tough time keeping track of what they swallowed</i>

Hey dude, just don't injest foreign slimies from the floor and you should be alright.

NY:<i>It's the darn "twice a day" that gives me trouble sometimes you know? Thank God it's not more often then that!</i>

You're *sure* you're not married?

Actually, I think there were making two doses other than 200.  The new ones could be 400 and 500 or 400 and 600.  Not sure now.

Sometimes my riba comes in a bottle, sometimes it comes in a blister pack, either way, they are blue pills (about the size of a multivitamin) and it says right on it 400. Also the blister pack is labeled AM Pills day 1 (and so on) and PM pills day 1 (and so on) so you dont forget where you are into the blister pack (brain fog ya know)
My hubby, since he is done with his shots now (last one #48 was on friday) he also was sent the blister pack. Before they always sent him the 200 mg  but they did put a little note in letting him know about the change.
lilmoma

That would make sense if the mixed two different doses in the same blister pack. The 400 pill would then be the morning dose and the 600mg pill, the evening. Still, I'd double check with pharmacy to make sure what the actual dose ordered is. BTW curious why you don't take the 400 in morning and 600 in evening. You'd probably sleep better that way.

Does your Riba come in capsules? That I could handle, but those pills that come wrapped up so tight you can't get them open. Benedryl and Prilosec come in impossible to open packaging. I sometimes don't bother with it. In a Riba rage, I might try blowing the sucker up!  


EVERYONE
Don't forget to send your name to Hep C ambassadors to let the appropriations committee know we want them to spend, not cut, money for Hep C.  They Vote tomorrow.  It is easy and simple to add your name to those who support funding for Hep C.

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/IMPACTC/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=4011

Thanks for the reminder about hepc ambassadors, I am on their mailing list, and they sent me a card to remind me, and I still forgot!!!
I am gonna go to the website right now.
lilmoma

from the Three Rivers Pharmaceutical site:

RIBASPHERE

Hi, found your post and I'm haven't slept any so I'm still impaired, but here goes...for my face I get something really cheap from the health food store, comparitively speaking....it's called Egyptian Magic...

I got it cause someone told me it was good for burns, scratches, other skin flare-ups, zits, etc...so I just started using it for a night cream...It's got a lot of gobblety-gook copy on the label....that ancient mystics used it while they were conjuring up vestal virgins or whatever, blah, blah, blah...but I tell you, even though it's a bit greasy, it works for dry skin...and even though it's greasy, not much comes off on the pillow it's weird, it stays on your face, maybe the mystics keep it there, ha ha!

...it's olive oil, bee pollen (if youre allergic to bees prob wouldnt chance it, i'm not allergic) Royal Jelly, etc... usually Royal Jelly products are quite expensive, so this is really pretty good for the price...

For my body, I use Alba Very Emollient Body Lotion...it's really one of the best of tried, and i've tried many, many of them...you can get it scented or unscented...

You can by it at the health food store for like 15 bucks for 8oz, if you want to do that, go ahead that's a way to just try it, they might even have smaller bottles. If you do like it...forget the health food stores, get it off the internet at various places that sell it, one gallon (that will last you forever) for like 38 bucks...it's got all kinds of great stuff, safflower, aloe vera, green tea, chammomile, sesame, grape seed, cumcumber, sea kelp extract, lavender, Vit E, Lecithin, all kinds of good stuff...

Adrenals probs are notorious for not coming up on tests unless they are shot and you have some horrible adrenal disease...they just don't have good markers for them yet...even the endo guy told me that...so I just eat really well and rest when ever I can..if youre working, or doing something, rest after, you don't have to sleep, but rest, kinda like you've been on treatment...baby yourself...and don't flat out do something that whips up the adrenals for along time without stopping, that really taxes them...name of the game is to relax and do relaxing things when you can, which is pretty obvious I know...

da Sie eine Deutshe Frau sind, wissen Sie bereits, un warme Bader, dann Kalte Dushe zu nehman...lieben Sie zu ihnen und kummern Sie um selbst...

Thanks for that link. i've sent it out as well. hope you're doing okay today.   tracy

Thanks. And, yes, it's time to get your butt in gear and get tested :)

I did try Prevacid, and Aciphex, and Nexium and...

Nexium worked best for me, but I'm pretty much off PPI's at least for now. Still have to watch what I eat but things are a lot better. Thanks for thinking about me.

-- Jim

before I forget, which happens sometimes, er...what was I going to say?...oh yes! congratulations! it is coming close to closing that chaper for good, I would start closing the book about now.


sandi: how nice to see the fishies again! and, don't make me come to the midwest and drag your butt to the lab! before you do, show me how to do the fishies so I can post them when you tell us you are negative!
much luv! ;-} (could not resist)