Aa
Can't remember if I took my ribavirin!
I take ribavirin twice a day. I just cannot remember if I took tonight's dose or not.
Is it better to:
1. take a dose (which may mean I had a double dose), or
2. just assume I did take it (which may mean I totally miss a dose).
Main anxiety is I have VERY low platelet count and am monitored weekly to ensure it doesn't drop at all (it's borderline). And I THINK that part of what the ribavirin does is to counteract the interferon's thinning of the blood.
It is 10.40pm here - no one to ask so I googled and came across this helpful site.
Anyone out there who can help?
Is it better to:
1. take a dose (which may mean I had a double dose), or
2. just assume I did take it (which may mean I totally miss a dose).
Main anxiety is I have VERY low platelet count and am monitored weekly to ensure it doesn't drop at all (it's borderline). And I THINK that part of what the ribavirin does is to counteract the interferon's thinning of the blood.
It is 10.40pm here - no one to ask so I googled and came across this helpful site.
Anyone out there who can help?
Thank you VERY much to everyone - so many replies! The problem with counting was that I just could not remember if I took the FIRST dose on the evening of the first injection, or earlier, the morning of the day of first injection. I know I did exactly what my nurse said, trouble is I never thought to write it down not thinking I'd ever need to remember. PLUS there was one other time when I may have forgotton the dose too.... and so it goes on (plus get pretty fuzzy-headed sometimes anyway - had this virus a LONG time before knew about it, got a mass of damage, bad as it gets almost).
Anyway, I went with the half dose route and took one pill (so I've either had 1 or 3 LOL) - most worrying of all is that I had an odd number of pills in one of the bottles anyway LOL LOL LOL oh dear oh deary me .... what a nitwit I am (but a nice nitwit).
I just want to say again THANK YOU SO MUCH this was my first time on a forum and i've found the response most uplifting. Definitely a place to come and read through on those occasional low days, for sure.
GOOD LUCK to everyone - Hep C ain't the best thing in the world but many people have things much worse so my glass is half full not half empty, and sites like this help keep it that way :)
Anyway, I went with the half dose route and took one pill (so I've either had 1 or 3 LOL) - most worrying of all is that I had an odd number of pills in one of the bottles anyway LOL LOL LOL oh dear oh deary me .... what a nitwit I am (but a nice nitwit).
I just want to say again THANK YOU SO MUCH this was my first time on a forum and i've found the response most uplifting. Definitely a place to come and read through on those occasional low days, for sure.
GOOD LUCK to everyone - Hep C ain't the best thing in the world but many people have things much worse so my glass is half full not half empty, and sites like this help keep it that way :)
I don't know if any of you were around when I told the story of trying to count my pills and what a disaster that was.
If you forget a dose and don't know, what I did, was take 1/2 dose or if a lot of time had elapsed, just forget about it. Hell, later in treatment I intentionlly missed doses every now and then because I wasn't up to it. The pills aren't like the shot. It brings your body up to a level and maintains it. A dose here or there isn't going to do any harm as long as you're taking it 95% of the time, I think you're cool.
But that weekly pill container thingy...is a lifesaver...because you only have to count that days pills to know. If you don't have one, go get one. It will save you a lot of headache.
If you forget a dose and don't know, what I did, was take 1/2 dose or if a lot of time had elapsed, just forget about it. Hell, later in treatment I intentionlly missed doses every now and then because I wasn't up to it. The pills aren't like the shot. It brings your body up to a level and maintains it. A dose here or there isn't going to do any harm as long as you're taking it 95% of the time, I think you're cool.
But that weekly pill container thingy...is a lifesaver...because you only have to count that days pills to know. If you don't have one, go get one. It will save you a lot of headache.
"...and put weight in the fact I was 100 per cent compliant or perhaps a little better"
and I thought that was Mistress Porkopina who put so much weight into your 100% compliance.
and I thought that was Mistress Porkopina who put so much weight into your 100% compliance.
yes - the little pill boxes you can get in the drug store work wonders - you can get really small ones - take 5 min a week to fill up your doses and it's easier than opening an RX bottle twice a day - the investment may cost you 2 bucks but makes life a lot easier
This happened to me several times at the beginning of treatment. It took a while to figure out a reliable system. Even if you count the remaining pills, you may still have absent-mindedly misplaced tonight's dose, so counting won't tell you for sure.
My nurse, doctor and drug company would unequivocally say to not taking a chance on double-dosing and simply resume tomorrow. There are some, perhaps many, people in this forum who feel it best to doubledose or split the difference rather than omit a dose. I wouldn't myself but that's me.
My lofty Monday 'job' is to sort out my thirty-five weekly ribivirin pills into the colorful sub-divided pill box my nurse gave me. It was designed to be pill-taking for dummies but in the beginning I'd even get confused distributing them among the mini-compartments! I'd misplace the pill box or take out the pills, lay them down and not know if I'd taken them or not. Now though, by necessity, I have developed simples rules that work for me. I always leave the ribivirin pills in the same place on the door in the fridge, even though it's not necessary to refrigerate them. And I never take them out until I'm 'concentrating' and ready to swallow. It's a habit now and one of the few things I'm good at these days.
Good luck.
My nurse, doctor and drug company would unequivocally say to not taking a chance on double-dosing and simply resume tomorrow. There are some, perhaps many, people in this forum who feel it best to doubledose or split the difference rather than omit a dose. I wouldn't myself but that's me.
My lofty Monday 'job' is to sort out my thirty-five weekly ribivirin pills into the colorful sub-divided pill box my nurse gave me. It was designed to be pill-taking for dummies but in the beginning I'd even get confused distributing them among the mini-compartments! I'd misplace the pill box or take out the pills, lay them down and not know if I'd taken them or not. Now though, by necessity, I have developed simples rules that work for me. I always leave the ribivirin pills in the same place on the door in the fridge, even though it's not necessary to refrigerate them. And I never take them out until I'm 'concentrating' and ready to swallow. It's a habit now and one of the few things I'm good at these days.
Good luck.
I have two weekly pill boxes... the big ones with 4 compartments for each day. Each day can be taken out separately if needed. I have my riba, AD's and supplements all in there and prepare one week at a time, so I always have one box totally filled, while I use up the other one. I have daily and weekly continuous alarms on my cell phone for all the times to take my pills and for the shot. And I make it a habit, that I am not allowed to put the pills down, before I take them. So If I don't swallow them right away, I have to run around with them in my hand. I made up these little rules for myself, as that is the only way I know that I will never miss a dose. So far it has worked.
same thing happened to me.
Did some googling and found out that there is no instance of a riba overdose..
so don't panic if you took a double dose...
may make your heart race a little but that is about it.
bandman
Did some googling and found out that there is no instance of a riba overdose..
so don't panic if you took a double dose...
may make your heart race a little but that is about it.
bandman
lol: ma11
don't sweat it; the goal of TX is 80% of meds;
----------
This is not correct. You should always try for 100% compliance. The 80/80/80 rule you refer to was never intended as a goal but as study data for doctors to mull over when making certain decisions. One of my liver consults made a point in asking how compliant I was, and put weight in the fact I was 100 per cent compliant or perhaps a little better :)
don't sweat it; the goal of TX is 80% of meds;
----------
This is not correct. You should always try for 100% compliance. The 80/80/80 rule you refer to was never intended as a goal but as study data for doctors to mull over when making certain decisions. One of my liver consults made a point in asking how compliant I was, and put weight in the fact I was 100 per cent compliant or perhaps a little better :)
I completely understand your anxiety, this happened to me also and I did the count back trick by separating them into groups of 10, as suggested. It helped that I had mine in monthly supply bottles so I didn't have to count too many but it was still over a hundred as I recall. You've got to figure out how many you have taken and therefore how many you should have left. I'd also like to add that I did AFTER I had already decided to take them, even if it was a double dose! Luckily all my numbers added up but I did get my husband to double check me.
Now I use separate boxes for AM/PM; I keep the morning ones in my handbag because I have to take them at work.
I also get my husband to check that I have put the right number of pills for each day in the right box at the same time each week as I also found that I didn't fill the containers correctly a couple of times.
The simplest things can be the most challenging on this tx and meds-anxiety is a major for me.
All the best :)
Now I use separate boxes for AM/PM; I keep the morning ones in my handbag because I have to take them at work.
I also get my husband to check that I have put the right number of pills for each day in the right box at the same time each week as I also found that I didn't fill the containers correctly a couple of times.
The simplest things can be the most challenging on this tx and meds-anxiety is a major for me.
All the best :)
don't sweat it; the goal of TX is 80% of meds; halvelife of riba is a week or so; you loose 3 pills doesn't make much difference; shouldn't happen too often, though; hepatologists are rather insistent to miss as little doses as possible; what helped me through TX, i put all the pills of the day into my spare soapjar in the bathroom; so after a tough day, brainfog, lost glasses, rages and things i still had a way of knowing; good luck
C.
C.
Bob: Separate the pills into piles of 10. It makes it easier to count. I am serious. I did this while on treatment.
-----------------------
In my case, I'd have to also divide my carpet into quadrants, as well as put my pants in even piles. I had riba everywhere when I treated, but I was lucky in that I had more than ample supply.
BTW the two best methods I found were the AM/PM pill box (which I ended up losing) and the ultimate which was the diary meaning every pill taken was logged. Not in diary meant I didn't take it -- or meant I forgot to log it. LOL. For that reason, for a period of time, I would only take a pill if I had the diary open and pen in hand. Later, taking my riba twice a day became habitual with my two meals a day. Before I took my first bite, in went the riba.
-- Jim
-----------------------
In my case, I'd have to also divide my carpet into quadrants, as well as put my pants in even piles. I had riba everywhere when I treated, but I was lucky in that I had more than ample supply.
BTW the two best methods I found were the AM/PM pill box (which I ended up losing) and the ultimate which was the diary meaning every pill taken was logged. Not in diary meant I didn't take it -- or meant I forgot to log it. LOL. For that reason, for a period of time, I would only take a pill if I had the diary open and pen in hand. Later, taking my riba twice a day became habitual with my two meals a day. Before I took my first bite, in went the riba.
-- Jim
I thought the peg was responsible primarily for drop in platelets? Or is it a combination of both?
The manufacturer's web site and almost every doctor referred to here will tell probably tell you to forget the dose and just continue on schedule tomorrow. That said, a number of us here -- including myself -- decided we did not want to take a chance and therefore took the dose. Some -- including myself -- have at times taken the middle ground, meaning taking half the dose. Taking a double dose won't hurt you in my opinion but I'm not a doctor.
-- Jim
-- Jim
Separate the pills into piles of 10. It makes it easier to count. I am serious. I did this while on treatment.
Imma.... I think counting the pills would have been a pretty good solution if you didn't have too many pills to count back on. Do you have someone else there that can help you count the pills. I am serious. I know how I feel when it comes to my meds and it makes me anxious to try to figure anything out on my own and a second brain comes in handy when we're on meds.
I'm sorry I don't have another solution to offer you but hopefully someone else will.
I'm sorry I don't have another solution to offer you but hopefully someone else will.
No...i am not be sarky....LOL...what ever that means...i didnt mean to type in large text as to yell at you...i was serious...i did the same thing before...i just count back the pills i do...ya might wanna try this on the next batch...how long ago did you think you missed the dose?...i
I did think of that, trouble is I just can't work it out :( I keep trying and get a different answer each time. You sound like you're being a bit sarky ... I hope not, came here for support, not to be belittled.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
