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Heartburn and Meds

Ok folks, heres another brilliant question; any trouble with heartburn after taking the ribavirin, I have had it real bad the last few days. If so is it ok to take tums or something to keep it at bay.
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Avatar universal
Good grief!  Y'all are so smart and informative!  I'll stop Pepcid Complete NOW!  I eat them like candy.  Also, I chase my Riba with a SlimFast Optima High Protien (5 g total fat) - is that adequate?  Also, on a different note - I'm out of bed on a Saturday!!!!  The woman who referred me to another doc. called back and said that she had a thought - I probably knew it already, but be sure to inject Pegintron in belly fat, not the thigh - that it assimmilates better in the belly.  Holy sh**!  Because of the plastic, corset style brace I wear for broken back, I've been injecting in the thigh, requiring narcotics on Sat. for extreme headache.  Last night I injected in lower belly - below brace.  No blood spot post injection and no headache - O.K. - no unmanagable headache today!!  Thought this was good info. for fellow newbies.
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Avatar universal
It kind of makes me laugh, that me of all people has to make a concious effort to eat fat, I will try the yogurt shake, could you give me an idea on how you make it.
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Avatar universal
Thanks, I will go and get some Pepcid today, I see my doc next Thursday, I'll get a script then.
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Avatar universal
I kinda like Pepcid myself and currently take Pepcid Complete now and then.

Of course what you want is Pepcid AC which doesn't have the antacid. It comes in both regular and maximum strength formula. (I think popping 2 regular is the same as one maxium strength but double check the box label or their web site:  http://tinyurl.com/h49ye

If Pepsid AC  works for you, then a PPI like Nexium might not be needed, but of course, discuss with your doctor. Unlike antacids, H-2 pumps like Pepcid do not work immediately, so give it several days or a week before deciding if it's making a difference.

Good luck!

-- Jim
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Avatar universal
I do a heart smart liver smart smoothie every day that I love.
I use 1c.organic vanilla yogurt 1c. frozen organic berries( any kind you like), 2 scoops protein powder. You can add a bananna or any other fruit you like to it too. Blend it up and down the hatch. Use a good protein powder make sure it doesn't have added iron in it. I used to add flax seed also but on Tx was told to hold off on flax. You an add wheat germ or whole nuts to it for a cruncy nutty flavor, fresh nuts are also very good for you. This smoothie is good for you and high in antioxidants. It is great when you have no appetite and trouble getting solid foods down I have found.
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Avatar universal
BTW you can still pop some antacids while taking the Pepsic, as long as you space it a couple of hours away from the riba. Some docs, however, discourage antacid dependency so do check with them. The nice thing about the antacids is they work right away.
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Avatar universal
My doctor advised me to NEVER take any antacids at all so I try to make due eating ice cream and stuff like that...it's more fun anyways ;)

The antacids can bind to the ribavirin and there are other things that can make it less effective as well.

Jim had SEVERELY bad problems with his problems.....I don't think he could have possibly made it without his meds but if there is a way to avoid them in general you probably should.

If you have to take them make sure it's WAY after the Riba.

(I think this also goes for other "chewables" like the fiber ones that my mom takes...I noticed them the other day and they are just like big Tums"

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Avatar universal
OH...do you take the Riba with food by the way?  I take it with a yogurt shake in the morning so I have some fat content for the riba to bind to and be absorbed into my system.

Perhaps if you tried that - or some peanut butter toast (great natural fat oils there) it might help?

Something mild in the stomach (and we should always try to take it with fat remember)
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108191 tn?1199599905
You should not take antacids around the time you take Riba.  I had horrible problems with heartburn and acid reflux.  My NP gave me Nexium and it helped alot.

The person to ask is JimJim, he went through the same thing and knows tons about it.  Good luck.
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Avatar universal
LOL I'm glad you had a good laugh!

Most days I'm running so far behind to get to work (since going on tx I CANNOT wake up in the morning even though I CANT sleep at night...so not fair!) that I drink a yogurt smoothie from the supermarket.  

But on the weekends I'll make one in the blender too...unless I opt for pancakes and bacon (which I always STARVED myself from eating cause it is fattening but on treatment I realized...wow I am emaciated I can eat all the bacon I want...so now i DO!!! ;)

(I never said I was a real health nut did I? If I did it's a LIE!)  :)
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Avatar universal
Yeah, the fat thing is strange, but studies suggest that a higher fat content meal actually helps the riba absorption. It may also make it easier on the stomach. Flax, as stated, acts sort of like an antacid and should not be taken around the same time you do the ribavirin. Same with metamucil or the like. BTW if you do antacids and space them 2-3 hours from the riba make sure you space them in both directions -- in other words, don't take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after. For the record, I rarely took any antacids on treatment but then I was taking 2 Nexium a day for most of the time. Now that I'm off treatment and don't need the daily Nexium, I find an occasional antacid or something like Pepcid Complete a big help.
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Avatar universal
Kalio didn't state that flax acts like an antacid, as my wording suggested, but simply that she was told to "hold off on the flax" during treatment. A minor point, but best to be accurate when referring to what other people post.
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Avatar universal
Thanks so much! So I guess its a go for the cheese blintzs, with strawberries and sour cream,tomorrow morning! Horray!
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Avatar universal
Gonna: So I guess its a go for the cheese blintzs, with strawberries and sour cream,tomorrow morning
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Now that's gonna help your reflux a lot. LOL.

But seriously, when I did finally go on 2 Nexium a day, I was able to eat like that. Not very "healthy" but on treatment you do what you gotta do, and I had both a major weight-loss problem as well as appetite distortion, so anything I could muster an appetitie up for I ate.

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Avatar universal
For me gaining weight has never taken any effort at all, just typing cheese blintz I probably gained a pound, but I have actually lost 6 pounds this first two weeks of treatment, I'll consider Jenny Craig, with a kick!
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Avatar universal
jim made a good point, the lit with my peg said 80% more riba is absorbed with a high cal meal. or 80% is not wasted.
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Avatar universal
You don't want to take Tums, Mylanta, Gaviscon or any antacid within two hours of your ribavirin dose as it can impede riba absorption. If you're not taking the riba with a decent meal, preferably with at least a moderate amount of fat, you might try that.

If that doesn't work, ask your doctor about PPI's like Nexium, Prilosec, Aciphex, etc. They do not interfere with riba absorption. You could also ask about OTC H2 Pumps like Zantac (Ranitidine hydrochloride) -- either maxium or regular strength -- or Pepcid AC  However, you dont' want Pepcid Complete because it contains an antacid alongside the H2 inhibitor.

-- Jim
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