Leftover Ribavirin

Seems I am going to have about 100 or so Riba left over at the end of my tx.  Some of my scrips were for #180 when I only needed #150 most months.  I am on my last week....YEA!  I was 100% complient, so it was not because of dose reduction.  

Is there something I can do with them?  Give them to the doc,  return them, give them to some non-profit org?  I know they are very expensive and it seems like such a waste to discard them.  

If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.  I will see the doc soon for my EOT results, so I also planned to ask him.

Pam

[FloridaMouse]

Pam,

I swiped this off another forum.  Maybe this would be an option?

Mouse

Hey Guys,

I have some exciting news!!  About 2 months ago we were talking about it would be nice if you could provide someone without insurance or in underdeveloped countries with the ability to get your meds in the event that you had meds left after completing tx or you were a non responder or went off tx because of sx……..well, yesterday I was watching CNN Head Line News.  They have a segment called HEROS and there was a gentleman Jesus Aguais on talking about a meds recycling program for AIDS meds.  I called to see if they knew of a program for Hep meds.  I spoke with the Director of the Recycling Program his name is Samuel and the hub of the distribution is out of NY.  He told me that they also provide assistance to the Hep community as well as people who are co-infected.   Any way if anyone is interested in sending any meds I am putting the mailing address below.  Here is the link if you want to watch the program on CNN & there is other background information at this link as well  

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2007/08/24/cnn.heroes.jesus.aquais.cnn


I was reminded that if you need to refridgerate the meds to send overnight with cooler and ice packs. They will take open bottles of pills.

[H20Lover]

Thanks Mouse, I will check it out and alo see if I find any other organizations that may take donations.  I was not sure about the legalities.  Really hate for it to go to waste.  Also wonder if I should keep it in case I relapse and want to pre-dose next time.  

If anyone else has ideas, please let me know.

Pam

[H20Lover]

Just checking to see if there are any other ideas on what to do with the leftover Ribavirin!

Thanks,
Pam

[H20Lover]

Only one response on this.....

Is this not a concern for others.  I hate to see the stuff go to waste as expensive as it is.

Can anyone give me an idea.  I was given a place in NY, but the link does not seem to work.

Pam

[PRINCESS531]

IM TREATING FOR hcv SHOT 22 OF 24 WITH RIBAVIRIN.IM STILL UNDETECTED.my husband is also genotype 2 HCV he cannot afford treatment and if you havent found what to do with your extra pills, im sure he would be grateful so much.i thought of asking if anyone had any pegasus or co-pegasus leftover,but i was embarrassed,but i would do it for someone.thankyou............

[H20Lover]

I would be happy to do this.....but is it lega?  I was thinking more of non-profit organizations, but if giving and not selling is Ok I would not have a problem with this.

Anyone know??????

Pam

[PRINCESS531]

as far as i know and being in the medical field in the past,as long as it is not sold for profit its fine.also my husband was legally prescribed ribaviran......i asked my GI dr and he said it is up to you what you would want to do..............and he seemed to think it was very nice of you to want to help someone as well.................

[PRINCESS531]

i just got a return call from my son ,whom is a police officer,and i left him a message about this.he just called and said as long as it is not a controlled substance <Narcotics.etc....says he sees no wrong............

[nygirl7]

Hey H2O - keep them aside in case that dread "bird flu" strikes out here...remember that flu that might annihilate the world?  LOL

I swear sometimes I think they will do ANYTHING to sell newspapers!

I'm so glad you are almost done!

[R Glass]

It looks like I am going to have some Riba left over myself. I also have a friend that has about 90 left over. I have abour 3.5 weeks of tx left. I will be in contact soon. R. Glass

[H20Lover]

Thanks for checking......I of course do not want to do something wrong and get busted after all this!

Between myself and RGlass, that should help your hubby.

I too will get back to you!

Pam

[PRINCESS531]

thankyou guys..............im writting to the manufacturer to see about the injections.his liver enzimes are so high,the sooner the better he treats.thankyou so much.just send me a message so we can excnange info when you have time.thankyou to both of you.....im glad you guys are getting well.im blessed too,i have 2 more shots to go and im UND..cant wait to stop taking this stuff............but it was worth it to be UND.........

[moahunter]

I have left over Riba as well. I thought it might be handy if I ever get a bad flu or cold. I read somewhere that Riba may be one of the solutions to bird flu if it ever comes. There is uncertainty with Riba though. I understand it was tried with SARs patients, but that it increased death rates (as their resportory problems were exasperated by the reduced red blood cell count).

[mayday557]

Left over riba ?

Mix well with bread crumbs and egg ~ season to taste
sprinkle with cheese ~ cover & bake for 20 mins.

To donate is a wonderfull thing specially since I have
almost a full jar by being taken off tx just when I
got a re-fill.

Very Cool !!!

[PRINCESS531]

thankyou to all whom are willing to help my husband...............i keep you all in my prayers for a full recovery to everyone...............god bless.......................thankyou for wanting to help him,as he says thankyou,thankyou,thankyou so much from his heart..and so do i......................just let me know if i should send a message to your profiles so you know where to send it to................have a great weekend all..........................

[PRINCESS531]

does anyone who said they had leftover riba still have any ?   thankyou.........

[nygirl7]

They are the only cure or preventative they have for "bird flu" so you'd best save them for that (according to the news reports of a year or so remember? The next big plague that was going to wipe us out?)

LOL just kidding.  I waited until someone was in need of them and then I sent them forward to them.  Someone had sent me some when my insurance got wonky for a period too. It's not exactly above the board but.....I wouldn't throw them away I just couldn't.

[nygirl7]

Since taking riba without the peg is a waste of time and effort - have you checked with the drug companies patient assistance programs (commitment to care and for pegasys the pegassist programs) to find out if they can help your husband?

WhenI wanted to extend treatment (and two docs agreed) the insurance comapny told me it was "experiemental" at the time and they would NOT let me) - all I had to do was show them the denial letter from the insurance and tell them what I made a year and they gave me 6 months worth of free meds with NO problem.

All you'd have to be responsible for would be the tests and doctor and perhaps you can find a clinic or something.  OR could you get him into a trial as a treatment naive person into Vertex or something?

Taking the riba alone won't do anything.

[Dale_Ray]

Hey Deb:

How's it been going. It's been a long time since we spoke last. I hope you are doing well and ps I am still hooked on the Gold Bond. After a year I guess I am about as normal as I will ever be. I hope all is going well for you and that you cleared. I hope you were able to get your boss straightened out too:) Dale