Taking Riba with a slightly fatty food

Hi everybody..I hope you're all doing well this weekend.  I'm now 11/48 & going for my 12 week PCR on Fri 11/11..Please say a little prayer for me that my results are UND. :)

I miss posting in here but I've just been lurking in the background lately and not saying much. Partially due to Brian Fog, very sore fingertips & I found myself feeling a bit offended last week from some people who seemed to be really mean to individuals with simple questions. To those people, I say...Give these people a break..there is no need to lash out at them for asking a simple question that must be bothering them. I was taught that if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say it at all. Amen..now to my question:

Regarding taking our Riba with a fatty food. It's been leaving a question in my mind since I began tx. They say to take the Riba with a fatty food in the am & pm, otherwise we lose about 60% of it when taken on an empty stomach. If this is such an important issue, why isn't it noted on my prescription bottle? On the rx Patient Prescription Information it states "You may take this medication with or without food, but it is important to choose one way & take this medication the same way with every dose". I usually take it with some Activia Yogurt..but I still would like anyone's input on this subject.
Thanking you in advance...
Have a Sx-free weekend!
E

[Lady E]

Hi Jack. Welcome to the forum. Grab an oar, we're all in this together.
I'm sorry to hear that you've been diagnose with HCV, it really takes a chunk out of our normal lives, but we can do it with the support of our loved ones & I have always found this forum to be extremely helpful. There are many knowledgable and understanding people here, so we should take what we need from here & leave the rest. Nothing is perfect. :)
I hope that you make the correct choice with your alcohol issues. IMHO, we should totally stay away from the stuff. I just can't see putting ourselves through this treatment & then turning around & drinking which is SO bad for our livers right now. Our livers should be treated with TLC, and I guess it takes something like this to really find out what our priorities are. Only you can make the right descision for yourself.
Best of luck to you when you begin treatment this month. Most of us are really here to help eachother, with a few ornery ones thrown in here and there. LOL
E

[GrandmaA]

I have a little cereal in the a.m. and then my protein drink then I eat 11 almonds. The almonds contain fat. Then I take 3 riba pills. At night I take 2 riba after dinner. I always have yogurt and flaxseed oil before my small dinner. I will buy regular yogurt next time and not low fat.

[GrandmaA]

I have a little cereal in the a.m. and then my protein drink then I eat 11 almonds. The almonds contain fat. Then I take 3 riba pills. At night I take 2 riba after dinner. I always have yogurt and flaxseed oil before my small dinner. I will buy regular yogurt next time and not low fat.

[Lady E]

Hi there! A while back I read in here that the Activia Yogurt works well (& it tastes great! Probably due to more fat)  It also works as far as keeping me more "regular"
It comes in a green box right next to the low fat yogurts in the dairy section.
I also bought some granola cereal with raisins, dates & almonds.
I sprinkle some of that in with my Activia & it makes a nice little meal for breakfast..seems to taste good & fills me up much better. :)
E

[amicraxy]

I drink 20 oz. off coffee with a muffin with two pills.  Is that o.k.  the only meal I eat is lunch from the health food store. Because of my basket ball, I drink smooth move tea in the afternoon and evening.  two pills in evening mainly on empty stomach then metamucil before bed. But still have basketball.  I just added a detox tea with mainly Dandelion.  
I have offened wondered about what mixes in stomach and the effects with medication, but I would think that in the lab while testing these drugs they would have found out if something like coffee would mess with it

[jacksonpotter]

Like I said several times.  I have made overnight lifestyle changes. I don't drink. I don't miss is.  Won't ever drink again.  Just posted a simple question.

[mycoldfeet]

I go with the rx on the bottle, with or without food. It just depends on when I eat, but I make sure to take my meds at the same time every day, I think thats the most important. Everyone has an opinion and mine is that the meds are absorbed in the intestines and I talked to my Doc about it and he told me it makes no difference, I'd like to see the study that says you lose 60% of the meds, I think the drug Co. has made their own studies of interaction with other drugs and food and made the recommendations according to those findings.

[mycoldfeet]

Sorry, the post above was for you, Brian Fogg was talking to me.

[GrandmaA]

My liver specialist said no caffeine on treatment not even a Pepsi.

[amicraxy]

I see my doc on tuesday, I'll ask him if I should change coffee habit

[crsrph]

riba in tablet form should be taken with food however the capsule form can be taken without regard to meals

[jacksonpotter]

I just posted a comment on "another alcohol question" that agrees with you 100%.  I was just sitting here thinking that I will just read for a while.  I am new to this site as of Nov 2nd. Recently diagnosed, don't know much and not under tx yet.  Have my first appointment end of November.  I don't have an answer to your question, however I'm glad to see someone else noticed the attitudes of some are confusing.  I wish you all the best.  Hope someone can answer your question.

[mycoldfeet]

One study says caffine is good for the liver another says none at all, all my Pegasys handout says is stay away from raw shell fish and to eat your regular diet and no alcohol, I drink coffee in the morning, about 2 cups with my meds, and coke all day. My Doc says fluid is fluid and water might be better for me as long as I stay hydrated he's happy with that.

[jmjm530]

"Effect of Food on Absorption of Ribavirin Both AUCtf and Cmax increased by 70% when REBETOL Capsules were administered with a high-fat meal (841 kcal, 53.8 g fat, 31.6 g protein, and 57.4 g carbohydrate) in a single-dose pharmacokinetic study. (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION)."

http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2001/pegsche080701LB.htm

[dyce]

In other words jim, if I eat at red lobster or ponderosa , I'll get the riba dibas alot better.

  How you doing brother??

[APKhaos]

Finally, now we're talking.

Yogurt? Protein shakes? Are you kidding me?

What the heck's wrong with a pint of decent ice cream, even without the warm caramel sauce?? Or brats. Or ribs. Or ... you get the idea. Got to take advantage of being skinny as a riba rail on tx!

[ladybug52]

Sorry that you are new and had no idea how alcohol related questions really stir the pot. I have recently quit drinking, sure did like my evening wine or beer after work, but it took me a long time to admit to others that I hadn't quite given up alcohol. When I posted I was afraid that everyone would say "you idiot" but they were very kind and supportive and helpful.  I have read so many alcohol posts, it's pretty predictable that most people are hot on that subject. "Nothing like a reformist" my mom used to say after she quit smoking.
Please don't take it personal or feel hostility is directed at you, it's just a very sensitive subject here. Personally I'm always offended when people treat others with disrespect, but I think the posts to you were just a difference of opinion, nothing personal like, "learn to spell", or "I'm sick of stupid questions" You have to remember most people are going through treatment, life is rough and sometimes people come across harsher than they really are. Stick around, I eventually realized it's our common bond that draws us together and there's no other spot like this.
Bug

[Pdilly]

My doctor said lots of water.  Caffine dehydrates you (salt/soda)  I still have one a day though but drink 12 glasses of water before I allow myself one.   As far as taking riba.  I Have a glass of milk when I am walking out the door in the morning with my Riba.  When I get to work I have a boiled egg or some yogurt.  At night same thing, when I get home I take my riba and then drink a glass of milk or a smoothie.  About an hour later We eat chicken or salmon with some vegies.

[crsrph]

riba in tablet form should be taken with food however the capsule form can be taken without regard to meals

[desrt]

Yogurt worked for me. Seemed to help 'settle' my stomach too.

[amicraxy]

can you repeat that

[aiuta]

Nice to see you post.  And thank you for ALL you shared.
Regarding the fatty meal, along with my cereal, I always eat either Peanuts, a Tiger's Milk Bar, Peanut Butter toast or butter in my oatmeal (if I'm not too tired to make it) in the morning.  At night I eat cheese, butter or olive oil on whatever I'm eating.  I've heard this "fatty meal" bit many times and I figure it's worth it for my bootie to get a little bigger if I can attain SVR.  Plus, Jim supplied us with the facts of the matter in his post above.  At lunch, I try to eat low fat to balance it all out, though.  Take care and all my best, Aiuta