drinking water importance question

i was wondering im going on day 23 of treatment with 400 mg ribavirin 2 x  daily and pegasus injection 1 x week, for 24 weeks. HCV genotype 2,stage 2 .i was borderline low WBC and RBC prior to treatment and im going for blood work in a few days.i am beginning to feel very fatigued at times,like today i felt like i was on a sleeping pill struggeling to stay awake.i am getting dry itchy skin and i realy have not been dinking much water.what is everyones oponion about suppose to be drinking one half your body weight in ounces of water daily to help ease symptoms.it must be the riva cause ive completed 4 shots,and only got sick with flu like symptoms after 1st shot.....unless its in my system all week and beginning to kick me in the butt.i take 1mg RX folic acid ,vitamin b complex 2 x day,and one a day essentials vitamin with NO iron,and RX potassium.how well ,and how does this water thing work from anyone with experience ? thanks all.............and hapy holidays !

[Pinksmything]

I don't have personel experience, however my husband says that everytime he feels symptoms, he grabs the water bottle.  He swears it lessens the symptoms.   It's only been a week for him but he's convinced!  :)     Janet

[Bobby1952]

I am on week 14 of treatment. Will be on for 10 more weeks. You should drink a lot of water. The formula you gave is correct. This medication dry's you out. Inside and out. It helps but you will stil have symtoms (symptoms).

Bob

[jamimapuddle]

Drink, drink, drink.  If you haven't been drinking alot of water, I would go to the store and pick up one of those 64oz gatorade or any other sports beverage.  What I found was that once I got behind in the water dept. only gatorade would help. It really works, you'll feel better  about  hour after.

[kcrandy]

drink drink and then drink some more. the calculation you stated is pretty much right on.  i can say from expierence that i also kept an electrlyte supplement mix that i would keep around  for just what you mentioned ( side effects ).and on two different occassions i had to go to the er at va hospital to have fluids pumped into my system because of excessive fluid loss.  so yes fluids are very important during tx.

hope this helps.

p.s.  almost forgot i also kept pedialyte around too.

[charm27]

thats correct. You must drink half your body weight in liquids. Water, juices whatever ..keeps you hydrated and is VERY IMPORTANT while taking these drugs. It does lessen symptoms for me for example weakness. Drink !!!

[geterdone]

Drinking plenty of water helps minimize the effects of the meds and have felt like a camel in the beginning of tx but have some what eased up some on drinking as much here towards the end and have this question if someone can answer.

What is the importance of drinking lots of water during treatment other than keeping the body well hydrated? Is there an absorption issue with the riba and getting the med into the digestive system?

Drinking water will help with the dilution of the riba so that the body will absorb it into the system faster and also help immunize the sx of the med because it will not be in such a high concentration when first released.

Drinking less water will amplify the sx of the riba because of its high concentration when first released into the body during dosing times and because of the first initial higher concentration of the riba would this not be better in hitting the virus harder with in the first couple of hours of dosing?

Just a couple of question but have no answers myself, can anyone shed some light on this topic, or data as to why water is essential when dosing with riba.

Thanks
jasper

[NYCMark]

Whenever I presented a new complaint or symptom while I was on treatment, the first thing my doctor said was "Are you drinking enough water?"

Mark

[H20Lover]

Hi there Princess, I too am a geno 2 doing the 24 weeks.  My 7th shot is tonight.  

Yes, water seems to be the key.  My doc and this forum warned me about that so I have consumed tons of the stuff.  If I feel a little headache or body ache it just reminds me to drink more water.  I have been a lucky one though with few sides and I went UND at around 25 days into tx.

My blood work was fine before tx, but my red and white blood cells have suffered some from the meds so be sure to look for that and have your blood checked  frequently.  Right now my doc is doing every 2 weeks and may go to weekly depending on how I do.  This I am told is very important.  

You will find this forum to be most helpful and everyone jumps right in to help.  But everyone is  right....water is something we all need to drink more of.

For the record, my nickname is for the love of salt water, swimming, boating, beaching etc.  I prefer my water that way!  

Pam

[chevyelcam79]

I just completed 24 weeks and I totally agree with drinking lots and lots of water.  I only had flu like sysmptoms the first and second shot.  Even after stopping tx, I am still very dry and crave water.  Hair is even dry!
Drink, drink drink!!!!!
Shari