Questions on ribavirin

[AngelsOnMySide2]

I've been reading here for months, and started treatments March 27th...all of a sudden today I feel like I can't trust my memory
(especially after leaving the scrambled eggs on the stove till they were black)
Why is it that we have to eat fats with the ribaviron???
Did I remember reading that you can't have fiber with the riba???
I eat shredded wheat for breakfast sometimes....
I also think I read that you can't take antacids with the riba???
Been having lots of heartburn lately, and am taking aciphex prescribed by doctor....
Am I remembering real things, or did I make them up???
YIKES....scary stuff going on here today...
Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it!

[gazebo1]

Thanks for asking, and still truckin' on the TX.  I will post more in a bit.  G

[FlGuy]

How are you feeling?  A week or so ago you were pondering low hgb, procrit and nearing the end of tx.  What did you finally do?  About 3 weeks left?

[gazebo1]

And another two cents, don't discount nutrition drinks like Ensure or Boost.  The ones with high protein are good source and balanced.  I may not have kept up as well if had to prepare all meals, and they are good for one or even two "feedings" a day. And peanut butter is good "fat" when taking the Riba.  I sometimes cheat and have a Reeses peanut butter cup!  G

[gazebo1]

Welcome and best of luck on TX and with SX.  One thing few docs tell us is grapefruit has significant effect on ribavirin effectiveness, so go to oranges for the duration.  don't know if that can change your thinking or cognitive functioning tho.  Good luck, G

[Pdilly]

Hello.  Fat does help Riba to absorb.  I would drink a glass of whole milk and maybe a piece of string cheese heated up in the micro for 10 seconds.  Sometimes a boiled egg.  I am not much on grease  so most of mine was dairy.

[Penelope1911]

Hey...it's called brian fog. It really stinks and I am so very sorry you're experiencing it. And they say to eat a little fat with the riba because the fat supposedly helps with the absorption of the riba into the body. I'm not clear on the fiber part, but yeah, you're not supposed to take antacids with it but couldn't tell you why right now. If I was you, I would call the office and ask if they can give you something or suggest something to help with the heartburn etc.  Again I'm sorry to hear about your brain fog, ICK! I'm just now getting better with it myself (3mo post). Oh, and sorry about your breakfast too...when it rains sometimes it just pours doesn't it.    :(    It'll get better one day. Hang in there.

[friole]

There have been some studies that show that ribavivin is absorbed more quickly with fat - seems like I have read (it has been awhlie) 80% more.  It is not a license to eat fatty foods,  just a recommendation to make sure to eat some fat when you take the ribavirin to help absorption..  I don't remember anything about fiber.  I ate fiber during tx.  Never had to worry about antiacid medicine myself so don't know about that