Does the calcium in milk block Ribavirin absorbtion?

[St. George]

I usually tke my Ribavirin in the morning with a smoothie composed of full fat yogurt, fruit and coconut oil.  I was just wondering if anyone else takes their Riba with milk or dairy products because I read somewhere that calcium could possibly block absorbtion of the drug.  Any feedback?

[jmjm530]

I think Tagament falls into the H-2 blocker category of drugs and therefore it is OK to take with riba. Same with PPI's like Nexium, which is probably what your doctor meant when he said he'd prescribe something stronger. Drugs that reduce riba absorption are antacids like Tums, Maalox, Gaviscon, etc. I took two Nexium a day for most of treatment. When I did take an antacid like Tums, I tried to space it at least two hours away from a riba dose, preferably three hours.

-- Jim

[Pdilly]

Just got back from the hospital from the biopsy.  It really is no big deal.  You do have to be quiet and lay on your side for 2-3 hours.  They they let you do little things by little. They took blood three different times.  Anyway take a book or crossword puzzle.  I was there about 8 hours and no TV.  They were wanting me to go to a regular room but my insurance won't pay for that and the out patient biopsy.  No lifting of anything over 10# for 5 days and that is about it.

[FlGuy]

That was very good, all that riba has not made you any less sharp. Man boobs!

[sfbaygirl]

Thanks for that post! I was upset by this, since GI said nothing to me, luckily I have been taking tagament. sometimes I add Maloxx which I won't do anymore. I think I will ask for the Nexium from my PCP today, it is awful to have stomach problems! I was up all night the other night.

[jmjm530]

Sometimes you have to experiment a little. Nexium is good but some react better to other PPI's like Aciphex, etc. Other H-2 blockers like Pepcid AC are also worth a try. Just stay clear of Pepcid Complete which also contains an antacid. Zegerid is another one to be cautious about. Zegerid is billed as a fast-acting PPI and contains the same active ingredient as Nexium but is combined with an antacid so they don't need the time-release coating. Currently, I take both Zegerid and Pepcid Complete at times but I'm no longer on treatment. Thankfully, my ENT changed his mind and didn't prescribe Zegerid while on tx, as I might not have picked up the antacid component through the brain fog. Also be careful of fiber supplements like Metamucil and even Flax. Again try to space them away from the riba and you should be fine.

[stangshelly]

i was wondering how much of the ribasphere is the usual dosage and is it weight dependent? i noticed after couple weeks of taking it that milk products made me feel nauseated. i switched to soy and that seemed to help.
just got home from 3rd time whole series of hep b ...second injection this time and was really feeling bad,  fever, nausea,moody and crying again...i am such a whiner...no matter what i won't quit tx..i was curious as to why the series 3 times? plus hep a series also..and i am taking 3 tabs in am 200 mg each of riba and 2 in evening 200 mg each...on peginterferon alpha 2a 180mcg/ml q weekly. this is the month that i get my results from first 3 months of tx and i am hopeful my vr will be down from 4 million...just needed some info and thanks to all