Vitamins During Tx for Sx and Liver Detox etc?

[NYgirl]

I want to go out tonight and get the RIGHT vitamins that could help me with the sx and also one's that could help with detoxing my liver and my immune system etc.  Anything that can help me with this disease! I start tx next week.

I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread where we could find all the relevant information in one place.  I know I've asked before...but some people in here are too weak to go reading every single thread to find the right info.

I was thinking tonight of getting at least C, E, Selenium, Garlic and Zinc.  I worry about the multi cause of the iron (which seems messed up cause of the worry of anemia but...)

Can anybody help list what would be beneficial and why?

Thanks so much to everyone.  The more knowledge I have the more I feel like I can beat this thing!

Debby

PS I am not talking about vitamins INSTEAD of treatment..just in conjunction WITH treatment.

[jmjm530]

The bioavailability of ribavirn is increased up to 70% when taken with a high-fat meal. The fat also helps with the side-effects of the riba. I understand many people don't like a high-fat diet, actually I'm one of them. But in this case, the trade-off appears worth it. For the next 48 months your priority is to get those big drugs (riba and interferon) into your systems as effectively as possible to kill the virus.

Ribavirin has a half-live of around 100 hours. That means a single dose stays in your system a long time. For this reason it's also not very important what time of day you take it or how you space out the dosages. In other words, don't go crazy trying to space out your doses 12 hours apart.

I usually eat breakfast between 10-12 and my second meal between 3-6. I take my riba right at the end of the meal.

-- Jim

[Fisheress]

I LOVE MY TEAM!  They are wonderful!  Even my boyfriend was VERY impressed!  The clinic is awsome and I can reach my team 24/7!!!!!  Yes jmjm the right team is very importent, I will not be looking for other docs!

BEst ot all!

Oh and I take a Protegra Antioxident and a multi vitamin w/o iron alonf witha lil extra vitamin c.  That was my regimen prior to treatfment and they said to continue it.

Good luck

[jmjm530]

Just to clarify, none of my doctors ever told me to take riba with a "high-fat" meal. Their advice, and what you usually hear, is to "take it with a meal". Sometimes you will hear "take it with a meal that has some fat."

However, I did come the study and put two and two together. The original study is on the net somewhere. Here's a link explaining and I believe it's even mentioned on the riba package insert now.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/ribav_cp.htm

Note that they use the disclaimer "no clinical significance" has been found. In other words, there are no studies proving that better riba absorption translates into more of a chance of SVR. But again, I'm just putting two and two together for myself here.

The other thing with riba (can you tell I'm obsessed with the drug. LOL) is that taking it with antacids can do the opposite of of a high-fat meal. In other words interfere with it's absorption. For this reason I space any antacids at least three hours apart from my riba. Again, no clinical signifiance has been proven, but I want all the riba my insurance pays for. LOL.

This is also partly why I'm reluctant to take too many supplements, etc. Many drugs, vitamins, etc, interreact with each other in ways not always understood.

-- Jim

[v eggie dip]

I gave you my vitamin list the other day and it was approved by my Doctor, however, only before treatment...I have not discussed the vitamins with him while on treament...I can tell honestly say that vitamins made me feel better, for those of you waiting to start treatment, or not treating at all, vitasmins work great for aches and pains and fatigue (at least on me they do)...

You have a great attitude, don't think I ever heard anyone say they were looking forward to starting treatment :)...I am scared to death of it....Send some of that attitude my way :)

Your Doctor and his/her team sounds like mine...I have had 5 phone calls into mine for over 4 weeks now and still haven't got a call back...I would love to switch but can't...Here in Canada you get who the primary care physician sends you to and that's it!

Best of luck with your first shot, we'll all be waiting to hear how you did...

Beth

[NYgirl]

I love this thread it has so much good stuff in it.

I am going to try to make sure that I take the riba with a meal with some fat...even if I have to eat bacon or whatever.  I totally think it makes sense to me...plus i am very thin to start and don't want to lose too much weight if possible. that is one of the doc's biggest concerns with my treatment.

I have a list of questions for my doc WHEN he finally calls me:
1. will i have a 4 week pcr?
2. procrit?
3. treatment if slow responding?
4. vitamins / food restrictions?

I go to a medical group in a very upscale area (although we are actually the poor guys in town).  Supposed to be a very good place.  I think half of the problem is that I didn't have the right questions in place when he was talking to me...but if he won't call me back now that I have more knowledge how can I ask him?

[jmjm530]

Some docs don't return phone calls and you have to work though the PA or nurse. If they're too busy to return your calls, try working through the office manager -- nicely but persistently explaining your situation -- that you're about to start treatment and there are certain things you want to go over BEFORE treatment.

In my case, I correspond with both my doctor and PA via email. They invariably get back to me the same day, sometimes within an hour or two. I only ask them to call me if I think it important.

Not all doctors like this but it's worth asking for their email address and if it's OK if you email them (instead of calling) from time to time.

If nothing seems to work -- and you just can't get through -- I'd hold off injecting anything until the situation was resolved

-- Jim