ribavirin amounts and times

[marty59]

I am starting tx this week with the 3 meds. I had to buy them via my insurance co. mail order. I just noticed the label on the ribavirin bottle says to take 3 pills 2x daily.
The incivek says to take 2 pills 3x daily, but in the instructions it says to take 7-9 hours apart.

First question is, does everyone else take the riba 3 caps at a time twice a day?
If I take riba twice a day, how far apart, and can I take it at the same time I take the incivek?

I knew there would be 6 caps of the riba to take and 6 of the incivek, I just assumed they would be equal amounts taken at the same time.

[crossroadsec]

I'm a 6 2 10 girl w/ Incivik.  Both RIBA doses at 6 pm. I did find myself hitting snooze button n have moved off about 30 min gradually w Incivik. But I moved all 3 dosages. good luck!! Karen :)

[lynda607]

If you are starting Incivek tomorrow it is very important you take it 3 x day every 7-9 hrs with 20 g of fat and some fat is also required for the absorption of ribavirin.  You don't have to eat high fat meals 3 x a day but will need to adhere to the required fat grams for maximum absorption of the Incivek.  Food that is taken with Incivek should be ingested within 30 minutes prior to each Incivek dose. Examples of some foods that could be taken with Incivek include: a bagel with cream cheese, ½ cup nuts, 3 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 cup ice cream, 2 ounces American or cheddar cheese, 2 ounces potato chips, or ½ cup trail mix.

High iron does mean you will not experience hemolytic anemia which can be caused by both the Incivek and ribavirin.  Tylenol is recommended by most hepatologists, up to 2000 mg per 24 hr period.

20 g of fat is not required with Victrelis but it must be taken with food for maximum absorption benefit.

Here is the info from the Vertex medication guide:

Effects of Food on Oral Absorption with Incivek
The systemic exposure (AUC) to telaprevir was increased by 237% when telaprevir was administered with a standard fat meal (containing 533 kcal and 21 g fat) compared to when telaprevir was administered under fasting conditions. In addition, the type of meal significantly affects exposure to telaprevir.
Relative to fasting, when telaprevir was administered with a low-fat meal (249 kcal, 3.6 g fat) and a high-fat meal (928 kcal, 56 g fat), the systemic exposure (AUC) to telaprevir was increased by approximately 117% and 330%, respectively. Doses of INCIVEK were administered within 30 minutes of completing a meal or snack containing approximately 20 grams of fat in the Phase 3 trials. Therefore, INCIVEK should always be taken with food (not low fat).

[Blondebl59]

This is the first I knew about eating Fat with the meds? I start tomorrow, hopefully the nurse will explain all this tomm...My Dr. had actually told me to go on low fat diet?  red meat on occassion as I have high Iron so I guess this means I will not have any anemic problems? I am stocked up with Advil, itching creams etc...I thought Advil was better for the liver than than tylenol?? Now I wonder what will I eat tomm...

[marty59]

Tell me more about the Nioxin - shampoo.

[marty59]

Thank-you for the good news on the sides.
At the moment I am not working and plan to stay off for atleast a couple weeks. But I really need to get back to work and you give me a hope I can soon.

[elpasolady]

HI...Good luck with starting. I am starting my 4th week tomorrow.  I want to tell you that I was told it was okay for me to take my Incivek and Riba together, and that is exactly what I have done since day one.  I take my first pills at about 6:30 am and my second dose at about 2:30. My last dose of Incivek is at 10:30, so I am only taking pills three times a day. I was told that as long as the  Riba doses are at least 8  hours apart, that would be fine!  So...I eat my 20 gr of fats just before, and that covers both pills needing food for better absorption.
And, just to give you some encouragement....I have had no side effects that I was so worried about, with one exception.  I developed a rash from the Riba starting on day 3.  It became annoying, but it was tolerable.  It went away after about 10 days.  Right now, I would not even know I am treating, I feel so normal.  The only thing is when I bend down and come up again, I get a bit dizzy for a few seconds.  I also get a bit winded easier, but that is all, thus far.
I eat greek yogurt, full fat in the mornings.   A 6oz container has 17 gr of fat.  Hummus and Avocadoes are also good forms of fat. Pecans have 21 grs of fat per serving.
Keep us posted.....Hugs, Debbie