Ribavirin/High Purine Diet
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug, changing your diet or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Important. Possible changes in your diet, medicine, or dosage should be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist.
How the interaction occurs:
Purines decrease the ability of your body to absorb ribavirin (1).
What might happen:
The amount of ribavirin in your blood can decrease and it may not work as well.
What you should do about this interaction:
Contact your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more information. While you are taking this medicine, you may be advised to limit the amount of high purine foods in your meals when you take ribavirin. High purine foods include animal protein (beef, pork, lamb), seafood (tuna, shrimp, lobster), and some plants (peas, beans, asparagus).Your healthcare professionals may be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change your medicine or diet before checking with them first.
References:
1.Li L, Koo SH, Limenta LM, Han L, Hashim KB, Quek HH, Lee EJ. Effect of dietary purines on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered ribavirin. J Clin Pharmacol 2009 Jun;49(6):661-7.
2.Fam AG. Gout: excess calories, purines, and alcohol intake and beyond. Response to a urate-lowering diet. J Rheumatol 2005 May;32(5):773-7.
