Side effects of therapy

[Vireadeater]

Hi there,

I would like to discuss my Viread "side effects" with you. But first some relevant data.
Got diagnosed with Chronic Hep B in March 2011:

- Hbeag Negative
- Genotype D
- Grading 0-1
- Male

Started Viread (Tenofovir) in April:

- HBV DNA in April: 29.000
- HBV DNA in May: 45
- HBV DNA in August: Undetectable
- Hbsag in August: 30.000 (First time it got measured.)

So far so good, but here comes the "strange" data:

- ALT in April and before: Between 65 and 73
- ALT in  May after I started Viread: 93
- ALT in August: 93

Besides I have some "side effects" since I have been taking Viread that one could sum up as the typical symptoms of acute hepatitis b OR the side effects under Interferon:

- Pain over the location of the liver (on the right side of the abdomen, under the lower rib cage). I never experienced that before taking Viread
- Flu like symptoms: Muscle aches; Headache, Temperature, Tiredness. They come and go. Again I did not experience that before.

My doctor says this COULD be some immune reaction but wants to wait for the next results in November. Because she was also a bit surprised by the rise of my ALT since she figured it should have rather dropped considering the decrease of my HBV DNA.

Any ideas out there? Anyone who experienced something like that in therapy? Would be glad to hear your thoughts and opinions. And thanks for this community here!

Keep it up!

[joc2011]

@ 4est:
Yes i got to find out the same thing. My Doctor was being overly too careful. He should never have prescribed Viread. Actually to be fair to him, When i told him after a month that i wasn't too comfortable taking viread as i was having a bit o f insomnia at the time, he was going to take it off, as he told me: "You dont need it. I only prescribed it just to be doubly sure we have everything under control". I then opted to continue it if it was going to have any benefits for me in any way. i was desperate at the time. Had just been told my HBsag was positive and i was pretty scared and desperate to do anything to assure my self i was going to be fine! Anyway, on my last visit,  He said he will discontinue the viread for me in 6 months from now, but i also have to think of the best way to stop taking it safely. My Plan: Comboing Interferon with Alinia and then taking off the viread gradually.

[4est]

wow, indeed it was overly too careful or I don't know. I try to think on what he wanted to achieve, because all the doctors that prescribe nucs, they target viral load undetectable, but you already have this.
anyway, is to late to debate on this and as far as I read, your plan sound like a good plan to me, and I think that @Stef 2011 can advise you in more details.

bwt, do you check your AgHBs quantitative ?  

Good luck on your plan and if is posible keep us posted with the implementation and results.

[joc2011]

@ 4est:
Yes i got to find out the same thing. My Doctor was being overly too careful. He should never have prescribed Viread. Anyway, He said he will discontinue the viread for me in 6 months, but i also have to think of the best way to stop taking it safely. My Plan: Comboing Interferon with Alinia and then taking off the viread gradually.

[4est]

"Viral DNA=00/ Undetectable" - I think that this was a mistake (I hope that no doctor prescribe Viread  if the viral load is undetectable )

[joc2011]

@ vireadeater:  
I only checked before i started taking viread. At that time my doctor said my liver was perfectly normal. Before i started taking Viread:HBsAG : Positive
Viral DNA=00/ Undetectable
Liver function: Very Good
Hep B Core Antibody: Positive
Anti HBe (igM): Negative
Anti HBe (igG)  (H): Positive. So my doctor suggested i take Viread for a year to make sure everything was under control.
Since resuming taking Viread in March and heavily dozing on fruits, taking vit B, C and D supplements i started having tired spells, which mostly happen early in the mornings and late evenings. At  those times i was also taking Chanca Piedra tea and was taking daily detox pills. So i decided to stop taking the teas and stopped the detox pills too leaving only the Viread and fruits.  Infact at a point getting out of bed in the morning became a problem, cos i'd be feeling absolutely wasted. I ran back to my doctor who said the symptons were normal and showed that the infection was clearing. He sounded so optimistic that we would achieve complete viral suppression by March 2012.
Months down the line up till this moment i feel great. I still feel a bit of sensitivity to the right side of my abdomen and occasional flu like symptons which come and go but all else is absolutely fine. Also i kind of feel my energy level was more before i started taking viread. But i am happy knowing that this is due to the fact that my immune system is fighting and clearing. I also plan to introduce Alinia soon.
@ all: Thanks all for all the encouragements and support. I love you all to bits!!!!

[Vireadeater]

@all: Alright, thank you! Keep you informed...