Harvoni and Ribavarin?

[fretboard]

Hey friends I am hoping to someday get approved for Harvoni but I keep seeing posts with forum members taking Harvoni and Riba.  What is it, are you prescribed both Harvoni and Ribavarin or just Harvoni?  Does it depend on cirrhosis whether you get Riba?  I appreciate all answers.

  

[tonymarsico]

I am to begin treatment with Harvoni and Ribavarin. I went through the treatment using PEG-IFN and RBV and have relapsed and  would not go through that again. I am hearing that the Harvoni and Rib is not nearly as bad. I was truly miserable mentally and physically going through the PEG-IFN and RBV the three drugs were horrible, but I did finish it with the help of friends and Family. I have a high level, high stress job and would not be able to go through that again!!!!!!  I have HepC 1A with cirrhosis level 3, but Dr. believes it is more like 4. I dont drink and haven't for several years, I eat right and exercise regularly.

[hepcandme]

Hi Fret

I too relapsed on Sovaldi and Olysio and am now on a 12 week regimen of Harvoni and Riba. Your guess is right. Those who are more difficult to cure, who are not treatment naive and are cirrhotic usually get Ribavirin added to the mix.

I'm with flyinlyn on this one. As much as I Hate the Riba, I want to do everything I can to make certain that this is the last time I will have to treat my Hep C.

We hear from those who are taking just the Harvoni that it is not such a difficult treatment. The Riba I wouldn't wish on anyone

[HectorSF]

Hi,

Harvoni label doesn't have all of the particulars regarding past treatment failures as the AASLD/IDSA guidelines do.
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DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
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Recommended dosage:
One tablet (90 mg of ledipasvir and 400 mg of sofosbuvir) taken orally once daily with or without food (2.1)

Recommended treatment duration
(2.1) Treatment naïve with or without cirrhosis: 12 weeks
Treatment experienced without cirrhosis: 12 weeks
Treatment experienced with cirrhosis: 24 weeks
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AASLD/IDSA Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C.
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For treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 1 infection

Daily fixed-dose combination of ledipasvir (90 mg)/sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 12 weeks is recommended for treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 1 infection.
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Recommended regimens for patients with HCV genotype 1a or 1b infection who have compensated cirrhosis, in whom prior PEG-IFN and RBV treatment has failed.

* Daily fixed-dose combination of ledipasvir (90 mg)/sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 24 weeks is recommended for patients with HCV genotype 1a or 1b infection who have compensated cirrhosis, in whom prior PEG-IFN and RBV treatment has failed.

or

* Daily fixed-dose combination of ledipasvir (90 mg)/sofosbuvir (400 mg) plus weight-based RBV (1000 mg [75 kg]) for 12 weeks is recommended for patients with HCV genotype 1a or 1b infection who have compensated cirrhosis, in whom prior PEG-IFN and RBV treatment has failed.
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Two options with similar efficacy in general are recommended for patients with cirrhosis who have HCV genotype 1 infection, regardless of subtype, in whom a prior PEG-IFN, RBV, and an HCV protease inhibitor regimen has failed.

* Daily fixed-dose combination ledipasvir (90 mg)/sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 24 weeks is recommended for retreatment of patients with cirrhosis who have HCV genotype 1 infection, regardless of subtype, in whom a prior PEG-IFN, RBV, and HCV protease inhibitor regimen has failed.

or

* Daily fixed-dose combination ledipasvir (90 mg)/sofosbuvir (400 mg) plus weight-based RBV (1000 mg [75 kg]) for 12 weeks is recommended for retreatment of patients with cirrhosis who have HCV genotype 1 infection, regardless of subtype, in whom a prior PEG-IFN, RBV, and HCV protease inhibitor regimen has failed.

Treatment for cirrhotics regimes and duration depends upon past treatment experience.

Cheers!
Hector

[fretboard]

Oh great answer, sorry to hear about your HepC and the difficulty it's created for you to beat it down.  You've certainly been on quite a journey, especially adapting to esophageal varicies and ascities.  You're quite a warrior, trust me I know a lady who also has ascites and she could get tx approved if she could only stop drinking.  Unfortunately she lives in a different world compared to most of us, as she lives in a world of denial and total alcoholism.  I truly feel sorry for her but unfortunately she can't be helped until she wants help. Good luck to you and the rest of your journey...

[flyinlynn]

Hi
Next Monday it will be 4 weeks ago I finished 24 weeks of Harvoni and 15 weeks of Ribavirin (it was added after I started the Harvoni).

I was a null responder to 3 tries with interferon based treatment. I treated 3/14 to 6/14 with Sovaldi and Olysio and was found to have relapsed 9/14.

I was diagnosed with cirrhosis in Jan 2008 and developed esophageal varicies that I had banded and also have some edema and a small amount of ascities dou to portal hypertension from the cirrhosis.

So you can likely see why my doctor and I decided to add the Ribavirion to my treatment. To try to give me my best chance for a cure.

I will be having my 4 week post treatment liver function and viral load test on Monday June 1st.

Hope you get on treatment soon

Good luck
Lynn