Why is my Dr. Recommending 48 weeks of therapy?

[suebeck0622]

This is my 3rd time in treatment for Hep C.  I completed 12 weeks of incivek therapy and was virus undetectable after four.  My liver biopsy scores were 3 for inflammation and 1 for scarring.  The pharmacist tells me there is plenty of research showing only 24 weeks is necessary and taking it for 48 weeks won't matter for someone in my condition although my doctor told me I would be taking it 48 weeks.  I don't want to take it that long if it isn't necessary!  How should I proceed with my physician, who treats all kinds of gastrointestinal patients.  Maybe he's not up on the latest research?

[ceanothus]

It could be that he's not up on the latest research, or it could be other factors involving your response to previous tx, or possibly he is concerned that you are too close to cirrhosis to take a chance with the shorter therapy. All patient with cirrhosis (stage 4) must do 48 weeks even if they do respond rapidly, as the virus is better able to evade the drugs inside a more scarred liver. If your biopsy is old or if he mistrusts the pathologist who read it, he may fear that your fibrosis is actually worse than a 3. Really what you need to do is ask your doctor why he is recommending 48 weeks. If he doesn't have a good answer then you should ask for a referral to a hepatologist, for a second opinion, and then maybe just stay with the new doc. I had to do 48 weeks because of cirrhosis, and it was hellish but it worked, and I'd make the same decision for tx today if I had to do it over.

[pcds]

hello,
I treated in 2011 and did 24 wks with incevik.  I failed treatment before when I didn't clear at 12 weeks, stopped with the old tx.  My doc said if I was undect at 4 wks, 24 wks was the tx course.  If you were a null responder prior maybe that is why, otherwise if you were a relapser before you should consider seeing someone else.  48 wks is tough, I would get a second opinion.  Just my thoughts.  You need a good reason for 48 wks, this stuff is brutal.

[can-do-man]

You might want to read through hrsepwrguy journal.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/336859/Incivek-protocol-treatment-duration-futility-rules-PCR-testing

[can-do-man]

Maybe your past response has something to do with it? It's always best to ask your treating doctor as his reasons would be something your pharmacist knows nothing about.......... Best to you.