Just want your thoughts on continuing treatment

[Parker19]

I saw my doc last week and although I  only have 8 more weeks left of treatment she wants me to put what she calls a tail on my therapy with just ribivarin and pegasys.  Here is her reasoning:  When I first started treatment I developed a severe ear infection with ear ringing that was deafening, so they stopped peg for 2 weeks until I could get into ent, because of possible auto toxicity.  But, even with skipping two shots, at 4 weeks my viral load had dropped from 8 million to 650 thousand, so on week five they started victrelis and I have been undected since week 4 on the  triple therapy.  I am type 1a which I know is the hardest to treat.  I treated on peg and riba in 2006 and relapsed after 6 months. I have had hep c for about 36+ years but my liver biopsy actually improved last year from a 2 to a 1.  Would like to know some of your expert opions, and if I do put this dreaded tail on my therapy how long do you think I should do it. All your thoughts and opinions are so appreciated.  

[pcds]

Treatment with only the riba and interferon can be extremely difficult especially after the long haul you've already been through.  I'm not a doctor and I hope the one you have is very well versed in this treatment.  
My experience, my doc stopped peg one week and I was on reduced peg and riba most of tx, I did 24 weeks total and am SVR.

[nygirl7]

Hi Doctor SB!  Doctor Z!  :)
Hi beanie Baby!

[can-do-man]

Sounds like a good ideal to me, a little insurance never hurts. Good luck finishing your treatment.... Just hang in.:)

Hi Bean... Hi Deb

[nygirl7]

No hi for me?  :(   ;)

I did 72 weeks. If I could anyone can.  I agree with your doctor better safe than sorry. Totally. I would consider the start date the same way as my friend Frijole said.......you dont want to do this again.  PIs and mutations and all........

[frijole]

meant to add -- hi to will and can

[Parker19]

Hi I guess I was on clear on the time.  She does want me to continue the Victrelis for the 36 weeks or 37 as she is now saying, she wants me to add an additional 4-10 of just pegasys and riba because of missing the two shots.

[can-do-man]

Hey Will

[willbb]

Hey Cando  :)

[can-do-man]

Not sure what you mean by putting a tail on your treatment, you had a very good response being und at week 8 and I do believe it was the Victrelis that got you there and still remains a very important part of your treatment. Being your a prior relapser just the peg and riba have not been enough.

If she wants to stop the Vic early I would think that would be a huge risk, and if thats the case when you say for how long, well once you stop it one cannot restart it............. Good luck

[willbb]

For a  prev. "relapser" .now doing re-treatment with the protease "Victrelis the prescribing protocol is to do 36 weeks.(below)
-----------------------

meant to add " that is if UND @ Wk. 8'

[willbb]

For a  prev. "relapser" .now doing re-treatment with the protease "Victrelis the prescribing protocol is to do 36 weeks.(below)

Anything less than doing the three drugs for the remander of therapy may hamper overall treatment results

I am not sure I understand the doctors thinking here,wheras in a probability it was the INF. that caused the toxicity and being that it was months ago ..seems very odd to cease the VIc..

Good luck  the rest of the way

Will
http://reference.medscape.com/drug/victrelis-boceprevir-999655

Partial responders or relapsed and HCV-RNA levels undetectable: Complete 3-medication regimen at week 36