trial mk-5172/mk8742 with ribavirin protocol no: 035

[freakedbeyondbelief]

anyone here on this trial? mid feb I was in for a screening and my hcv count was 664,547 and alt/sgpt 41 and my counts as of 4/1/13 (day 3 of meds, this is a 12 week study) are: hcv: 35!!! alt/sgpt 20 . they (trial dr`s) are saying these drugs are seeing at least 98% healing! no shots, just pills and the only side effects Ive had is being sleepy and gas (no one has said gas to the dr`s yet so maybe its something else I have it from lol)  very excited about these meds and pray at some point it becomes available to all. anyone going to the clinic in Arlington for a trial? at the vandergriff building?

[teschoa]

I just started this trial on SEPT 9 in Arlington.  Did my week 4 tests on Tuesday--no results yet.  Was <25 end of weeks 1 and 2.  I have cirrhosis so didn't pass for the Gilead trial in the Spring.  No real side effects but some gas and stomach ache.  Found drinking a little coca cola eases both since no antacids allowed.  Looks like you all are through--How are your results???  Cheryl will just say that they were good and side effects were minimal.  Got the ribavirin.  Won't know if it is 12 or 18 weeks until week 12.  Miracle I got in--I turned 79 on the day before the screening for this trial.  Cheryl already had all the tests and biopsy from my Gilead screening.  Would really love to know how it went for others!!!
SuziQ

[samlovestigger2]

How have you been? I am doing wonderfully....waiting for results looks like next week:)

[samlovestigger2]

Good Luck to You Also:) I will check in with you to see how you are doing:)

[freakedbeyondbelief]

ohhh this is great :) it seems these drugs have little or no side effects, seems its only the riba is the side effect culprit lol. I am sleepy every day at about 1 or 2 pm and normally I have insomnia all the time  so im liking the sleepiness, just wish it could wait till nighttime haha. Good luck with the trial, I pray these are the drugs needed so they can get on the market for all who need them (kinda scary how once they get to market the price is incredibly high and some insurances wont pay for it, there should be a law against that)

[freakedbeyondbelief]

woohoo congrats, maybe we are on the same trial, they had people who didn't have to take the riba, but I was one of the ones who has to take it 2 times a day, but the weirdest thing has been happening since starting, my allergies are almost gone (???) and I have failed back syndrome after 5 back surgeries and I have bars and pins, screws u name it, have been in horrible pain since 2002, and my pains been very low scale, only had one bad day. Im sure these aren't normal reactions, but all this started after the trial started, really weird. any way hope you stay at undetected :) on Friday I will only be starting week 3 so right now I have a little over 1 week done but I actually look forward to going to see the dr1s lol. thanks for replying, have a wonderful week :)
oh, does mk stand for merck? if so I didn't know that LOL

[Boobert]

I'll answer your post. I'm not familar with the merck drugs but I'm on the BMS all orals and I am having similar results. I started with a 2.1 mil baseline VL and was at 200 in two days.Undetected at day 9 or <25. My orals are all BMS no Rib. Mild sides at the beginning headace, insomnia, jitttery but that's all gone. I'm going in this Thursday which is the end of week 10 two weeks left. Gilead, Abbott, BMS all have these drugs and all are having very good results.Merck has been pretty quiet but it's sounding very good, keep me informed!!

Bob

[freakedbeyondbelief]

ok so if no ones on this trial, is anyone in a pill only trial? the one im in is only pills and the new meds have no side effects, and im only having minimal side effects from the riba (im needing to take a nap and getting to bed and actually sleeping at night, im usually a insomniac) I go every Friday to get blood drawn so hopefully this Friday I will have new numbers (altho if I was only 35 I really don't have far to go to get to 0, or does it go in the negative? LOL)
anyone here see dr ghalib? shes a very nice dr and this is the second trial she has tried to get me into, the first im actually glad I didn't qualify for, that had all the shots with all the nasty side effects, really thought they forgot about me and bam this one came here and seems to be having great success (of course no one knows what if any long term side effects there may be I guess.)
any way just thought id check in and see there are no comments, was hoping to find people in the Arlington tx area doing this study.