interferon/ribo information

  I was diagnosed in Feb of 97 with hep c due to blood transfusion in 1985.
  I decided to go right to interferon/ribo for treatment. I have a combined
  geno type 2b/4. The side effect were severe headache, diarhea (diarrhea) cronic (chronic)
  fatigue, mild fever and mouth irritations (itchy gums). Although
  my enzymes declined from 258 & 378 to 19 & 20 I suffered an eleven
  day bout with diarhea (diarrhea) that caused me to loose 8 lbs in the first 5 days.
  After numerous tests to rule out other gastro problems, I was taken off
  the medicine and felt "normal" within 3 days. Since I was only on the drug
  8 weeks my quantitive count was not repeated. I started with 4 million ppm.
  Two questions - 1)Have you heard of these side effects with ribo?
  Is it likely that my enzymen will go up and if so how long do you
  think it will take? I am a 42 year old female. Thanks Jayne

[HFHS-MD-dm]

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Dear Jayne McPherson-Young:
Thanks for your questions.  Now that the combination of ribavirin and interferon has been approved by the FDA for some patients with hepatitis C, a lot of people are going to have questions.  My understanding is that you were started on the combination of ribavirin and interferon (we call this