Antiviral Treatment - Resistance Warning...

Seriously speaking, I'm still very sceptical in starting the treatment in view of lack of understanding among healthcare group toward drug resistance......Since detection of HBV in 1965, what we are hearing from the so called experts are long-term treatment and then switching the course when resistance developed.....and continue long-term treatment again. I'm starting to understand what my Hepatologist trying to tell me when talking about treatment. He said the on-set of treatment must be considered carefully as it will be one way ticket - cost vs benefit. I will treat you when there is obsolutely a must or an evidence that the virus is starting to wake up & damage your liver. Drug companies will lead you to no man land if you are not careful.....take a look at the interferon treatment, nobody care about the sx's.....sad to see all the clinical trials trying this combo and that combo but none talk about reducing side effects. Worst, there are plenty of trials still focusing on LAM & ADV mono treatment and some other antivirals that are known to have high resistance trying to extend thier usage. Why can't they speed up doing the right thing for the pts?

[cajim]

When one has no symptoms with lab readings normal, one can afford to be skeptical and choose to start or not to start the treatment.  Without that luxury treatment is a must and resistance must be considered.  It is a fact that combo treatment is a better lock, as stevenNYer states, "Resistance is like a key.  The virus has to make adjustment to specific codons (the teeth of the key) in order to overcome the med.  Lamivudine's "key" has like 1 tooth.  Hepsera 2 teeth.  Baraclude 4 teeth.  When you combo, you get more teeth on your key.  Get it?"  Side effects may be the price to pay for the more complicated lock.

[stevenNYer]

I say this over and over again.  Don't be pro or anti anything.  Just be pro-health.  Not all need treatment.  I'm not even anti LAM.  As HR once pointed out, there are appropriate times for LAM.  But you need to understand the concepts of available treatment.  You need to understand WHY it's appropriate.

If you need treatment, you best know the basics to make good decisions.