A little good news

Hi Folks,
I got my 24-week viral load results a few days ago, and I'm
undetectable!

The test was a qualititive PCR test with a sensitivity down to 50 IU/ml. At 12 weeks I was also clear, but the test was less sensitive (200 IU/ml).

I'm a genotype 1a, male, age 39, on peg-intron, ribavirin and amantadine. Viral load pre-tx was over 3,000,000 IU/ml. Biopsy showed grade 1 fibrosis, grade 2 inflammation. I think I was infected in 1982...

Wishing everyone all the best, especially those struggling with nasty tx side-effects,
Andrew

[latrobe]

great news and to top it all off you've passed the half way mark.
how are the sides? i've heard the amantadine help wiht the sides.
when do you get tested again-- you know you have great odds of beating the virus...i love good stories that have a happy ending.
best,
-m.

[fullofhope]

Congratulations!  That gives you a little "umph" to take on the next few weeks right!  Celebrate!

[Revenire]

That is GREAT news!!

Hope your sides are not that rough and you're holding up. Certainly news like that can help get through the tough times.

[cmurphy]

Congratulations.  I hope that news gives you some strength to keep going.  Here's hoping you remain clear!

[DownThisRoad]

Andrew
This is not a little good news, this is BIG, BEAUTIFUL, ENCOURAGING news that you've shared with us.

How much do you and your doctor accredit adding amantadine to the combo treatment.  Have you used amantadine from week one of your treatment?

Also, did you have a PCR test at 12 weeks? If so, did you have undetectable results with your 12-week viral load test?

Keep going, your treatment is working. Congratulations, you worked hard to get these results!

[Ambush]

Such wonderful news, Andrew!  So happy for you!  Now, keep up the good work and take one week at a time and you'll soon be informing us that you're all done!
ambush :)

[Galen]

That is awesome news, Andrew.  Great to hear you are killing another dragon!

[giddyup]

Congatulations! Thanks for the good news.

[DownThisRoad]

In some clinical trials (and I think they are being held mostly outside of the US) interferon, ribavirin and amantadine are being tested as the 'triple therapy treatment' for hepC.

Amantadine is an antiviral used to prevent certain influenza infections and has no effect by itself on viral load. When combined with the interferon, it produces a virological response. It is now being used in triple therapy trials.

I wish I would have known about amantadine before my treatment.  I would have been able to speak to my doctor about adding this extra mix to my combo therapy. I'm still prepared to speak with him about it if I don't show undetectable results for my 24 week PCR.

Go into a search engine (google.com) and type in hep c and amantadine.  You can start to gather information regarding this drug used for hepC treatment.

I am also 1a genotype.

[willing]

Good news Andrew! The confirmed response makes the brain feel good but knowing you're half-way done sure gives the rest of the body something to smile about. Hope things keep going well for you.

[adavisirl]

Hi Folks, thanks for all the encouragement!
I've been on amantadine 100mg/day since I started tx. That is a low dose, I think, compared with some triple-therapy trials I have read about. I am not part of a trial, my hepatologist prescribed amantadine because he thinks we need to fire all weapons to whip this dragon!

I really can't say that the amantadine has been responsible for my good results so far - I can't turn back the clock and try tx without it! However, I have been on a reduced dose of ribavirin (only 600mg/day, but I weigh only 140lb) since week 6 of tx due to low RGB and HGB counts, so I am glad to be taking amantadine - maybe it's making up for my low riba dose.

I wish my HMO would let me take procrit for the anemia, but I'm not sick enough :( It does not make sense that they would be willing to lower my probability of SVR (by lowering my riba dose instead of approving procrit) when they will likely end up forking out big bucks if I fail tx and the disease progresses to cirrhosis...wah wah wah whine complain, sorry!

downthisroad - my 12-week test was a quantitative PCR test, with a sensitivity down to 200IU/ml. My result was <200IU/ml, so I was certainly responding very well at 12 weeks, but a more sensitive test MIGHT have shown some virus still present...

Cheers everybody!
Andrew

[MajNeni]

Glad to hear your terrific test result, Andrew.  It's a fine thing to hear.  Maj Neni

[indyjo]

What is amantadine? How does it affect treatment? I am also 1a and am certainly hoping for results like yours! Congrats to you, and good job!!!

[mikesimon]

Thanks for posting the wonderful news. We're all rooting for you Andrew. Good luck. Mike

[layla]

Congrats! That's wonderful news. I hope your celebrating somehow. Have some bubbly...that's carbonated water to you! HA ha

[doll face]

Congratulations !!!!!!! See it is worth the bull%#@*& that we go through. Great News !!  Keep up the positive attitude.