Anyone have to lower Peg cuz of weight loss ?

[tigerpants]

hey everyone..
Has anybody had to lower their Peg Intron dose (strength of vial)
because of weight loss ?
When I started I weighed about 193 lbs (I'm 5'8" ) and now I weigh about 183 bouncing to 185 now and then.
I have my next months supply on hold at  Specialty RX  until I get  latest CBC back for anemia .
What do you do when your weight bonces from one dosage level into the next ?
Brain fog today so please bear with me..
April

[Revenire]

I lost about 15 pounds on and the doctor didn't reduce the dose. (He did reduce it when my WBC dropped though.) My appetite just isn't the same as it used to be.

[Doodle Bug]

I've lost almost 40 lbs since starting tx. my doctor doesn't seem concerned about it and I'm not complaining about it. I wouldn't worry about it. Just focus on eating good foods and it it take care of itself. Doodle Bug

[tigerpants]

Did they reduce the amount you inject or the strength of the vial ?

[Revenire]

The doctor reduced the amount by 25% until I could start Neupogen. The Neupogen made my counts go back to normal and I went back to the full dose of Pegasys.

[Tarzan69]

When I started I weighed in at 270 lbs. Now I'm down to a svelte 200. My Dr told me in the beginning that the tx works best for patients under 200.

[Indiana]

I've never seen anyone have their meds reduced for weight loss....Only for anemia and/or side effects. Mild weight loss isn't on the list of reasons to reduce the dose.

[DH Bill]

I was over 250 before tx now 229 and losing. Doc also said weight afected tx plus I have fatty liver tissue and he said I HAD to lose weight.

[latrobe]

it's possible that there coould be a reduction in the amount of ribavirin...but i don't think the peg would get reduced because of weight loss.  i dropped forty pounds. and i'm very glad about it. i think it makes life of the liver a little easier...
the blood counts are what matters. and eat nice food. healthy stuff...
-m.

[tigerpants]

I am waiting  for results of Thursday's  blood work to check on anemia.
They have already reduced  riba to 600 mg because of low  1.9 wbc and low 9.8 hemo.
The reduced dose would be  due to anemia.
I feel so tired, very short of breath and generally woosie.

That is why I am asking about the reduction in strength of Peg.
That and I have a months supply ready to be shipped. It is 150 strength vial..the drug info sheet says  <85 kilograms of wieght (187 lbs) should be on 120 strength vial.
My dr won't even discuss Neupogen or Procrit.

[Revenire]

Why won't your doctor discuss Neupogen or Procrit? That doesn't make sense to me. My WBC went low, I asked the NURSE for Neupogen and he prescribed it. It brought me back up to normal levels and back to the full dose of Pegasys. I only do the Neupogen every other week now. I'd consider another doctor's opinion or insist your doctor explain why not?

How far are you along into tx? Have you become undetectable? What stage did your biopsy show?

[tigerpants]

I am 1-a  27th week of 48. I  was undectable at 18 weeks.
I have no fibrosis, no cirrosis (sp), only mild inflamation (inflammation) according to my biopsy done Dec 2002. Also had  CT scan- with contrast done then. That came back great also. My  ALT / AST never went up past 42.
I have been fighting with Dr's office and his nurse about my care all week. If they don't resolve this I am contacting my insurance company and my internal medicine dr for further help.

[MajNeni]

Keep fighting for your care, April.  Procrit and Neupogen would prob. help you, and they have been used in lots of us.  If this doc won't use it, you should switch.  I'm sure there are other docs in your area; you don't have to accept this if your insurance gives you the option to choose another doc.  
I know just how it feels where you are with those numbers.  My whites are ok now, thanks to Neupogen.  My Hgb is finally up to 9.9; every 1/10 of a point counts a lot in how you feel.  I was off Riba for 17 days (I hated risking my compliance that way), now back on 600mg, and at same point as you in tx.  
Good luck!  Maj Neni