Anyone who failed Sovaldi gotten Harvoni yet?

[flyinlynn]

I relapsed on Sovaldi & Olysio. Genotype 1a, null responder, with cirrhosis. Just wondering if anyone else in similar situation relapsed on a Sovaldi treatment regime been able to get Harvoni yet?

Thanks and good luck to all
Lynn

[Magnum]

Got a call yesterday from the specialized pharmacy stating they received the order from my transplant doctor and they are processing the authorization for Harvoni..

He also mentioned that the persons in need of it most will get it faster. Not sure what that means for others, but since I've had a transplant 10 mos. ago and my viral load is 5 million, it probably puts me in an urgent position to treat since the insurance company does not want to pay for another transplant.

Magnum

[cakes8267]

I am starting Harvoni next week.  3 times relapsed, had virus since 1981 from blood transfusion.  I have BCBS, they approved the drug.  

[milliehepc]

Not in similar situation....but,

I started Harvoni last Friday, Treatment Naive.Stage 2/3 1a..(66 years old) I was offered S&O but because of the test for genotype Q80K that showed resistant to Olysio, I decided to wait.

Today, I take pill 8 - days..in.  I'm amazed I do not feel side affects at all.  It's still early so hoping for the best. I'm supposed to go for blood work Monday but not sure what 10 days is supposed to show.

I am from NYC and treat at NYU.  Just FYI in case anyone from NY looking for good hep doctor.

Good Luck to you and Good Luck to all waiting for Harvoni.

Millie

[sue4hula]

I am watching your next chapter closely.  My hope and heartfelt prayer is that you are approved for the Harvoni and cured soon!  I know we've walked this road together since spring and I want all of us virus free ASAP!

I am still playing the waiting game.  I am 11 weeks post treatment today and the "test anxiety" is starting in.  The doc wanted me to wait for 6 months, but I am calling Monday to ask for a 12 week SVR test.  I am hopeful, but realistic.  Like you, I am 1a, treatment experienced x3 and compensated early cirrhosis.  If it's back, I want to try again.
My insurance and pharmacy are the same as yours.  I got a pit in my stomach about the "prior Sovaldi treatment" clause too.  

Go get that beast girl!

[flyinlynn]

I am concerned about the ribavirin as well. But anyway my doctor is on board with 24 weeks of Harvoni so looks like that is what I will be prescribed.

Now to get express scripts on board as well

[AWorriedMom]

It seems that ribavirin needs interferon to do it's dirty work. I had trouble with ribavirin each time I used it except with the Abbvie drugs. The reason is that there was no interferon in the Abbvie trial. I would not be afraid.

[flyinlynn]

Thanks Mary I appreciate that.

Hi Cindy still waiting to hear from my doctor if I will be able to get Harvoni but I have seen a couple of people who relapsed as I did who are getting it sothat looks promising.

But then I looked at the link that Pamela sent and it has
"5. The patient has not attempted a previous course of therapy with sofosbuvir" which again makes me worry if I will be able to get the meds or not.

I did call MySupportPath Harvoni on Monday.

They took down all my info and are supposed to be contacting my insurance and my doctor about getting me pre approved so I guess we will see what happens from there.

Good luck to all
Lynn

[Mmorgan856]

Hi Lynn,  All I can add is my heartfelt prayers for you to conquer this virus next time..   Take care. Mary

[Cindy815]

Hi Lynn,

I see you got your answer, that's great!  My husband did not do the S&O treatment, his doctor would not approve it because he relapsed on Incivek.  She wanted him to wait until Harvoni was approved.  Now if she would only return our call.  My husband has an appointment in January but he does not want to wait until then to start treatment (in his case the sooner the better).  Good luck with treatment!  May everyone slay this dragon!

[Pamelajean1]

I don't know how much BCBS differs from state to state but I found the criteria for BCBS NC.....I apologize if this has already been posted.

http://www.bcbsnc.com/assets/services/public/pdfs/formulary/harvoni_um_criteria.pdf

[flyinlynn]

I have actually seen that somewhere also about the the lower the Hmg the more likely the cure. That is why they were reluctant at time to use the epotin in general to support Hgb levels but I was dangerously anemic and the options were epotin or reduce ribavirin so either way no win and I was a null responder on that attempt

[flyinlynn]

Thanks Kim just wanted to clairify those are my current "normal" un normal levels 80-90 due to the effects of portal hypertension which is causing my spleen to enlarge and sequested platelets one of the effects of cirrhosis so I hear.

On my 1st blood test at week 2 I think it was my platelets did go back up to a big 99 but after that and throughout the remainder of my 12 weeks on sovaldi Olysio stayed in the 80-90 range.

Those numbers have been fairly constant for the last say 3 years or so.

That is why I am concerned about the ribavirin as my platelets are already consistantly low without any medications.

Best to all
Lynn

[Livelife777]

Platelets are always affected regardless if you use Ribavirin or Oyslio.  While on Riba, my platelets skyrocketed to the 250-300 range from my normal 120.
With Oyslio, the platelets tend to decrease from my research.  The bottom line is that when Tx is stopped, our platelets typically go back to your previous #s before Tx as this rise and fall is temporary.  Drs don't worry to much about platelet count as long as your above 30,000 while on Tx.  The only personal concern would be bleeding issues esp if you have bleeding varicies.
Platelet counts and Hmg levels are a non issue when it comes to clearence of Hep C.  I've actually read that the lower your Hmg goes, the more likely you'll cure.  Saw that on this site from a fellow poster, so not sure of its accuracy.   If anyone has a source, a response would be appreciated.
Thanks All
.....Kim

[neptune235]

I relapsed after attaining UND after 12 weeks Sovaldi plus peg and riba (battery acid and rat poison.)

I saw my hepatologist today, and he's written the script for 24 weeks of Harvoni.  Now it is at Blue Shield CA.  Wonder how long it will gather dust there...

[Sarah1949]

My platelets went from 85 to 68 in the first two weeks of S/O so I am wondering if the Sovaldi or Olysio causes them to go down. I didn't do the Riba for this reason, fear of platelets crashing but worry it may happen regardless.
I also think of the Abbvie drugs as a backup but didn't know you had to do the Riba. I wonder if you could do Olysio with Abbvie rather then Riba. I really don't know the dynamics of how these drugs work together so sorry if that sounds kind of naive.

[bassetgirl]

I didn't realize the Abbvie drug was to be given with Ribavirin until I read the info on the link. Thank 's for posting, AWorriedMom. My platelets have been in the low 60's since last April, so if I don't reach SVR with S/O (will find out this week!) I'm guessing my next  treatment would be Harvoni.

[flyinlynn]

Thanks

I am seeing 93% and 80% in null responders my group. Also they are including Ribavirin which could be a problem as my platelets are in the 80-90 range with 150 minimum normal. When I treated with Ribavirin before I was also getting epotin A as I became very anemic with it.

I just which I had a crystal ball on this one, which one would work?

Lynn

[AWorriedMom]

Here is the link to the results:

http://abbvie.mediaroom.com/2014-04-12-AbbVie-to-Present-Late-Breaking-Results-from-TURQUOISE-II-Study-in-Chronic-Hepatitis-C-Patients-with-Cirrhosis-at-the-2014-International-Liver-Congress

[AWorriedMom]

I would think about waiting for the Abbvie drugs. Since you relapsed on Sovaldi, it might be best to try something else. The average SVR rate for genotype 1 with cirrhosis was about 96% in the 24 week arm and almost that good in the 12 week arm. I believe FDA approval will come in December-January.

[flyinlynn]

Hi Cindy
Good luck to you both. Just wondering did he try Sovaldi before? I am looking to see if anyone has relapsed on a Sovaldi containing treatment and been successful in getting Harvoni prescribed as it contains Sovaldi. I am also GT 1a with cirrhosis. I was a prior null responder to interferon and unfortunately relapsed after treatment with Sovaldi & Olysio

Best wishes
Lynn

[Cindy815]

I contacted BCBS yesterday and Harvoni is on the formulary.  I also spoke with the specialty pharmacy we use and they said they do have Harvoni in stock.  I was surprised they have it already.  Now we are just waiting for the Dr. to call back and hopefully my husband will be on tx soon.   He is GT 1a, cirrhosis and has relapsed three times.  Hopefully this will be the one.  

[flyinlynn]

Hi Dee
I do see at least one poster who base said they have started Harvoni already.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Day-1-on-Harvoni/show/2348306. My thinking is if I do want to get Harvoni I want to start ASAP if I can get it at all.

January brings the Abbvie 3D combo could that be what they are thinking?

It looks like the link is talking about Medicaid patients. I am still working full time thankfully and have one of those medical insurance referred to by some as a Cadillac plan. I don't know about that but I do have thankfully excellent coverage for the most part they just don't move as quickly as one would hope just like any bureaucracy.

BCBS and Express Scripts my reluctant heroes.

Lynn

[Dee1956]

Hi Lynn, I tried to find information about Harvoni starting production getting it to the pharmacies.  I could not find anything.
I did find that some are saying that starting in January would be best, even if it comes out now.  Insurance companies will require paperwork to be submitted again.
I had this problem when starting Incivek in September.
I found this site that is advising people how to prepare for submitting paperwork, what to do to try to get approved.  They are saying that the insurance companies are using the AASLD recommendations which was never intended to be used for insurance companies to help doctors treat their patients.  I hope this helps you in some way. Dee  Sorry for the long link, I don't know how to make it shorter :)

http://blogs.hepmag.com/lucindakporter/2014/10/harvoni_tips_for_navigating_insurance_prior_authorizations_for_hepatitis_c_treatment.html.