Consensus Interferon

Hello old friends. Been a while. As some of you know, I failed three torturous treatments and now my Gastro wants me to try the Consensus Interferon. He says non-responders like myself have responded, but not all of course. Can someone please enlighten me on this subject? Especially if you've tried it and you are also a non-responder.

Thanks,

Magnum

[Southernboy]

Hi magnum,

Consensus interferon is sold under the brand name Infergen.  The standard dose has been 9 mics 3 times a week.  This has been increased to 15 mics 3 times a week and many people have been trying 15 mics daily.

I did 48 weeks of 15 mics daily in combination with 100 mics of interferon gamma 3 times a week and 1200mg riba.  Needless to say it was not really a lot of fun.

I did not respond.

Current opinion is that more people respond to Infergen because it is a combination of interferon alfa 2a and 2b, thus the term consensus interferon.

Let me know if I can provide any additional information.  I will check back later.

Best,
Steve

[DonL]

My dr has mentioned it to me as well. I relapsed after 3 months, after being undetectable at 12, 24, and 48 weeks (Geno 1a, original vl 131,000) My question about it is what is the success rate? I am a responder, but also a relapser. I don't want to go through tx again without some kind of statistics about success rates. All the info I see is that "non-responders respond better" which is nice, but not the information I would need to sign up.

[giddyup]

Infergen is the same as consensus interferon and is manufactured by Intermune in Brisbane, CA. Among nonresponders it produced  is a 38% chance of svr.
This according to a study by Kaiser(sp)which included 65 people.

[whoaisme]

My husband is on consensus interferon "infergen". He does a daily 15 mic(?) shot and presently 1000 riba, reduced from 1200 b/c of rbc drop. He was a non/slow? responder with pegysus,1a, stage 4. With the daily infergen he did get the 2 log drop at 12 weeks which he did not get with the pegysus. He is now on week 19. There is hope!

[Califia]

I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am that you've relapsed and are facing another round of treatment.   Keep the faith....

[stan1]

i'm sorry about your relapse too -- your post spooks me a bit cos i supposedly have favorable characteristics (for a geno 1, anyway) such as low viral load going in and undetectability at the 12 wk mark.....folks like us usually have better-than-average prospects, so when i hear a relapse story i'm sad for the individual (who probably developed increasing confidence as tx progressed) and also a bit fearful about what could happen to me when i finish.    right now i have 11 weeks left of 48 and my ALT has been rising steadily (now 100+) on every blood test since wk 16 while the virus remains below radar on PCR.   did you have any ALT activity of this type as tx wore on to let you know that something might be going awry, or did your ALT normalize and stay that way till the end of the 48?   do you ever look back and wonder what the outcome might have been if you'd treated for 72 weeks?    what does your doctor think about your prospects of retreating at 72 weeks duration with the same drugs and dosages?   has that issue come up?   thanks for your attention,

stan

[TnHepGuy_]

Real good to read that your feeling better. You'll figure out what comes next when the time is right.


May God's blessings and mercy be upon you.


TnHepGuy

[DonL]

I finished tx in Sept, found out in Dec so I am still digesting the news. Won't decide what to do for a while.

My liver tests normalized almost immediately and stayed that way thru tx. I was undetectable at 12, 24, and 48 weeks.

Both my drs were against more than 48 weeks. I don't know yet whether I wish I had done 72. I do know that I was barely keeping it together at 48. I own my own business, do a lot of writing and teaching, both of which suffered under tx, and had personnel changes that required me to put in additional hours. So, I didn't want to do 48+ since I didn't see how to keep things going another 24 weeks. Of course, if I had done it, I would have found the strength, we always do.

I've finished feeling sorry for myself, feeling angry, feeling like nothing really matters, wishing I could just stop feeling. I'm on to feeling like, live a month or live a century, what things do I want to accomplish before I die? Do 'em, damnit. What else is there?

[pmhatcher1]

Hi magnum! This is Paul. First I wish the best to you and you other folks. I had a eronious idea that I had been through a real bad time with the Rebatron treatment. 6 weeks out of 6 months. I was unable to tolerate the side effects, and now I know that I had set my level of endurance way too low. I will now brace for a much stronger attack. Through the studies and testimonials I can gather that all the treatments, Pega and so forth, are not producing a very good success rate. I wonder if I should jump to, the Consensus Interferon. I heard of another treatment, Pega Interferon that uses Thermal, to raise the blood temp, that could be a possibility. Has any one heard of the Thermal treatment?. This is expermental I believe.

           Have the Greatest Day That You May:
           My wish frim Him the Great Physician

[miked]

donl,

Please post any information that you run across concerning Infergen/RBV tx for "slow and/or partial" responders.  

I didn't go undetectable but had a >2-log drop at 12 weeks then started rising at 32 weeks.  Not to be selfish but I'm hoping that my partial response scews the data in my favor.

Like you I'm stopping feeling angry, sorry for myself, etc.  

This weekend the kids and I built a home-made ice hockey arena and snow forts.

[ificu1st]

I can't believe I finally found a site that hits home.  I am a non-responder and the VA is starting me on the consensus interferon.  Are the side effects as bad as the peg?  I had a really rough time with the treatment the first time.  A shot everyday?  bejeezus. Another year? More of the same?  It has been a year and a half since I finished treatment and my viral load is rising rapidly.  Is all this worth it?  I am so confused....Any comments?

[honey1616]

I am sorry to hear you are a non responder.  Just finishing up treatment here and definitely know what you mean about starting over and a shot daily.  There is a few here on infergen and maybe they will see this and offer more advice on their experience.  You never did say,,,,did you have biopsy and what is status at this point on your liver?  Age?  All this plays a part in your decision and yes,,,it is worth it to stop the damage the virus is doing.  Welcome to the board as many are struggling day to day with the virus and its great to share our experiences..

[TnHepGuy_]

I also posted your question on a newer thread (also related to Consensus) - higher up on the page. Hopefully you'll get some answers there. Here is the name and link to the thread: <a href="http://www.medhelp.org/perl6/hepatitis/messages/C38037-12.html">Q: Infergen - Better data - miked 1/10/2005</a>


TnHepGuy

[ificu1st]

Thanks to everyone for their replys.  It is so reassuring to know all my crazy thinking is justified.  Maybe I am not so crazy after all.  My orignal biopsy showed stage 2 grade 2 with moderate fibrosis.  Have not had one post tx.  I am 45 years old and feeling healthy except for headaches and fatigue since I finished treatment.  I had a really difficult time the first round partly because I waited so long to address the issues after diagnosis.  It took me 1 1/2 years to give up the drinking and the drugs.  I finally found the strength with the help of a judge (LOL) to get into recovery and finally accepted treatment for the hep c.  
I think I will do better this time around since I have been clean and sober for 2 1/2 years and I have alot more strength and determination to beat this thing.  I finished hep c treatment 1 1/2 years ago and have been treating my body like a temple.  Exercise, diet, and water will get me through this.  
I am still anxious and a little depressed thinking about everything but With the help and encouragement from all of you I will make it.
Thanks again
Any more insight on what is to come??
TY

[pmhatcher1]

Well My Friend It sure seems like a dark trial, But there is Light that will reveal the Evil Dragon. I am known in the Church as the Warrior. I wear a leather device that drapes over my shoulder  down to my hip, kinda like a mail carriers bag, but is shaped, as a Scabard to carry my Sword. I faltered when first was  diagnosed and that was the Enemies opportunity to destroy me. I have awoken from a spell of dispair and now feel it is time to claim my heritage as one of (The Linage of the Lion Of The Tribe of Judah) a Warrior by cercumstance and action, a Dove of thought and peace. Many Wonders have followed my life and now it seems that the Dragon is the focus of my life. Should I have been brought to this point only to sucomb to microscipic creatures? I know better! It all falls on the True Path and The Great Physician.
May Jesus find favor in what I say and bring Healing to the Rightest who suffer!
     Paul