Dizziness with supplement of Incivek to current Pegasus Hep C Treatment

[stevie1020]

Hi,

I am on my sixth week of incivek (telaprevir) and have had one blood transfusion to bring up the red blood count. It is now up to 9 and I am still having dizzy spells. Anyone else having this reaction?

Thanks!

[frijole]

Stevie
You most definitely need procrit on a weekly or twice weekly basis.  The dizziness is from the lack of oxygen in your blood; 9 is still awfully low.  Who is handling your blood monitoring -- is it your doctor, and if so, is he a heppatologist or a gastroenerologist?  If the later, I would ask for a referral to a hemotologist - blood specialist.  They are used to monitoring blood throughout chemo and can help you significantly

[stg088]

I treated with interferon/ribaviron only, and was dizzy for the entire year.  It started within a few weeks of beginning treatment (when Hgb was still 11.8).  My Hgb never went below 9 and I was not on Procrit.  I think interferon just causes dizziness in some people, regardless of Hgb level.

[nygirl7]

Billy in ten days my hgb dropped six full points from over 15 to 9, ten days.

They did not offer to transfuse they just let it continue dropping while I worked on getting Procrit and then waited for that to kick in.

I'm pretty sure it's under 7 or I would have had to get it and I did not.

[working dog]

i think it might be more how fast your #s drop...how much time your body has to adjust to the lower hgb...i can get out of bed for sometimes 2 hours now...so i'm getting better....my voice is back pretty good...maybe i'll be in the 8s through tx..i'll know more later today...i'll try to bump up the procrit if they let me....billy

[nygirl7]

They dont usually transfuse until under 7 Billy, they figure most folks as uncomfortable as it is can handle the 8s until the procrit bangs in. But it seems like Stevie is not even on Procrit.......

[working dog]

would you tell me more about your hgb?  why the blood transfusion...what were your #s...mine went from 14.5 to low 8s in about 3 weeks...its awful...they stopped my riba at end of 5 weeks but haven't done a blood transfusion...i'm always dizzy...now i started procrit almost two weeks ago...hopefully that will work...are you on procrit?....good luck...billy

[nygirl7]

Sorry I thought you said week 9 - yes you should be on Procrit for certain.

[nygirl7]

Speak to your doctor about going on Procrit, obviously since you have had a transfusion you have low hemoglobin (hgb on your test results).  Anything under 10 is usually the point where they will prescribe it for you.  It takes a few weeks to work so look into it right now (and find out from your doctor or PA what your hemo is).