HR, extremely disturbed about this "tapering" off INF theory recently posted

[St. George]

I just read the post about tapering off interferon in order to allow for ones own immune system to re-adjust in order to suppress any remainding viral particles.  I firmly believe that is why I didn't have an SVR after 72 weeks of trteatment, as well as the two previous times treating.   The reason I feel this way is due to fact that when I finally stopped after 72+ weeks I could actually feel my own immune system  "coming back online".  Within the first few days I had frequent bouts of fever and sweating.  It is also interesting to note that within that first week off the drugs I was experiencing alot of personal stress with loved ones and I now theorize this  stress hindered my innate  immune system from "mopping up" any latent viral particles.  I 'm feeling angry and disgusted with the incompetence of most doctors for not recognizing this simple principle of immune system re-adjustment and viral re-bound.

[alagirl]

I know you'd rather that it be the reverse, more peg, less riba, but Deb's an acute, along with me, so using the rationale that she could have cut tx at 6 mos and still SVR'd, ANYTHING she's doing now is gravy, no?  Or am I missing something.  Just got home and haven't had time to pull all of those studies yet.  Plus... I'm overdrawn lol

[timlotus]

I speculate that tapering at the end of standard treatment might also help the considerable number of people who get post-treatment problems, since those problems seem to have a clear immunological basis. There is no research into this so far, but it would be worthwhile to conduct a study or two IMO

[jmjm530]

That is sort of my understanding as well, but I consider 72 weeks beyond SOC and different, for example, if someone started tapering at let's say week 40 which would be shortening SOC by eight weeks.

[Bill1028]

I did 72 weeks at full dose and tapered down the for an additional 4 weeks and relapsed.  My doctor said more than likely the taper down idea would have nothing to do with SVR or relapse.  The virus was either dead at 72 or not.

The whole immune system is very complex.  There is a "Darwin theory" that suggests, the stronger a person's immune system is, the quicker the virus mutates which makes it harder to destroy.  That theory fits me, I haven't been sick in at least 10 years.

Jim, I believe Kalio was reducing about 2 months before completing 72 weeks.

[geterdone]

Jim, no HR was not advocating anything but answering my question and adding a little insight from his research and knowledge of treatment.

Pro, How are you and your doc going to monitor "careful tapering"?

There will be no careful taper monitoring at the end of my 48 weeks of treatment except the SOC testing at the 3, 6 and 1 year pcr marks. BUT, (The first 2 week blood test which the doctor ordered after EOT (48 weeks) will be the Lab Corp. HCV QuantaSure Plus (serial) Quantitation plus CBC’s and Thyroid test). “Meaning when I complete my 48 weeks in the first week of February, I will have completed the SOC as prescribed by the doctor. BUT, rather than stopping abruptly as prescribed by SOC at the end of treatment, I will in the 49 week (Friday night) reduce the Interferon by a quarter and drop the riba from 600mg evening dose to 400mg and continue the 400mg morning dose regime until the 50th week in which I will cut the Interferon to a half dose of the past tx dose and reduce the riba from 400mg to 200mg (Friday night) and 200mg Saturday morning and follow through the rest of the week with that regime. In week 51 (Friday night) I will reduce the Interferon by another quarter and drop the riba to 100mg in evening and 100mg in am and continue that regime for the rest of the week. In week 52 (Friday night) I will take my last quarter shot of Interferon and no riba because of its half life and then get on with life and hopefully as before treatment.

I had reduced the Riba in week 20 (with doctors ok) because of the sx it was causing so I have all the missed doses in storage and an additional Interferon prescription for a month so that is covered.

I am NOT advocating this to anyone except for myself because it is a best course of action for me and it is a better alternative than just stopping abruptly and suffering the possible consequence of post tx symptoms and HR just confirmed what most of us know as common since. No body knows your body better than you.

The Thyroid test at week 2 will tell me and I will feel if it has gone from Hypo to Hyper but will have to see how that turns out.

The Procrit will be reduced as needed by the 2 week blood test and go from there.

Call me crazy for going the extra 4 weeks but what is the risk and what is the reward.  
  
jasper

[Lady Lauri]

proactive.....I know, was kidding really. I am following as the Doc say's when finished. Does make you think though as our immunes must go thru a lot to get back to normal after months of the meds.

HELPME........................................
also 'kidding' there, with UND it's 'gone' and we all know it can fast return so we continue with tx. My comment was more as I have to reduce now for the remaining 12 weeks and 'hoping' it's gone :}

I am sorry you haven't reached SVR and hopefully all the studies going on do mean someone 'cares' and that even relapsers will have a chance at newer drugs, in case they have become more resistant to the ones they have done. With this disease..........there is just no predicting so many things.
AND............... we care :}
                                                                                     LL

                                                                                     LL