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Husband Starting Treatment
My husband is starting treatment next week with Pegasys, Ribasphere, and Incivek. I am concerned and wanting to learn all that I can and how to help him the best. He had his first psychitzophrenic episode last year however the doctor thinks its important that he begins treatment because he is Stage III. I will accept all the advice I can get I really dont know much about what to expect and feel very overwhelmed!
Normally with Interferon (Pegasys), Ribavirin, and Incivek you would start them all the same day.
Most of us take the Interferon in the evening, before bedtime. That way some of the side effects occur while we are sleeping. I usually took mine about 8:30 to 9pm. I also took two 325 mg Tylenol when I took the injection.
When I started the triple med treatment I was instructed to start all three medications the same day. I was told to take the Incivek and the Ribavirin in the am (which I did at 6 am). Then I took Incivek again at 2pm and again at 10pm. I took the second dose of Ribavirin at 6 pm. And in the evening I did the injection.
The blood draws are at the end of 4 full weeks so you want to be sure you actually have 4 full weeks of medications in you when you take the 4 week blood draw.
I have to admit that I felt rather spaced out after I took the Incivek and the Ribavirin in the am. Not sick, just sort of out of it, a little light headed. I recall lying down on and off during the day. I never really got sick from the injection (I never got fever or chills or anything like that). I did, however, ache and feel completely wiped out the couple of days following the injection. As the week waned, I felt somewhat better. Then time for another injection.
I think once he does the injection and starts the pills, he can play it by ear. I do, however, think it is a good idea to take a couple of 325 mg Tylenol when he takes the injection. I also took a couple the next morning, but that is because I usually had a slight headache the following morning.
I am sure he will do fine. If he has side effects be sure to post them on the forum right away. Most of us have been through treatment and we do know how to deal with the side effects.
Be sure he eats a meal that contains at least 20 grams of fat within 30 minutes BEFORE he takes the pill. I usually ate something and then took the pills as soon as i finished eating. He can take the Ribavirin at the same time as the Incivek. I did. Also be sure to have alarms and/or times set so that he remembers to take the pills on time. It is very difficult to remember to take the pills every 8 hours if there is nio alarm to remind us.
Best of luck.
Most of us take the Interferon in the evening, before bedtime. That way some of the side effects occur while we are sleeping. I usually took mine about 8:30 to 9pm. I also took two 325 mg Tylenol when I took the injection.
When I started the triple med treatment I was instructed to start all three medications the same day. I was told to take the Incivek and the Ribavirin in the am (which I did at 6 am). Then I took Incivek again at 2pm and again at 10pm. I took the second dose of Ribavirin at 6 pm. And in the evening I did the injection.
The blood draws are at the end of 4 full weeks so you want to be sure you actually have 4 full weeks of medications in you when you take the 4 week blood draw.
I have to admit that I felt rather spaced out after I took the Incivek and the Ribavirin in the am. Not sick, just sort of out of it, a little light headed. I recall lying down on and off during the day. I never really got sick from the injection (I never got fever or chills or anything like that). I did, however, ache and feel completely wiped out the couple of days following the injection. As the week waned, I felt somewhat better. Then time for another injection.
I think once he does the injection and starts the pills, he can play it by ear. I do, however, think it is a good idea to take a couple of 325 mg Tylenol when he takes the injection. I also took a couple the next morning, but that is because I usually had a slight headache the following morning.
I am sure he will do fine. If he has side effects be sure to post them on the forum right away. Most of us have been through treatment and we do know how to deal with the side effects.
Be sure he eats a meal that contains at least 20 grams of fat within 30 minutes BEFORE he takes the pill. I usually ate something and then took the pills as soon as i finished eating. He can take the Ribavirin at the same time as the Incivek. I did. Also be sure to have alarms and/or times set so that he remembers to take the pills on time. It is very difficult to remember to take the pills every 8 hours if there is nio alarm to remind us.
Best of luck.
Thank you all very much for the information. I will do my best not to be to mothering but I know it's going to be hard :( how long after starting the treatments did u notice the side effects kicking in? We actually start with the Pegasus tomorrow I'm so nervous but undoubtedly he is more so!
Hello my name is Jules from England one you have found the most fanastic site here you wont go wrong the people are not only fantastic, informative and brill at supporting you you never will feel alone i can promise you that! My hubby finished his tx end of April and without this site i just couldnt cope they explained things that doc didnt explain and when my hubby went on shut down people made me understand what he was goig through, it was hard on him but hard on me too for the first few weeks i felt i was walking on egg shells we called it the riba rage, then he got depression which doc gave him tabs for, but saying all that everyone reacts different some never missed a single shift at work and some had it rough. I learnt not to take it to heart when he needed to be on his own, and when the rage kicked in i tried to ignore it knowing that it was the drugs talking and not him.Please come on site and ask many questions dont be afraid there is always someone to lend an ear. Good luck to both of you and if you feel like a chat or rant you can always send me a private message kind regards Jules x
I am assuming your husband is taking some meds now, since his diagnosis of Schitzophrenia, something that helps him to avoid psychosis? If so, his dosage may very likely need to be tweeked.
You can help him with psychiatric side effects, since he may not notice them. If you see any signs of an impending pscychotic episode (his behavior starts becoming strange/unusual) you can take him to his Psychiatrist right away, for an emergency visit, The two of you can get together now, and write up a "Plan" just in-case of a psychiatric emergency.
The other problems are physical, and you can treat the side effects as they come along.
You can help him with psychiatric side effects, since he may not notice them. If you see any signs of an impending pscychotic episode (his behavior starts becoming strange/unusual) you can take him to his Psychiatrist right away, for an emergency visit, The two of you can get together now, and write up a "Plan" just in-case of a psychiatric emergency.
The other problems are physical, and you can treat the side effects as they come along.
Cannot stress the importance of the fatty foods and adherence to the strict schedule of taking medicine and consuming all these fatty foods. (dealing with healthy diet, in my opinion, can be postponed for a year).
While 8 years ago my previous doc was prescribing me antidepressant, my current doc told me I don’t need them and instead was prescribing me things like Ativan, Klonopil. I had severe panic attacks at work. I was depressed as well, but after comparing my condition with the time when I was taking them, I kind of felt that 8 years ago antidepressant were just a waste. But back then standard practice was starting on antidepressant couple of months before starting the therapy.
While 8 years ago my previous doc was prescribing me antidepressant, my current doc told me I don’t need them and instead was prescribing me things like Ativan, Klonopil. I had severe panic attacks at work. I was depressed as well, but after comparing my condition with the time when I was taking them, I kind of felt that 8 years ago antidepressant were just a waste. But back then standard practice was starting on antidepressant couple of months before starting the therapy.
As a fellow spouse, I will say it is very hard. For one, our husbands can be a bit hard headed as it is anyways...
Definitely ask him what he would like you to help him out with. He may not necessarily know himself, but offer anyways. Try not to "mother" him too much, and let him try to do things himself (although he may find that there is a LOT he won't be able to do because it will exhaust him) It's hard for us wives sometimes to kind of step back because it isn't in our nurturing nature and a bit of pride on their part.
But remember to do things for yourself to take care of you. Establish your own support group to help you through this. Try to make it as varied as you can from friends, online groups, to your own individual counselor if you need it. I found that having a few good people that can help you with different aspects was a great help. I never felt like I was overburdening anyone one particular individual and they all were able to give me different insights on the situation.
Make sure that you educate yourself too about what he's going through. Ask the doctor questions and be an advocate for you husband if he isn't doing it for himself. And if you ever have any questions, ask here. There are a TON of great people here who will steer you in the right direction.
Above all else, keep the communication between you two as open as possible. You don't have to tell each other everything, but it does go a long way for letting each other feel that you are there for each other.
Definitely ask him what he would like you to help him out with. He may not necessarily know himself, but offer anyways. Try not to "mother" him too much, and let him try to do things himself (although he may find that there is a LOT he won't be able to do because it will exhaust him) It's hard for us wives sometimes to kind of step back because it isn't in our nurturing nature and a bit of pride on their part.
But remember to do things for yourself to take care of you. Establish your own support group to help you through this. Try to make it as varied as you can from friends, online groups, to your own individual counselor if you need it. I found that having a few good people that can help you with different aspects was a great help. I never felt like I was overburdening anyone one particular individual and they all were able to give me different insights on the situation.
Make sure that you educate yourself too about what he's going through. Ask the doctor questions and be an advocate for you husband if he isn't doing it for himself. And if you ever have any questions, ask here. There are a TON of great people here who will steer you in the right direction.
Above all else, keep the communication between you two as open as possible. You don't have to tell each other everything, but it does go a long way for letting each other feel that you are there for each other.
Advocate is right, during Incivek my AD was blocked. Now there are lists of AD's that can't or should be monitored while on Incivek.
One of the first most important things I bought were baby wipes. Then benedryl, lots of water, fatty foods to take with the Incivek.
It is hard to say what his side effects will be as everyone is different.
Everyone will help you and your husband through this tx.
One of the first most important things I bought were baby wipes. Then benedryl, lots of water, fatty foods to take with the Incivek.
It is hard to say what his side effects will be as everyone is different.
Everyone will help you and your husband through this tx.
Hello there, it is all very overwhelming at first. Has the doctor place him on anti depressants?
I was stage 4 when I treated with Incivek Peg and Riba. While I had a tough time I was stage 4 so was told it would be hard to treat.
I will try to find some more information. At one point there were lists of foods that contain 20 grams of fat to eat with the Incivek. Also lists of things to take for side effects. I am sure others will be along soon to help out.
Take care
I was stage 4 when I treated with Incivek Peg and Riba. While I had a tough time I was stage 4 so was told it would be hard to treat.
I will try to find some more information. At one point there were lists of foods that contain 20 grams of fat to eat with the Incivek. Also lists of things to take for side effects. I am sure others will be along soon to help out.
Take care
I think it would be good if your husband's liver specialist could be in communication with his psychiatrist. Incivek can alter the way that some anti depressants and anti psychotic meds work (i.e. make them stronger or make them weaker) so dosages may need adjusting down or up, and it may take both of them together to monitor that. He is genotype 1. Has he ever tried to treat his Hep C before?
Advocate1955
Advocate1955
Go to "Hepatitis.va.gov". You can read the Incivek work book about treatment. Also, this site has a lesson plan for learning about Hepatitis C.
It would be very beneficial to read the material referenced then come back here and ask question. This is a great forum to stay connected with during treatment. Also, VA website has great easy to read and understand material about Hepatitis C and current FDA approved treatment.
Welcome to the forum
It would be very beneficial to read the material referenced then come back here and ask question. This is a great forum to stay connected with during treatment. Also, VA website has great easy to read and understand material about Hepatitis C and current FDA approved treatment.
Welcome to the forum
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