Infergen side effects

[Dank Wizard]

Can anyone tell me about their experience taking Infergen.
Are the side effects less intense then the side effects you had when you were on Interferon?
My first tx was Interferon and Ribavirin. I cleared in 12 weeks and the virus returned 12 weeks after I finished tx. The side effects were very tough. I am starting Infergen and ribavirin tomorrow. I am hoping for the best.
Thank you

[cuteus]

WOW! I hope this is it for you. I can understand not wanting to do this again!
stay well

[bon_vivant]

Audrey,
It's Me Vicki...
Befuddled, BeStumblin, BeDarned...LoL

Well how the heck did I miss your presence...
Welcome Back...
We were just talkin about you a couple of weeks ago....
Bless Your Heart...
How are you doing these days, I sure have thought about you & some of the other MIA's often...

Starting to feel a little like a reunion around here...
Good To See You Gal
Vic

Chev,
That's the one bad thing about a name change.... you say Hi & Folks don't know who you are anymore... :(

[audreywald]

Two grandsons now, one is 17 months; no interest in walking. Makes it hard because of severe leg pain and cramps; I am once again beginning the rounds of tests and docs. My main internist wonders if the hep can cause this. I think it can. Have you heard of this sort of thing? My legs ache and burn, and even a couple of blocks fry me.

How are you, darlin? How is YOUR health? Where are you at?

I would so much love to meet you for lunch, or have you here. It's been lonely with this dragon breathin down my neck.

[SJL]

I have posted before under Tess Marie. My PC went out with the rain storms and is just now up and running. I am a 62???year old female, 1B, grade 3, stage 4. Moderately severe chronic hep.c, probable early cirrhosis. In 1992, I went on peg-intron and ribavarin. Cleared and then relapsed immediately after 48 weeks of treatment. I rested for about 9 mths. and then started infergen and ribavarin for 56 weeks. I just finished this treatment. I truthfully do not remember much about the 92 treatment, thank God, as we had to reduce dosages to manage the sides. With the infergen treatment fresh in my mind, I can say that it is TOUGH. I did daily infergen, 9 mg. and 1200 ribavarin to start. Very intense meds. Unfortunately I had every side imagineable and some that weren't imagineable. I finally had to take FMLA and I am still off, not planning on returning to work until 2006. I have had 6 undetectable viral lodes and feel confident that the disease is GONE. But of course, in my heart there is always that recurring thought. I have the greatest hep c specialist and believe me this is most important. He was willing to try any meds to help me with the sides, which were desparately needed. The short term memory, word recollection, mouth sores, aching, fatigue, rashes, etc., were tough to even sttempt to control, but God willing, we managed. Treatment is not easy-but is worth the attempt, even though, I will not attempt again if needeed. I feel as if I have been on another planet for 3 yrs., literally lost and my life was out of control. I am a very strong, determined gal and as you see will not give this disease, or meds, any capitalization recognition. Maybe just me, but I certainly do not respect the disease. In closing, even though this note probably reads depressing to a point, if I were you, I would go on the infergen/riba. Take it  one day at a time. Every time I considered quitting after each shot, I would hear from a friend, and my family members kept me going. Everyone needs strong support while going through this. I wish you strength to fight this and please let me know how you are doing. P. S., (do they still use this???), I have found many things which have helped me with the therapy and would be glad to share what has been an incredible journey with anyone. We all need the caring touch of someone who has been through this, and understands what we are going through. My faith also has kept me going, even though I went through every emotion- I am here for all and hope to be able to help if needed. Happy 4th. to everyone and we do have many things to be THANKFUL for.

[audreywald]

It's Audrey, do you remeber me? It's been quite a year honey. If you choose to contact me I will tell you of my year and you can tell me yours, ok?

***@****

[ificu1st]

I have been on the daily infergen shots for 15 weeks now and the side effects are starting to even out.  In the beginning it was pretty rough.  The headaches, loss of appetite, and the joint and muscle pain are what I struggled with the most.  I lost 25 lbs the first 8 weeks.  But now it isn't so bad.  I am eating like a horse and putting the weight back on.  I am on tramadol and versed for the headaches and pain.  I also take an antidepressant and temazepam for sleep.  I still work full time and am a full time student.  Thank goodness I am off for the summer, it has helped me feel better.  I rest as much as possible and drink tons of water.  Life is getting back to as normal as normal can be considering the circumstances.  The key to the infergen is to hang in there and work with the doc to treat the side effects.  It took us 3 months to figure out which meds work for me.  I cleared the virus at 4 weeks.  My viral load went from 1,370,000 to <600  and at 12 weeks I was undetectable.  I was injecting 15 mcg and taking 1200 mg ribavirin but now I am injecting 9 mcg of the infergen.  It is totally worth it once you start seeing positive lab results.  My doc checks me often partly for the positive reinforcement.  I hope this helps you.

[honey1616]

Dank,,,Sorry to see no response yet on infergen.  There is a few that are on it and have reported before but weekends can be slow.  If I remember correctly,,,the sides weren't anything worse then the interferon and one stated at one time,,,,it was better tx for him.  Sometimes just waiting to take that first shot can raise so much anxiety.  I hope today goes well for you and let us know!  Best Wishes and NO sides!

[kpj49]

You said it all really well.  If you are juicing organic veggies and fruits and feeding your cells the nutrients they need they actually don't crave the "empty" foods.and the body can do what it is supposed to do..but when we feed our bodies The Standard American Diet (SAD) we fill ourselves with chemicals, hormones, and not much in Nutrients. Our liver is constantly working to clean it all out.  And it does go somewhere...some people believe all the junk our liver has to filter is the reason for so much disease.  It seems when I talk about this, I offend people and I am sorry.  I have researched this.
  You know, people say it is expensive and it may be alittle bit but when you stop and think of what a 12 pack of pop costs or a bag of chips and all the other junk foods we buy, it's not expensive and we are worth it.  We have been brain washed by the meat and dairy people to think that's the only place we can get protein. It's not.
The body wasn't meant to eat meat either....but that"s another thing.
I'm sorry..I don't want to get anyone mad but I will risk it so that maybe some will check this all out and change their diet.  This woman has a tremendous testimony...http://www.drday.com/...
I might be wrong but I believe that I am doing so well on tx because of my diet and all the water.  Give it a try.

[niki12]

Seeing I can not make a new post, I will ask my question here.  What do you all think of someone 54 years old geno type 1b, Grade 2 Stage 2 clearing this with tx.  Are the chances slim to none?  

Thanks,

[cigaso]

From what I have read on this site, Infergon is a little tougher on you from the sx's. I think you take 3-5 shoots a week. I also read the SVR rate is pretty high. Good luck.

[Califia]

And what exactly is contraindicated about dairy?  Is this opinion grounded in hard science?  I'm well aware that there is a naturopathic bias against dairy products, but unless the liver is cirrhotic, protein is various forms is actually beneficial, especially for people dealing with chronic viral infection.   It's best to stick to organic dairy products.

Niki, there are two cutting-edge websites you might want to check out that are full of recent  information about treatment.  (It's best not to take anyone's opinion as the gospel truth, and that includes mine.  Always go straight to the research.)   One of these sites is projectsinknowledge/gastroenterology.  The other is clinicaloptions.com.   I think you'll find that the new medical thinking about potential response to treatment is deemphasizing age as a negative factor.   Good luck!

[Dank Wizard]

Can anyone tell me about their experience taking Infergen.
Are the side effects less intense then the side effects you had when you were on Interferon?
My first tx was Interferon and Ribavirin. I cleared in 12 weeks and the virus returned 12 weeks after I finished tx. The side effects were very tough. I am starting Infergen and ribavirin tomorrow. I am hoping for the best.
Thank you

[Califia]

Certainly hope not as this also describes me.  Am on week 54 of treatment and was officially clear of virus at week 16.  Can't report long term results yet, but thus far treatment has served me very well.

[niki12]

SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT SALT, SUGAR, DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE ALL BAD FOR YOUR LIVER.

SEEING I WILL ONLY BE STARTING TX IN OCT. I WANT TO KEEP MY LIVER AS HEALTHY AS I CAN.  I DO NOT DRINK OR SMOKE OR TAKE ANY DRUGS AT ALL.  I DO TAKE HERBS RIGHT NOW BUT I HAVE MADE UP MY MIND TO DO THE TX BECAUSE I WANT TO TRY TO CLEAR THIS.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL THE HELPFUL INFO I HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR.

[kpj49]

I am in that age group and 1b and Stage 2 Grade 3.  I took my 13th shot Monday, have had very tolerable sides and from what I read, at this stage, there's no question about doing the tx.  I believe we have a great chance.  It will also help your liver to be really nice to it which means change your diet.  Don't get down on yourself if you treat yourself now and again but I have cut out most sugar, pop, salt, fat, meat, most dairy and eat alot of oraganic friuts and veggies and juice them along with wheat grass.  But again I am a fanatic.  My doctor doesn't test til 24 and then he says, you're either in or out.  So I will see but I do feel like something is working.  I intend on clearing this virus and I know that my liver damage is reversing.  We need to fight in more ways than one!!!!!

[chellski]

i'm type 1. vl 1.5mil. stage 2 and 48yo fm.  I believe my chances are good and come here daily for support; if not to post, just to read!
good luck!
michelle

[new-sojourn]

Well, it (dairy) readily converts to ammonia and that build up can lead to encepalopathy. That's why I cut out dairy.  Also my healthy niece lost 60 lbs after cutting out dairy,

The major problem I found w/dairy is the other food you eat dairy w.  i still use yougurt in smoothies and butter in cooking.

I found the best approach was moderation on everything.  I treated nutrionally, herbally and medically.  why choose one or the other.

A diet that is easily digested and has the fewest toxins for the liver to filter out is best.  So the more natural, less additive and mysterious ingrediants the better.  Juicing raw veggies and fruits is the best.  Lightly steamed veggies are the best way to cook veggies-nutrients are still there b/the cellular structure breaks down.

As to salt, corn sugars/sugars, caffine, transfats--well, those are posions for everybody and nobody should eat as much as the average American does.  They're hard to digest, empty caleries and full of toxins for the liver to filter out.  That means energy that could be used in healing is instead used to filter toxins and the damage they do.

I wanted all my energy used for healing, not making sh**, literally.  I wanted healing energy and a constant flow of pure water/green tea to flush the dead cells and toxins out of my system.  That was my diet plan.  Heal w/food.  Heal w/water.

I'm one, who altho lived a pretty organic lifestyle, did a 180* turn.  Organic isn't enough-now I hve to know the farm the food comes from.  When I travel, I travel w/my own food and teas.  We've had to buy anoth reefer just to hold the fruits and veggies.

  I consider it a harmless addiction and have had priceless encounters around the world searching out farmers/organic markets.  Now adays, its just as easy to get a spot w/cooking facilities as not--anywhere.  And its usually cheaper.  We travel w/jucier, blender and electric tea kettle.

Since I won't eat most food in any-even the most fancy-restrauts-drink alcohol or 'lattes''(caffine) I'm now a real cheap date!

[Dank Wizard]

My first tx was 48 weeks. The tx I start tomorrow will be 6 months.

[chellski]

sorry i can't answer ur ques - but i have a ques...how long were you on tx with interferon?  just the 12 weeks, or did you continue full tx?
good luck with infergen!
michelle