New treatment

[nicci72]

I am going for a biopsy to see the damage to my liver.  My doctor said that if we can we will wait until the new treatment comes out this summer.  I did some research and it looks as though the 2 new treatments still have to be taken with the interferon and the ribavirin.  Is this true? I have also read that the side effects may be worse than with only the interferon and ribavirin.  

[Trinity4]

Yes, the protease inhibitors (Telaprevir & Boceprevir) will be used with interferon and ribarvirin.  The side effects may or may not be worse.  Anemia and digestive problems are associated with Boceprevir but it is also a side effect of ribavirin and interferon  Rash is associated with Telaprevir but it also a side effect of ribavirin and interferon.  Fatigue and low blood values are a given with any treatment protocol and the degree to which people suffer from side effects varies from person to person.  You will not know until you treat.

Trinity

[spectda]

Yes the new drugs boceprevir and telaprevir will include interferon and ribavirin as part of the treatment. If you respond quickly to treatment with these new drugs you may be able to treat for 24-28 weeks rather then the traditional 48 weeks for genotype 1 with just interferon and ribavirin.

Side effects vary enormously from person to person. Some have few to none, some have many, and the bulk of us are somewhere in between. There is no way to know how the drugs will effect you until you start treatment. most people tolerate the drugs reasonably well.

- Dave