Aa
Old Interferon Monotherapy VS Combo Treatment
I went through an 8-month course of Interferon in 1997, and then relapsed. It required daily injections and even the doctor said I had some of the worst side effects possible. Has anybody gone through this "original" treatment who can also compare it to the new pegylated combo treatments with weekly injections? Are the side effects as severe? Thanks!
I won't repeat FIGuy's point, but I am curious to know anyone's experiences after treatment. I have yet to come across anyone who doesn't have any residual side effects at all. It's usually just a question of whether the residuals are better or worse than the damage HCV can do.
My question is why your doctor wants you to do another 1-2 years of treatment when the first two didn't work. Something would need to be very different in order to succeed the third time wouldn't it?
Maybe if you had an early good response then something went wrong, like you missed some shots in the middle of treatment, then I could understand it. Otherwise... huh?
I would do the following:
1. Get a second medical opinion from the best specialist you can get access to.
2. Be very sure that there are significant improvements to the third round of drugs and treatment protocol before doing it again.
3. Find out what the possible consequences of waiting are and consider that against the health risks. Make no mistake about the health risks. They are as real as the risks from HCV.
Do you have records of your how your viral load fluctuated through the first treatments?
My question is why your doctor wants you to do another 1-2 years of treatment when the first two didn't work. Something would need to be very different in order to succeed the third time wouldn't it?
Maybe if you had an early good response then something went wrong, like you missed some shots in the middle of treatment, then I could understand it. Otherwise... huh?
I would do the following:
1. Get a second medical opinion from the best specialist you can get access to.
2. Be very sure that there are significant improvements to the third round of drugs and treatment protocol before doing it again.
3. Find out what the possible consequences of waiting are and consider that against the health risks. Make no mistake about the health risks. They are as real as the risks from HCV.
Do you have records of your how your viral load fluctuated through the first treatments?
After two and a half years of Peg and Double that's a question you should be answering.
I went through one year of peg, and then another year and a half of double dose. My doc wants me to do another 1 to 2 year round. Are there residual or long lasting side effects to interferon?
I did the old treatment (unsuccessfully).
In 1997 it was called Intron A and was usually three shots per week.
As a monotherapy it had a very low success rate.
Pegalayted interferon was licensed in 2000-it is less harsh.
If you were taking it daily you were probably on concensus interferon known as Infergen,generally considered the harshest regime.
You have to factor in the effects of ribavirin which you probably did not take at that time.
It is ,to quote a leading hepatologist, 'A filthy drug'.
All in all you should find the current regime more tolerable than the daily shots.
In 1997 it was called Intron A and was usually three shots per week.
As a monotherapy it had a very low success rate.
Pegalayted interferon was licensed in 2000-it is less harsh.
If you were taking it daily you were probably on concensus interferon known as Infergen,generally considered the harshest regime.
You have to factor in the effects of ribavirin which you probably did not take at that time.
It is ,to quote a leading hepatologist, 'A filthy drug'.
All in all you should find the current regime more tolerable than the daily shots.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
