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Photosensitivity for VX950 rash?
The VX rash from hell was bad but manageable.
Last summer, about two months into Prove 3 tx, my family was camping at the lake. I was swam and fished in the hot sun for most of the day. At dinner I noticed my arms itching and within an hour were covered with a rash that looked like poison oak or sumac, which I thought was what I had.
When we got home from camping the rash started to get angry and moved around to/from different parts of my body. This was when I knew it was tx-related.
My doc prescribed steroid cream. At first they prescribed 8 oz. tubes when in reality I needed a hand pump because it spread from my shoulders down my back, buttocks and back of my legs. Odd but never on my face.
After 2 weeks of constant steroid cream and absolute sun avoidance, the rash went away. For the rest of last summer I stayed out of the sun as much as possible, mowed grass and gardened in the early AM or late afternoon with UV long sleeve shirts/pants/hat.
My question is about this summer. I stopped taking VX950 about mid-July of 2007. Does anyone have data about how long the photosensitivity will last? Will I experience photosensitivity this summer, which we are planning a beach vacation?
I've not seen any information on the subject.
Thanks,
miked
Last summer, about two months into Prove 3 tx, my family was camping at the lake. I was swam and fished in the hot sun for most of the day. At dinner I noticed my arms itching and within an hour were covered with a rash that looked like poison oak or sumac, which I thought was what I had.
When we got home from camping the rash started to get angry and moved around to/from different parts of my body. This was when I knew it was tx-related.
My doc prescribed steroid cream. At first they prescribed 8 oz. tubes when in reality I needed a hand pump because it spread from my shoulders down my back, buttocks and back of my legs. Odd but never on my face.
After 2 weeks of constant steroid cream and absolute sun avoidance, the rash went away. For the rest of last summer I stayed out of the sun as much as possible, mowed grass and gardened in the early AM or late afternoon with UV long sleeve shirts/pants/hat.
My question is about this summer. I stopped taking VX950 about mid-July of 2007. Does anyone have data about how long the photosensitivity will last? Will I experience photosensitivity this summer, which we are planning a beach vacation?
I've not seen any information on the subject.
Thanks,
miked
I am being careful - thanks for your concern. Actually that's why I try to get a base tan in the first place...because I don't want to burn. I know it would be better if I just stayed out of the sun altogether, but I don't want to be stuck inside. So far so good!
I also had a rash starting on my back around week 3 which then moved to my chest, arms and legs. It's mostly cleared up but I still have some itchiness...mainly on my arms. I started using steroid cream but my Dr. actually advised against using it. She was concerned about the steroid being absorbed into the bloodstream, so I basically just used moisturizer and drank lots of water. The occasional antihistamine helped also. Obviously my rash is nothing compared to others around here, so I consider myself very lucky.
I'm off the vertex now, but I still have 12 weeks of SOC to go. My first round of tx was 48 weeks of SOC, and I relapsed at 11 weeks post. So I'm a little concerned that this round of treatment won't be long enough.
Since your last vertex pills were 38 weeks ago, I don't think you have to worry about photo-sensitivity related to that! I don't believe the vertex stays in the system as long as the standard meds (at least from what I've read).
Good luck with your skin and have a great trip!
I also had a rash starting on my back around week 3 which then moved to my chest, arms and legs. It's mostly cleared up but I still have some itchiness...mainly on my arms. I started using steroid cream but my Dr. actually advised against using it. She was concerned about the steroid being absorbed into the bloodstream, so I basically just used moisturizer and drank lots of water. The occasional antihistamine helped also. Obviously my rash is nothing compared to others around here, so I consider myself very lucky.
I'm off the vertex now, but I still have 12 weeks of SOC to go. My first round of tx was 48 weeks of SOC, and I relapsed at 11 weeks post. So I'm a little concerned that this round of treatment won't be long enough.
Since your last vertex pills were 38 weeks ago, I don't think you have to worry about photo-sensitivity related to that! I don't believe the vertex stays in the system as long as the standard meds (at least from what I've read).
Good luck with your skin and have a great trip!
Thanks for your comments.
Seriously, be cautious with the tanning and sun with VX950 inside your skin.
Everyone's different, right? For my first two months of VX950 I was OK gardening, mowing, fishing,swimming in a pair of shorts no shirt. One day I got this rash starting on my arms then appeared on my shoulders to my heels. It was really angry but calmed down after 2-3 weeks of constant steroid cream.
I'm obviously cautious because I'm asking the question at approximately 38 weeks after taking my last dose of VX950. I don't want the rash back.
When you take your last two VX950 pills, are you then off of tx altogether or continue with SOC for 12-24 weeks? Also were you taking Ribivirin with the VX950?
Enjoy Mexico. We're looking at Cabo and some places in the Caribbean.
Seriously, be cautious with the tanning and sun with VX950 inside your skin.
Everyone's different, right? For my first two months of VX950 I was OK gardening, mowing, fishing,swimming in a pair of shorts no shirt. One day I got this rash starting on my arms then appeared on my shoulders to my heels. It was really angry but calmed down after 2-3 weeks of constant steroid cream.
I'm obviously cautious because I'm asking the question at approximately 38 weeks after taking my last dose of VX950. I don't want the rash back.
When you take your last two VX950 pills, are you then off of tx altogether or continue with SOC for 12-24 weeks? Also were you taking Ribivirin with the VX950?
Enjoy Mexico. We're looking at Cabo and some places in the Caribbean.
I don't have any data on the photo-sensitivity of the telaprevir, however I have been taking it for the past 12 weeks (I take my last 2 pills in an hour!!!). During this time I've been having an extremely itchy rash (which did NOT occur during my standard tx) - but it has subsided greatly (I felt more normal by around week 10). I'm still a little itchy, but I just started tanning last week to get ready for a trip to Mexico (yes I know its bad for me!) I'm fine so far. I also took a couple of trips to the Carribean while on SOC - even though the ribavirin alone can cause photo-sensitivity...I just eased into it so I wouldn't burn. Don't stay in the sun too long and use plenty of sunscreen. I would imagine that since you've been off the meds completely, the photo sensitivity won't be an issue, but that's just my opinion. I guess there's only anecdotal data on that subject.
(And you may not give a fig about the opinion of someone who visits a tanning salon while on triple-therapy - LOL!) Have fun at the beach...I know I will!
(And you may not give a fig about the opinion of someone who visits a tanning salon while on triple-therapy - LOL!) Have fun at the beach...I know I will!
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