Rapid Heart Beat Question and Triple Therapy (Incivek) Experience Shared

I have one question and thought I would share my history and current experience with the triple therapy (Incivek, Interferon, and Ribavirin).

I have been having rapid heart beat, and when I bend down or walk up a hill or stairs I get light-headed and my heart feels like it's beating fast. I gave these symptoms to my doctor, but he didn't believe that my lab results warranted any action at this time for those symptoms. Has anyone had similar symptoms? If so, how were your symptoms addressed?

In approximately 1997 I was diagnosed with HCV Genotype 1b. I started my first treatment (Interferon and Ribavirin) in 1998 and continued for a year, but it was unsuccessful. I started a second unsuccessful treatment a couple of years later. My latest biopsy in 2011 indicated stage 3 fibrosis. On 7/8/11 (six weeks ago), I started the triple therapy with Incivek. On the best note, the virus was non-detected in both the qualitative and quantitative tests after two weeks of treatment. Considering, I was a previous non-responder (and never cleared the virus), this was fantastic news.

The side effects that I have experienced (although note that many side effects have diminished somewhat as time progressed):
- Rash covering feet, legs, trunk, and arms (see picture for reference). Although the rash has gone away in some places and diminishing in most areas.
- Sensitive Skin (especially in areas without appearance of rash) where any brush of the skin would cause itchiness and slight pain. Antihistamines helped, but caused more dehydration, so I discontinued its use. Placing ice packs on the sensitive areas, staying cool, and wearing loose soft clothing helped. The itchiness pinnacled two weeks ago, but in the last three days has subsided to more manageable. However, I working from home part-time for a few more weeks due to these symptoms. I'm hoping for continued diminished symptoms.
- Tiredness and Fatigue. These symptoms were noticeable in the first week and within the last week when the heart beat changes occurred.
- Anal Itching and Pain. These symptoms have almost disappeared without use of steroids, although I'm not recommending that course - see your doctor if you have these symptoms.
- Nausea. Nausea diminished after two weeks with occassional recurrences. Eating enough (especially in between the 8 hour medication intervals) helped the nausea (even though it was fun eating while feeling nauseous).
- Heart Beat Rate Increase and Dizziness. This is a new symptom occurring in the last week. My blood levels are going down, but not to a point that my doctor was concerned.
- Warm Skin and Chills. Drinking enough water (and sometimes an electrolyte) and eating enough helped most of the time. I also kept a fan at work to help stay cool, and wearing comfortable clothing. I was taking an antihistamine to help with the itching, but the antihistamine cause more dehydration, so the these symptoms were elevated. I have since quit taking the antihistamine, and the symptoms are more manageable.

After all of my experiences with these treatments, drinking the recommended amount of water is vital to feeling better, and eating enough will help with feeling better (even when nausea strikes).  

[working dog]

what week are you into tx??....i get different sx from the riba then i do from the incivek..the reason i know this is i had to stop the riba for almost 2 weeks so many sx went away...the itching and rash seem tobe from the incivek...thoughs sx started more after the 6 th week...now i'm back on the riba...had to take procrit to bring up my hgb...a week ago i couldn't walk up stars without feeling like i might have a heart attack...i would get your hemo checked asap...it takes a couple weeks for the procrit to work....good luck....billy

[serendipity379]

Thank you for the advice and information Billy. I've just started my 7th week of tx. Best wishes to you during your treatment.

[Resilient_Mimi]

Im on triple tx's and IM SUPER DIZZY!!! My MD gave me some Meclizine and it is helping.  Im a little short of breath, Im not sure if it is due to the fatigue or not, but when Im short of breath I have noticed the increased heart rate, which makes since to me.  I have the rash more around my joints, elbows, knees, ankles, and the creases of my legs.  I too am beating like a drum..lol

[Junebug812]

I too had a rapid heartbeat while on Riba and Peg. In fact, it got pretty worrisome. My heart would beat fast even while just lying down. My GP had me do a stress test and all was fine. He chalked it up to the tx. My hgb dropped a lot in a short time. I was given Procrit. After that, the fast heartbeat was no longer a problem.

Good luck!

June

[working dog]

i just love that procrit!!!  i feel so much better....it does wonders.....billy

[nygirl7]

I dont know why at this point most people don't realize to check their hemoglobin to see if is is the anemia from the riba?  We know that is a common side effect and we know the rash from the Incivek is one of the big problems of adding the triple.........how can doctors not know this let alone patients?

These doctors really need to be trainned better before they start prescribing meds without knowing what the exact sides are.

[willbb]

serendipity& resililent mimi:

The above symptoms you describe are usually signs that you are  starting to become anemic:
Good luck
Will

http://www.ithyroid.com/anemia.htm

SYMPTOMS OF ANEMIA

The symptoms of anemia are: rapid heart beat, dizziness upon standing, reduced capacity to exercise, reduced endurance, elevated heart rate when exercising and failure of the heart to return to a normal rate in a reasonable time upon exercise cessation, low physical energy, low mental energy ("brain fog"), feeling of unease which is alleviated by a period of breathing deeply, inability to fall asleep or to sleep well (insomnia), waking up gasping for breath, and an increase of all these symptoms when traveling to a higher altitude

[serendipity379]

I appreciate everyone's comments. That is what I had suspected. My doctor reordered my blood work today, and yes the Hb dropped three points very quickly from my last results. He is reducing my riba and giving me procrit.

To nygirl7 - my doctor had checked my blood, and I had asked if my symptoms were anemia-related, but from the time the lab was completed to my appointment (in one week), my Hb dropped three points. Timing is everything. Best regards.

[serendipity379]

First, I love the word "resilient" - especially now - it's a mantra, lol.

I recommend asking your doctor to check your hemoglobin. I received my results the same day.

Best wishes

[cici814]

I am starting Incivek/Ribavirin/Interferon this Friday. I have taken treatment twice before once in 1998 and agaian in 2006. My viral load has increased and my gastro doc suggested I begin the new therapy. I am very anxious mainly about the Incivek, since I have never taken it and the side effects  that may occur are ver scary to me. Do any of you have tips during therapy to help me?