Aa
Sofosbuvir??
Good morning all,
Been on the forum for about two hours this morning now reading all the post that have the word Sofosbuvir in it. It is so much for my brain. I know I have to learn all the lingo but it just fills it up too quickly....(lil brain) LOL! needed that! anyway, I went to the Dr. yesterday for my second opinion on "treatment only" not my diagnosis (know that and understand) As I have stated in my other post, my GI doc hinted on waiting for this "S" pill to come out. The hepatologist also hinted on waiting and wants to see me in 3 months for a follow-up and suggested on doing a MRI in 3 months. I shared my concerns on waiting because I am stage 4 geno 1. He didn't seem concerned about it being that my liver is still compensated. I am trying to follow all the post but too much for me. Bottom line in what I am trying to figure out in simple words:
IS this new drug coming soon?
IS it for Geno 1 (do not know my subtype)
IF i start triple tx with interferon and the "S" pill comes out, can i stop that and start the pill?
I know I am looking for shortcuts to the answers I am seeking. Everyones time is priceless and I do so appreciate all the help and advice. This forum has helped me so much. I just can not grasp all the big words and medical terms.
Thank you everyone and DECLARE YOUR VICTORY TODAY!
Been on the forum for about two hours this morning now reading all the post that have the word Sofosbuvir in it. It is so much for my brain. I know I have to learn all the lingo but it just fills it up too quickly....(lil brain) LOL! needed that! anyway, I went to the Dr. yesterday for my second opinion on "treatment only" not my diagnosis (know that and understand) As I have stated in my other post, my GI doc hinted on waiting for this "S" pill to come out. The hepatologist also hinted on waiting and wants to see me in 3 months for a follow-up and suggested on doing a MRI in 3 months. I shared my concerns on waiting because I am stage 4 geno 1. He didn't seem concerned about it being that my liver is still compensated. I am trying to follow all the post but too much for me. Bottom line in what I am trying to figure out in simple words:
IS this new drug coming soon?
IS it for Geno 1 (do not know my subtype)
IF i start triple tx with interferon and the "S" pill comes out, can i stop that and start the pill?
I know I am looking for shortcuts to the answers I am seeking. Everyones time is priceless and I do so appreciate all the help and advice. This forum has helped me so much. I just can not grasp all the big words and medical terms.
Thank you everyone and DECLARE YOUR VICTORY TODAY!
I agree with Can-do, Hector, and others. The OP is asking about Sofosbuvir (clear in the title). The application for approval was April 8, and Gilead has requested a fast tracked decision. The request for approval for G1s includes treatment with sofosbuvir, Interferon, and Ribavirin, not otherwise. If approved in October 2013 for use as applied for, there will be some lag time for marketing, packaging, treatment guidelines, etc. No way to know for sure, but "probably" 1st half of 2014. Also agree with ID that the experience with the PIs was that the entire process from application for approval, to approval, to actual marketing, packaging, training for docs and NPs and actual availability for prescription was longer than the expedited time frame of 6 months.
Given all of that, those with f-3/f-4 liver damage, have to make the best decision they can with the advice and guidance of an experienced hepatologist in a transplant center.
From what my hubby's hepatologist has told us, people who have Cirrhosis, but are compensated, with careful monitoring from an experienced hepatologist, can stay compensated for a long time, but there is no way to predict the time frame from compensated to decompensated. However, as Hector said, the risk for liver cancer or decompensation increases as more time passes.
I won't comment on the black box warnings on the currently available treatment meds, because they are clear and available for every one to read, and each patient's and each doctor's responsibility to understand and decide if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Advocate1955
Given all of that, those with f-3/f-4 liver damage, have to make the best decision they can with the advice and guidance of an experienced hepatologist in a transplant center.
From what my hubby's hepatologist has told us, people who have Cirrhosis, but are compensated, with careful monitoring from an experienced hepatologist, can stay compensated for a long time, but there is no way to predict the time frame from compensated to decompensated. However, as Hector said, the risk for liver cancer or decompensation increases as more time passes.
I won't comment on the black box warnings on the currently available treatment meds, because they are clear and available for every one to read, and each patient's and each doctor's responsibility to understand and decide if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Advocate1955
The last thing I'm reading tonight; bedtime in T-minus 5 minutes.
A good read from a good man.
I'm thinking of you each day and hoping for good news.
In the meantime, thank you for the wonderful read. Whether we always agree or not we never doubt that the other parties deeply care.
~Willy
A good read from a good man.
I'm thinking of you each day and hoping for good news.
In the meantime, thank you for the wonderful read. Whether we always agree or not we never doubt that the other parties deeply care.
~Willy
The first thing you should do is find a knowledgeable and experienced hepatologist who treats cirrhotics on a daily basis. We are not doctors here and only they with all of your medical records can tell you the risks involved in treating or not treating. Also should you have adverse events from treatment, you will need a doctor to manage them.
Taking medical advice on the Internet when you have cirrhosis is very dangerous as improperly managed and treated cirrhosis can be fatal. Decisions you make should be based on your own medical history and status not general terms which is all we can talk about he.
Is this new drug coming soon?
Gilead has already submitted their treatment for genotypes 1, 4,5,6. If approved treatment will be available probably around 2014.
12 weeks of Sofosbuvir + peg-interferon + ribavirin in treatment naive compensated cirrhotics achieved 80 percent achieved SVR.
(17% of NEUTRENO trial patients had compensated cirrhosis.)
Side effects are minimal compared to current triple therapy especially in cirrhotics. Where anemia, dose reduction, Procrit and transfusion are not uncommon. Also there are issue of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.
Only (2 percent) receiving sofosbuvir in combination with peg-IFN and RBV discontinued treatment due to adverse events.
Is it for Geno 1 (do not know my subtype).
Yes. subtype doesn't matter although 1b's are usually easier to cure.
If I start triple tx with interferon and the "S" pill comes out, can I stop that and start the pill?
No. The treatment is Sofosbuvir + peg-interferon + ribavirin all at once. Sofosbuvir is what drops viral load so quickly not peg-INF.
Realize the risk you are taking by waiting, know one can say when you will decompensate. As long as I had a top notch hepatologist I would take their advice and wait if possible. 12 weeks of the new treatment is more effective than 48 weeks of peg-IFN, Ribavirin and a PI.
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Willy50: I have been on 1,200 RBV and 400 Sofosbuvir for over 34 weeks. No anemia, no platelet drops or neutropenia. Some fatigue is about the only side effect. I couldn't even believe it was working because of no side effects until I saw viral load drop over 4.4 log by 2 weeks. UND since week 2.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good luck to you.
Hector
Taking medical advice on the Internet when you have cirrhosis is very dangerous as improperly managed and treated cirrhosis can be fatal. Decisions you make should be based on your own medical history and status not general terms which is all we can talk about he.
Is this new drug coming soon?
Gilead has already submitted their treatment for genotypes 1, 4,5,6. If approved treatment will be available probably around 2014.
12 weeks of Sofosbuvir + peg-interferon + ribavirin in treatment naive compensated cirrhotics achieved 80 percent achieved SVR.
(17% of NEUTRENO trial patients had compensated cirrhosis.)
Side effects are minimal compared to current triple therapy especially in cirrhotics. Where anemia, dose reduction, Procrit and transfusion are not uncommon. Also there are issue of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.
Only (2 percent) receiving sofosbuvir in combination with peg-IFN and RBV discontinued treatment due to adverse events.
Is it for Geno 1 (do not know my subtype).
Yes. subtype doesn't matter although 1b's are usually easier to cure.
If I start triple tx with interferon and the "S" pill comes out, can I stop that and start the pill?
No. The treatment is Sofosbuvir + peg-interferon + ribavirin all at once. Sofosbuvir is what drops viral load so quickly not peg-INF.
Realize the risk you are taking by waiting, know one can say when you will decompensate. As long as I had a top notch hepatologist I would take their advice and wait if possible. 12 weeks of the new treatment is more effective than 48 weeks of peg-IFN, Ribavirin and a PI.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willy50: I have been on 1,200 RBV and 400 Sofosbuvir for over 34 weeks. No anemia, no platelet drops or neutropenia. Some fatigue is about the only side effect. I couldn't even believe it was working because of no side effects until I saw viral load drop over 4.4 log by 2 weeks. UND since week 2.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good luck to you.
Hector
That would be ironic getting in a wreck going to the trial center.
The riba keeps me sharp. : )
I get up at 2AM and drive 4+ hours to miss the morning traffic rush, get lost in the big city and make it in for my appointment, turn around and drive back. Kind of a long day. Last week I got to see all kinds of Mississippi area flooding.
This is better than when I was planning on living out of state for 6 months, 1200 miles from home. I may only have about 12-13 more trips down. After tomorrow I am on every 2 weeks til 12 week, then 16, 20 & 24, then the EOT draws.
The riba keeps me sharp. : )
I get up at 2AM and drive 4+ hours to miss the morning traffic rush, get lost in the big city and make it in for my appointment, turn around and drive back. Kind of a long day. Last week I got to see all kinds of Mississippi area flooding.
This is better than when I was planning on living out of state for 6 months, 1200 miles from home. I may only have about 12-13 more trips down. After tomorrow I am on every 2 weeks til 12 week, then 16, 20 & 24, then the EOT draws.
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