Stopping treatment week 18/24

[grammajen]

I have Hep C type 2 and am on pegetron treatment.  Side effects were tolerable until about 4 weeks ago when they became progressively more than my poor body could take.  I decided to stop treatment.  Where I live, they do not test until after week 24 of treatment so I don't know if the virus has cleared yet.    I started to feel better within 24 hours.  My question is:  Has anyone else with Type 2 stopped treatment early and cleared the virus?  I saw in a previous thread that lots of people cleared the virus early.

[grammajen]

thanks pigeonca and meki.  My blood work which is done every second week shows a positive response to the treatment.  My hemoglobin level has improved and my alt and ast have come back to normal range from 3 times normal when I started treatment,  

I tested positive for autoimmune disorder Lupus but had never had any symptoms prior to starting treatment.  I do not know if my intolerable side effects that caused me to stop treatment were autoimmune reactions.  Hopefully the doctor can answer my questions when I see him this week.  

pigeonca - I hope with you that you will continue to be UND.

[grammajen]

I don't know why I was given Pegetron.  In the area where I live (BC, Canada), my 24 week treatment is paid for by FairPharmacare so maybe that is why.  Pegetron is combination Peg-interferon alpha 2b and Riba 1000 mg.  

[Lilla]

I am a Geno 2b treating for 24 weeks with Peg-interferon alpha 2a and Riba 800 mg.   I just did shot #23.   I had to find a new doctor at week 4 into treatment.  My VL test was 1.8 million pretreating;  at week #3 I had another test and it showed 135 (over a 4 log drop) - got new doctor and at week 8 they tested and it showed UND <5 IU/ml.    My new doctor believes that if I'd had the viral load test done at week 4, it would have showed UND.

Why were you given Peg-intron?  I am female/age 55/weight pre treating at 127.  I've always wondered why Pegasys for some and peg-intron others.  I probably have read why in the past 23 weeks, but on occasion my memory eludes me.

[pigeonca]

Like you I'm a genotype 2 and was pulled from tx after only 13 weeks because of intolerable sides (autoimmune reaction).  But I was UND at week 4, still UND 4 weeks after stopping, and hopefully will remain UND.  It's a pity you don't have early info on your response, but the majority of genotype 2's do become UND at week 4, and about 80% can treat for 12 weeks of Peg-Intron or 16 of Pegasys and still make it.  I bet you'll be one of them.  As for me, I go for my 4 month blood tests (that's 4 months after stopping) next week and will know more after my doc appt. on 7/27.  I'll keep you posted.  To your health....

[meki]

They continue treatment as a SOC (Standard of Care).

Several reasons:

1. Some people respond and go UND early - only to have the virus re-emerge immediately after stopping treatment.

2. Some people never respond to tx.

3. Some people go UND early - and stay UND (meaning SVR).

4. Some people take the entire TX plus some to become UND.


Each person reacts differently. So a SOC - for the best possible chances on TX was created for specific genotypes or previous treatments. Following that SOC (1a - gets 48 weeks minimum - 3a gets 24 weeks, etc.) the patient has the best chance of clearing the virus.

You may be #3. I'm crossing my fingers for you - cause I know it would be AWESOME.

Good Luck talking to your docs. I wouldn't have stood it if my docs didn't talk to me within 24 hours. It's my body - I'm paying the bills and paying the side effects. I'm pretty in your face when it comes to my health with my docs. LOL!

Nicely - of course - but it's my body - and if I am scared - or if I am worried or know something is wrong - I'm all over it now.

Meki

[grammajen]

I tried to talk to my Hep doctor but couldn't get in to see him until this Wednesday.  I talked to the Hep Service nurse and my family doctor but went ahead and stopped last Wednesday.  C'est la vie.  I am open to completing treatment if possible so will discuss my options with the specialist this week.  In the insert with the medications regarding dosage modifications it says, "In general, the dosage may be adjusted according to the patient's tolerance to the medication.  If severe adverse reactions or laboratory abnormalities develop during the course of treatment, the dosage should be modified or therapy should be temporarily discontinued until the adverse reactions abate.  If persistent or recurrent intolerance develops despite adequate dosage adjustment, or if the disease progresses rapidly, treatment with PEGETRON should be discontinued,"  

Where I live, they do not test until after the end of treatment at week 24 so I do not know if the virus has cleared yet.  In places where they do the tests and find out people have cleared the virus early, why do they continue treatment if the virus is undetected?

Thanks for your hugs.  I will post after talking to the doctor.  

[meki]

Wishing you the best - either way.

The SX are awful sometimes. Sometimes we can hang in there some times we can't. This is sometimes the cure that is worse than the disease.

But - there have been a lot of people with HCV that cleared and went UND and on to SVR within early.

Genotypes 1a usually need longer treatment than 2a/b and 3a.

Some folks are early responders. If you are 2 a - chances are fairly decent at 18 of 24 weeks.  And once you stop - you can't just start where you leave off. I hope you talked to your doctor or hep doc.

So my fingers are crossed for you - and gaining SVR.

Hugs,

Meki