Treatment

[Datura417]

I start my treatment next week. Have to take 2 capsules of Ribasphere 200 mg daily and 1 shot of  Pegasys Pro Click 180 mcg/ 0.5 mil weekly for 24 weeks . Have to have blood work done  monthly to monitor my platelet count. Last blood work they were at 33,000 but they have been up and down since 07 when I was diagnosed with ITP.

I  would like some advice on what to expect with side effects. I know depression is one of them and they have already started me on Celexa they also said nausea is common.  Is there anything  you recommend  for nausea ?
I know water is important but I would like any advice you can give me, Thanks so much

[BigDaddy_59]

I too have low platelets and had to stop a previous attempt at this because the interferon (the old un-pegylated kind called Infergen - 3x/week) drop my platelets down to 6. My hepatologist said no more tx for me unless something new came along.
Then eltrombopag (brand name Promacta) came out for ITP and they tried using it off-label for Hep C (low platelets are common for Hep C patients) and they put me on it. You need to ask your doctor about it! Hopefully they are a hepatologist and know what they are talking about...
As for the nausea, it is a common side effect with the protease inhibitors(combined withe the peg/riba), but it looks like you are only on the Peg and Riba? Nausea wasn't too bad the 2 tx's I did with the double, but if you are actually on the triple, Zofran is the stuff!
Datura hmmm, make sure you stay away from that because that's the psychoactive ingredient in jimson weed (loco weed) and it turns your greymatter to jelly  :o)
Good luck!
Chris

[cheflady]

hi and welcome and well done for deciding to have treatment.Sx different for everybody but it is sound advice to have jab at night it really does help if you lose your appetite at some point (and most do) try to have some protein shakes they really helped my hubby take each day as it comes fatigue worse for hubby but try to get a bit of fresh air each day and stay positive. I wish you all the best and keep us posted

[nzkiwilife]

Hi and welcome to the board. My advice would be #1; to make sure you drink heaps of water - about a gallon a day! It may sound a lot but I really feel it keeps most of the side effects at bay and will help the nausea. #2; eat nutritious food. Tx is very very hard on your body so you need to feed it properly to give it every chance to handle all the sx and stay strong. Eat a variety of foods and different colours of the rainbow to ensure you eat a good cross section of vitamins and minerals. Keep away from processed and refined foods and sugar drinks.
A lot of people have their injection on Friday night so you can sleep off the worst of the side effects and have the weekend to recover.
Everyone is different though and you never know how you are going to react till you actually start the tx.
All the best to you.

[FlGuy]

You should check with the doc to clarify the amount of riba.  It should be a minimum of 800 mg per day.  If so, that's 2 in the AM and 2 in the PM. Apparently you are geno 2 or 3.  It's important to have the right doses and to stay with the med schedule even if you don't feel like it.  With platelets starting at a low point it might be a good idea to have the labs more frequently than monthly, at least in the beginning.

[mzkity]

Try to get some zofran for the nausea. It's very good. You are correct about the water, keep it with you at all times. Good luck! Kitty