Update on Promacta (for low PLT)

[hoocbud2]

I've taken six dose of 50mg Promacta SO FAR.  Had blood work today.  My PLT went from 19 to 68 great news for me I can have my breast bx in the morning. . Dr. still won't let me start back on treatment.  He wants to do bx first and make sure all ok there and see PLT up to 100.  If the meds keep working I should be good to go soon.  NOT wanting more sx but want Hep c gone.  I'm having headaches and muscle aches so far.
Debi

[hoocbud2]

I take prevacid too.  I missed 2 days and really noticed the difference. It should help you.  Headaches seem to come and go.

[ccurl]

Day 3 nothing too drastic on my as far as sx, thank goodness!!  I was expecting so many horrible things to start happening but a headache and some indigestion that was it.  Today I am 100%.  Now the eltrombopag I was on for 2 weeks the first 4 days I was nauseated terribly but then I took it before bed and no problems since.  I am taking prevacid since yesterday and hope the indigestion stops.  But I have always had this gerd thing so I guess yes "old injuries" so to speak :)

[hoocbud2]

That great!!! I'm lucky my insurance is paying for mine.  Hope I have the same results with my platelets going up so I can start back on tx.  Do you notice that old injuries seem to act up shortly after you take med.  I hurt my back a year ago and within an hour or two after I take the med my back will start hurting there but it goes away by morning.  

[ccurl]

I am on a study now.  I have ITP (low platelets) and Hep-C.  I have insurance but not anything you could call prescription and was denied when I tried to go with another CareFirst plan, so I found this study.  My platelets went from 21000 to 159000 in 2 weeks.  I am in treatment now but the Eltrombopag could be a placebo, time will tell.  Only 3 days so far.  

[newleaf09]

Wow! I've seen studies for this with hep c but never known anybody who used it.  I could have really used it.  Thanks very much for posting.  What results!

[hoocbud2]

Thanks

[Bill1954]

All very interesting... thanks again for sharing this info. I wish you good luck--

Bill

[hoocbud2]

He did but I also had low PLT before I started treatment.  So I don't know how it was coded.

[FlGuy]

I thought the stuff would be crazy expensive. Cool about the insurance.  I read about the enrollment with GSK. I think the doc has to play along too.

[hoocbud2]

Yes,  If my insurance did not cover this I would not be able to afford it.  The Pharm told me it was $4000 a scrip.  I only pay $25.00 w/insurance. I could not get it in NC we had to go to PA and was required to enroll with GlaxoSmithKline.

[FlGuy]

I guess one more question.  Does you insurance cover the promacta and is it with a diagnosis code of HCV?

[FlGuy]

Thanks for the info on this interesting topic.  One more thing, the headaches and muscle aches - did the doc or the medication guide anticipate those as side effects of the stuff?

[hoocbud2]

It was a hematologist.  I asked him to take a look at the meds from some studies I had read about.

HGB     12.1       11.5

[FlGuy]

I can't discern the HGB (hemoglobin) specifically but based on the hct it's probably about 11.3, down from what might be about 12.1.  From my prior reading about the stuff (eltrompobag - Promacta) it seems to depress hgb.  So, if/when the doc re-starts the treatment meds he may want to keep an eye on it.  By the way, what kind of doc prescribed the Promacta stuff?  Was it the liver doc (gastro or hepatologist) or a blood doc (hematologist)? Or other?

[hoocbud2]

That got kind of mixed up when I posted it LOL
MCH        33.2          33.9
MPV         7.4            8.2
LY%         50.5          39.2
LY#          1.1            1.6

What do you folks thank of the levels

[hoocbud2]

Profile of CBC  
            BEFORE       TODAY                                  BEFORE         TODAY
WBC      2.3<                   4.3                          PLT       19<                  68<                      
RBC       3.64<                 3.37             39.2                                           HCT      36.3                  33.9             10.3>
MCV    100>                    101>                        GRAN%   38.3                        LY#           1.1<            1.6
MCHC    33.3                  33.8                          MON#       0.2<            0.4
RDW      12.1                  12.9                          GRAN#     1.0<            2.3

Bill you probably know what all this means.  I'm not to sure on all of it.  But the Dr.  was pleased.

Debi

[Bill1954]

Thank you for sharing this. Has it had any effect on other blood values to your knowledge? You are the first in this forum to use this drug as far as I know; it’s good to know this is available to HCV patients. It appears it is working as intended; good news!

Good luck with the upcoming biopsy, and keep us informed—

Bill