Update on Tx Problems

Went back to the DR,s the NP put me on a drug called (amantadine) she said they are using it in some clinical studies with good results. She said another lady, their treating with same pain as I have has been feeling better since she gave her this med.

They did drop my riba by one pill,I am supposed to take 5 a day for two weeks.She said it shouldnt make a difference since Im past my 12 week,Im on 21/48 this friday.

I have been having palpations (spelling?)just a few.I was supposed to have a stress test right before tx because something on my ekg made my primary doc want to do one. I was so tired after the neck surgery I canceled it.They sent the ekg results to my GP office and they want me to do a chemical stress test next week.

Has anyone ever taking the drug amantadine before are had that kind of stress test? Will it really not matter about the riba?

I hope all are doing well. Debra

[layla]

I also had palpitaions about the same time as you. For me it ended up being the start of becoming hyperthyroid which led to hypothyroid. It did go on for quit a few months. People say different thing regarding riba. Some say it is ok to lower it since it works better in the beginning of tx and others feel the more the longer the better. I'm in the latter half but agree it's work is most important in the beginning.  If your weight is low that helps too. Your doc sounds like she is staying on top of things. Hope you feel better with the new med. LL

[annainitaly]

from medhelp hepatitis forum archives:

[cornsqueezer]

Thanks for your comments they make me feel better. I knew this tx would probley be hard on me just going through two surgerys right before starting tx. I had symptoms of hep c before I was dx also.

But with the stage I'm in and everything being paid 100%, except Rx till the new year I decieded to start. I was hoping after the gallblader (gallbladder) & biospy surgery,I would have time to get in better shape then the neck thing happened. The stress test is chemicaly indused because Im to weak for a normal one.Im sorry about the spelling  they have me on so many meds its a wonder I can think at all.
Maybe TnHepGuy will come along I havent seen him for awhile.
Any way thanks again for caring.I will make it through this.
Debra

[MajNeni]

1000 mg of ribavirin is still a lot.  My dose was 1200 mg.  I was ordered to reduce ribavirin, due to anemia, including ~16 days off around weeks 24-26; then continued at 600 - 800 mg. for several months.  On my own, and on GIPA's advice, I went up to 1000 for the last 6/48 weeks. I was 1B with high VL; I cleared.

Amantadine may help, won't do any harm, and does not seem to have any significant side effects.  It's been under study for over a decade.

Debra, I hope your troubles will get less difficult as the time in tx goes by.  Maj Neni

[Galen]

I did 48 weeks of Peg-Intron with 800 mg of Riba per day.  I cleared at 12 weeks and am still clear more than one year post-tx so don't worry too much.  I know that with Peg-Intron the riba is weight based.  I weighed 125# going in.  Hope this helps.