At least this is a step in the right direction, to be doing a clinical trial measuring the effectiveness of serum concentration, which is reputed to be a more effective measure of appropriate ribavirin dosage than weight-based. Exciting to see this.
hrsepwrguy - I note you're allowed rescue drugs like neupogen and procrit so that's a good thing also. Good luck with your trial!
Trish
no worries my friend, you will be in good hands.
dointime - i agree with you. wouldn't it be nice be be able to titrate dose based upon serum concentration? Unfortunately it's all about economics. Routine tests would need government approval. government approval requires studies.
Thanks for informative and encourging post, makes me feel alot better about what I am doing.
dointime-I will definitly try to find out the answers to the questions you have and relate that info back to you if possible.
I'd be really interested to know how they measure the concentration and - more specifically - what in the devil is so difficult about it that we cannot get this test from Quest / Labcorp as part of our routine tx monitoring? Would you be able to ask about that?
Good luck to you,
dointime
here is another ribavirin concentration study published in 2008 and the forum's comments on the study. this study did not include telaprivir.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/-can-anyone-explain-this/show/566352
looks to me like if they get close to 5000ng you will have an excellent chance at SVR, assuming you are in the the concentration controlled arm. i think this is far superior to weight based ribavirin. good luck and keep us informed.
Actually I'm hoping for the controll arm but it is not just dose decrease but increase as well depending on plasma exposer. I am not sure exactly what number they are looking for yet but will keep everyone posted as I go.
I wouldn't let anyone under dose me I dont care what, since the drugs do not work stand alone it seems awful risky. If anything make sure you are getting extra.....
Not sure but this one includes incivek
Why are they doing this this was already proven a few years ago that weight based is imperative?