low dosage

[45yroldcnd]

I have read here that 800 dose of riba is low. I am a 2 geno type male weighing 245 lbs.  My dose is 800 daily and 180 of peg weekly for 24 weeks. Does this sound low or is type 2 normally this dosage. Thank you

[jmjm530]

Standard protocol for geno 2's was 800 mg flat dose regardless of what you weighed. The newer trend, however, is to weight-dose the ribavirin for geno 2's and 3's.

Considering your weight -- and speaking in very general terms without knowing your history or having a medical degree on my wall --  I'd strongly suggest you talk to a liver specialist (hepatologist) about weight-dosing the riba in order to give you the very best chance of SVR.

All the best,

-- Jim

[mremeet]

Yep, according to current standards 800mg is low for your  weight. I weighed 185 at the beginning of my treatment and I was dosed at 1200mg. I think that's the max that's usually prescribed even for heavier patients like yourself. Although I've heard of some heavy patients taking more than that (I think that's "offlabel" though). The odds of SVR-ing are significantly lower with the lower 800mg dose vs 1200mg (for your weight). As long as you can tolerate it (anemia wise) I'd look into getting it bumped up ASAP with your doctor.

[jmjm530]

BTW from memory that would probably be 1600 mg/day of riba for someone who weighed 245 lbs.

[jmjm530]

Sometimes I still get a little riba crazy :) -- make that
1400 mg/day of riba for someone of your weight, but in any event speak to a good liver specialist before doing anything.

-- Jim

[NYgirl]

Geno 2 or not - I would be very leery of only taking 800.  I'm very very thin and I asked the doctor to up me from 800 to 1,000 and he agreed I could.  Too much isn't good but too little could be tragic.

See if you can find a real hep doctor.  More and more doctors are now finding that geno 2s seem to be having a lot more relapse than they first thought and they are starting to treat them like 1s.  No more "lucky" geno BS.

[rochammer]

45yroldcnd

I am geno 2 also dosed at 800 about 160( very lean) at start of treatment the first round of 24 weeks and relapsed. As already suggested 1200 might be more in your dose range at your weight if you don’t become too anemic.  
I am 3 months post after 48 weeks so far clear.

Talk to your doc weigh base for geno 2s is not as important as for 1s but it still helps get you better odds.

Some light reading

http://www.natap.org/2005/AASLD/aasld_59.htm

Rock

[FlGuy]

Weight-based riba dosing is usually in the neighborhood of 13 - 15 mg per kg of weight.  At 245, you're about 111 kilograms. That's in the vicinity of 1400 - 1600 mg, based purely on weight.  Doc guessed that my relapse was partly due to under dosing of riba (other factors too).  Upped from 800 to 1200 this time - geno 3, 85 kg.

[Pdilly]

I am a fellow 2 as well.  I have been on 800 riba daily.  I obained svr at 4 weeks.  I think the weight based may be a good idea but I am not light either.

[ladybug52]

I am a geno 2, female at the same dosage as you are. I weigh about 120 lbs less tho.
Bug

[dj83]

Hmm...I weighed 130 starting tx, now I'm at 105...been taking 1000 mg the whole time.  I'm geno 1b though

[pepelowpost]

When i met with my doc before begining tx he was talkig about 800,then he decided to weigh me 185lbs and uped dosage to 1000.