rash drives me crazy

Question

Hi,
Im 48 year old male,
I have got hep c, type 1.I live in the Netherlands,
where the tripple treatment is still new.
I started my treatment on monday,on thursday i developed a bumpy,itchy rash,on both my forearms.
My doctors say if the rash gets worse they have to stop treatment because they can not accurately treat this rash.From what im reading a lot of people develop this rash, and do NOT have to stop treatment.Does anybody have any advice for me how to deal with this rash.Can i for instance use benedryl?Are there other things i can do?What is the difference between a massive allergic reaction and a ''normal''rash that goes with this treatment?l

Advocate1955 · Answer

Best wishes, and let us know what your doctor decides about Boceprevir.
Advocate1955

Idyllic · Answer

Someone I met the first time I treated who did not clear the virus either was taken of Telaprevir on day 3. It not only made him sick, the rash progressed rapidly even though it was being aggressively managed. He was a prior partial responder, stage 3 and not ready to give up so he waited (I can't remember how long - I am thinking it was two weeks but I can't remember) & started Boceprevir.

He remained on the Peg and Riba and transferred his care to a Hepatologist. He recently finished with 48 weeks his three month EOT labs are right around the corner. He is Geno 1b, Mexican American and his Diabetes and a rather sizable spider angioma (on his face and neck that had been there since I have known him) both cleared up during treatment. He needed Procrit, Neupogen and a few other meds fairly early and his platelets and liver enzymes fluctuated throughout treatment. 

This is an anecdotal account of someone who felt the odds were stacked against him and took a calculated risk. I was reluctant to encourage him since I did not really understand the nuances of resistance. I'm not sure anyone really ever has the right words when a choice like this has to be made. I only know things would likely be very different right now if he stuck with his other doctor.

I wish you the best of luck and hop you keep us posted.

didithesheep · Answer

I have beentaken of the incivo.
The rash developed to quick and to agressive.
Im still on riba and interferon, and my doctor is looking if its possible for me to go on with boceprevir.I still have a severe rash,but i think this is from the riba.
Specialy the palms of my hands are bad.
i have to say this is a great site.
its such a relieve to see that your not alone with your problems and fears.
thanks for all the reactions,guys and girls!!

didithesheep · Answer

thanks for the answer,mate.

coeric · Answer

i was told to pay attention to the salivary glands in my mouth.  if the glands became swollen and inflamed , i was told to immediately contact the hepatology doc on-call and the clinic.

also the docs monitored the neutrophil counts for systemic inflammatory response.

coeric · Answer

welcome to the board. lots of really great suggestions from the community.

i experienced the incevik rash. at week 9 i was prescribed clobetasol, a steroid cream  -  http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/archives/fdaDrugInfo.cfm?archiveid=994
at week 10 i was pulled off of incevik.  
at week 11 i was prescribed prednisone and stayed on it for 5 weeks.  
i posted photos of the rash on my profile.

Advocate1955 · Answer

I replied to your other post about the rash.
Advocate1955

Kranig · Answer

Use a lot of teatreeoil, ot bodylotion with teatree, you buy it in healthstores.
te koop bij gezondheidswinkels

working dog · Answer

don't use dryer sheets..rinse cloths well...try maybe dove soap...drink lots of water....my rash was really bad...felt like i was laying down in fiberglass...i tried stuff but nothing would help...if you look up incivek rash mine was serious but i kept doing the tx...wear cotton..no polyester...maybe use silk sheets...try to take quick showers with cool water...no hot showers....keep your house or bedrooms humidity up....do cbcs at least once a week to keep track of your blood work...try to hang in there...the goal is to get through tx and svr...make sure you don't miss a dose of incivek...i used a pill organizer and also bought a bottle with a big mouth to get lots of water down fast....cut your nails! my rash was a little better after the incivek but was still bad throughout tx..covering most of my body....maybe post your blood work and ask questions here for help as tx moves on...i wouldn't jump at stopping tx unless ...thats something i liked about my doctors office they really worked on keeping me on tx and i did beat hep c with the triple incivek tx....good luck.....billy

PJ1966 · Answer

You don't have to stop treatment unless it develops into a horrid mess. I had bumps and itched constantly untill the doctor gave me fluocinonide cream to apply (works like a charm). It really helped control it. He also gave me hydroxyzine hcl 25 mg which reduces the itch and allows you to sleep. Knocks me out but works well and gives you complete rest from the annoying itch. You've got to get something for the rash right away before it gets too serious. Before the doctor prescribed me these items, I used cortizone 10 spray and it helped somewhat, but when it got worst, I told doctor about it and he said I have to use this cream often to control it. I'm on week 14 now and done with incivek, but the rash is still there. It is reduced somewhat but the doctor told me it might take a few weeks after stopping incivek for it to go away. Good luck on getting help. I've seen pictures of someone who had a rash so bad it was all over his body and huge red open sores. That looked like an allergy, but the bumps/itch are pretty common for most of us.