sovaldi and hep c treatment

[ann16719]

Hi, My doc says as soon as solvaldi is approved for payment by our gov't, I'm to retreat on it and interferon and ribavarin.  I have treated several times over the years with the worst one last year when on victrellis and the rest.  I ended up in hospital delusional from the meds for 9 days at the beg of the 10th month.  

I dread having to go back on interferon and ribavarin, but doc says I must as I have stage 3 cirroshsis, and genotype 1a and that I can't afford to wait for ABT-450 as it may take 3-5 years to be approved by FDA and gov't for payment.  I wish I could wait.

Has anyone started solvaldi yet?

Thanks!

[ann16719]

Good luck on ur treatment.  I'm very encouraged by ur results!  Pls keep me posted :)

[cooderbrown]

I started sovaldi, rib, and pegasys april 12 Iam geno type 1b, after 4 wk viral load I was undetected iam in week 8, great so far its working not many side effects platlets a little low white blood cell count a little low, but dr. says its okay go for it , this is my 3rd treatment in 15 yrs this is the only one that is working. good luck I pray for you keep me posted.

[printze]

Yes Canada approved Sovaldi but not our provincial government that is where the problem lies for all of u

[ppmguy]

      i understand,  canada has been approving sovaldi and galexos for geno 1 interferon intolerant, or in a unique population. sovaldi was approved in canada a couple months after the US.  hope fully they will follow suit with sov/ledi

[wtbleep]

My specialist has also told me that any tx I do this year will involve interferon because of my gt1a and the fact that I relapsed.  I too had a very difficult time on triple tx in a clinical trial and am currently on LTD.  I am dreading a second round even if it is only 12 weeks.  My fibroscan reads F2-3 so I am told I have time to wait but it is not as accurate in the middle ranges.  Here in BC there are alot of us infected so I trust that we will get better tx's covered by pharmacare at some point.

[printze]

I know in the U.S you will have the new combo sofo/ledipasvir I believe by December, we will not have them here in Canada until maybe sometime late 2015. We are still struggling with Sovaldi approval. The new treatments are all for approval in the U.S. and probably Europe .We don't have options up here .

[nan535]

As I wrote in my first post, according to the guidelines, you do not have to take interferon. Since you previously failed treatment you can do Sovaldi + Ribavirin for 24 weeks.

My husband is ineligible for interferon because he has symptoms of decompensation (specifically hepatic encephalopathy).   Given your hospitalization with symptoms of delusions the last time you were treated, there would be no way I would take interferon again.

My thoughts - your decision, of course.

Nan

[ann16719]

I never heard of that combo, I just read up on it, and the doc didn`t go into any of this with me.  I`ve had issues with her in the past.  I`m going to write all this down and take it in with me for a second opinion.  Esp since I ended up in the hospital last time--out of my mind, being found sitting on a snow bank in my pj`s, by my son not knowing where I was.  Sorry for the mulitple posts.  I read what you write, check it out and respond.  I was severely anemic throughout the 10 months last time.  A friend with hep c too, told her spec about me and he thought it was ridiculous that they keep putting me on interferon.  Will follow all of this up.  Thanks

[ann16719]

Yes you`re right.  The non interferon drug, my doc says will be 3-5 years.  I`m seeing my family doc for a referral for a second opinion.  But everything I`ve read says triple therapy is needed.

[ann16719]

Correction:

I have level 3 the stage before cirroshis and I`m in Canada.

[ppmguy]

       you said you have stage3 cirrhosis.  or is it a typo.  if it is stage 3 fibrosis, i would wait a feww months for sovaldi + ledipasvir.  you dont have to use int/rib

[printze]

I  live in Quebec and have been waiting 3 yrs for oral treatment . I am gt1a F2 - unfortunately here in Canada it is much harder to get these drugs . Forget about our government , they still follow and will pay only for the older treatments . If you have a good doctor and good insurance you might be able to get Sovaldi & Olysio if you are lucky . In the U.S they will have more options available to them by year's end , but don't count on it here for a few more years.My doctor said he wants me to do 24 weeks of Sovaldi & Ribavarin , he says I am not a good candidate for interferon which I don't want to do . My chances of curing are not great with 24 weeks 70% chance . It is very depressing knowing we are still so far off from getting the same drugs approved as our friends in the U.S. unless you have the cash obviously you could get them . I read Friday Health Canada is giving Abbvie oral treatment priority approval , let's see how many years that will take . I  will be dead from this disease by then . Good luck.

[ann16719]

Hi, I will get a second opinion.  Thanks

[ann16719]

Hi, I'm happy for your hubby!  I have to also take interferon.  How come your hubby doesn't?  Did he do the awful vitrellis?  How does this regime compare?  Thanks

[ann16719]

Hi, I checked out your link and it confirms what my specialist told me.  Hopefully the side effects are better than the awful vitrellis! Thanks

[ppmguy]

         print the article.  because of your failed txs and advanced liver damage, you will most likely qualify for olysio +sovaldi.  im confused by your drs recommendation.   2nd opinion wouldnt hurt.

[ann16719]

Thanks for your comments.  Doc says I must treat with solvaldi and interferon/peg.  I'm at Mt Sinai hospital.  I wonder if I should get a second opinion?

[ppmguy]

         your dr should read this link very carefully;

                hcvguidelines.org/full-report-view

        this link will show your dr, appropriate retreatments (olysio+sovaldi)

        sovaldi/ ledipasvir will be available by year end.

         you do need to treat, but not with int/riba

[nan535]

    I want to add to my previous post that all his labwork shows great improvement over the course of these 15 weeks. His most recent billirubin is now at 0.9 from a high of 3.3 before treatment. His ALT and AST are also now both in the normal range. Most important is the virus is undetected allowing his liver to begin healing itself as evidenced by the labwork improvement.  This is not the ideal treatment for him so we're not sure if he will reach SVR or not, but in the meantime, the progression of his liver damage has been stopped. This will give him more time for a better treatment down the road if need be.

Nan

[nan535]

http://www.hcvguidelines.org/full-report/retreatment-box-recommendations-patients-whom-previous-treatment-has-failed

According to this American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases report, an alternative treatment for Geno 1a is Sovaldi + Ribavirin for 24 weeks.
That is what my husband is on right now (Week 15).

He too would have preferred a ribavirin-free treatment but it is an easier treatment for him than the interferon/ribavirin treatment would have been. He is ineligible for interferon as he has symptoms of decompensation.

You may want to consider the interferon-free treatment.

Good luck.
Nan