stopping tx.

Anybody have any experience with stopping tx. after the 3rd. shot because the sides were just too bad?
  

[HCA]

There's only one experience-you are back where you started.
At your age with geno 1 and stage 2 fibrosis you don't want to quit.
I can tell you from personal experience that the side effects with a protease inhibitor added are significantly worse.
You should tough it out until your twelve week test and see how your viral load has reduced.
If the side effects are terrible just surrender to them ,stay in bed and  maintain your nutrition..
If you quit you quit,but then what?

[Bill1954]

I agree with HCA; unless of course you have issues with blood values that cannot be reconciled with drug intervention or other means. Can you be more specific about the reasons for treatment discontinuation? Is this something your doctor requested? He should be able to provide reasons behind his decision—

Bill

[slamprecht1207]

The sides were unbearable. My migraines increased with intensity and the nausea and vomiting was so severe. I was placed on anti-nausea and pain killers,however they were not strong enough. Just an awful experience.

[HCA]

Sounds like you have ceased treatment.
I can't judge you because I don't have migraines and everyone has a tolerance threshold.
You are going to need a new treatment plan though and a second opinion might be a good idea.
Nausea and migraine should be manageable in these modern times.
I should add that nausea is a major side effect of telaprevir and it troubled me greatly,so you will need to get everything in plkace before you try again.

[Bill1954]

I see. What has your doctor discussed with you as an alternative? Any thoughts on this? So sorry to hear it was an untenable situation… interferon can be very difficult for some patients. There are new drugs currently in clinical trial that might reduce the exposure to interferon, but they’ll initially require both IFN and ribavirin.

Perhaps 5-10 years from now, combinations of protease and polymerase inhibitors will be available without the IFN. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor, and continue to stay in the loop as far as health care is concerned. Remain alcohol free, and try to live as healthily as possible; maybe you won’t experience further progression at this point?

Bill

[annieCinMD]

Check out this thread: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Dragonslayer45s-R7128-3-month--post-results/show/1027822
Near the end, he directs a response to me, and says the polymerase inhibitors have no sides. Maybe it will give you some hope. I feel for you. I had an awful time with tx. I quit after 28 weeks, but I did complete the protease inhibitor part of the treatment. I couldn't see doing another 5 months of peg when it didn't work very well for me in the first place. The stuff about knocked my neutrophils down to nothing, and the first week and half off all that stuff I was awake most of the time. I do think the protease inhibitors add to the sides. I had major problems the whole time I was on the trial drugs, but they did clear me quickly and hopefully, I will stay that way. Good luck to you. Good advice from Bill about living clean.