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Avatar universal

told to stop interferon

Had cbc today.  wbc 1.8
                        anc  .8
                        hgb  9.2
                        plt    40

My GP called my hep dr. and he said to stop the interferon and have cbc next week.  In my opinion, I think we should be discussing reduction in dosage, not stopping.  But I have had this sort of issue with my dr. in the past....

What do you guys think?

Jean
75 Responses
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Avatar universal
My platelets dropped to 25 platelets  at week 4 my hgb was at 10.8 I was put on procrit and by week 8 my platelets jumped to 85 platelets my hgb dropped to 10.4. My doctor said that some doctors would have stopped my treatment. I told him I knew he wouldn't....:)

I started with only 60 platelets so 85 was pretty good to see. Week 12 results coming soon. Can't wait to see results, but I've finished the 12 week incivek. Happy to have made it to that point.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
We are not doctors, but my ANC has hovered around 400 during most of my 17 weeks,  docs told me to skip one shot last week I ignored.  Lot's of proof that ANC can safely get down to 325,  my experience is that most GI's are clueless on treating Hep C.   I personally would NOT stop treatment.  I have a close friend battling leukemia, her ANC is regularly around 400 and they don't even give her neupogen!  
Helpful - 0
190885 tn?1333025891
sometimes i think the doctors have to do whats legal...i would keep on tx...your blood work sounds ok to me...if you feel fine why stop???..thats what i think....billy
Helpful - 0
1654177 tn?1319838494
What do I do? My doctor is on vacation, and the on call doctor says to NOT DO my injection #3 tonight and stop taking Riba. My white blood cell count is 400, or 2.5, not really sure what the difference is, but it is low, and I am at risk for infection, basially have a low immune system. Anyway, I have my injection and Riba on hand, and I can either take it through the weekend, or stopp all TX and go to see my specialist on Tuesday and see if she will start me back up again. I feel great, I am so mad, and confused. Should I go against doctors orders and continue TX? What would my doctor do? I am on day 14, this is not fair. Please someone post something tonight so I can make my final decision. I'm so torn and indecisive. .
Helpful - 0
488823 tn?1218370567
I cant figure out why they would ask you to stop before giving you Eltrombopag which I was taken for a year and it worked good enough for me to finish my trial.I just finished in AUG. of this year and so far have no virus and during the whole year my platelets were stable considering I started with a low #. Hope you check into it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
you know my platlets have only drop to 97 wbc1.7 hgb/hct is all over the board but now they put me on neuprogen 1shot was friday plus procrit told them i dont want to lower my dose when i have only 3weeks left. but i do take pagaferion every weds. rivo daily 800 in am800 in pm but the neuprogen is nasty bad side effects to me worse than the other meds. but i do hear it does help i do hope so.  rockin516
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
no.,  did not get the pneumonia vaccine.  dr. did not want to give it to me, because my hgb and wbc's were low.....think you are right.  STAY HOME!
Helpful - 0
233616 tn?1312787196
you know one week I went lower on all the blood despite procrit...and they said, no big deal, it was just probably the time of week you took it..

so the next week I mage sure and spread them out...took the procrit 3 !/2 days after the INF, figuring the INF surge would be done and that procrit might work better not in its presense...

and sure enough the next weeks lab I was up again over a point.

I know that's not your whole issue, but lots of docs let platelets get quite low without stopping,  The hepatologists that is...GPs know nada.  

anyway, plenty of info in here for you to make a quality choice.
One thing I would wonder did you get a pneumonia vaccine, and if not I'd stay home and do my shopping by mail.  I'm doing that anyway because of the anemia, but the lower the platelets the more chance a simple cold can turn into something real nasty so you want to keep that in mind.

Hubby has a bug now...and we are staying at separate ends of the house.
That's the only precautionary that I think is worth persuing since bugs can act very different in an autoimmune compromised person.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yeah.  I think I have decided to not reduce tonight.  Give it another week and see how I do.
jt
Helpful - 0
577132 tn?1314266526
When I was told to reduce my IFN due to low counts, I said I would, and based on information I found about other people's numbers, I didn't.  

I made a deal with myself that if things didn't improve by the next week's blood count I would reconsider.  As it happened, my numbers jumped back up and I have just carried on as if nothing happened.  

I'm just relating my experience, not offering an opinion and certainly not giving any medical advice.

All the best with your decision :)
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Avatar universal
yes, I did.
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Avatar universal
Question, did you take the procrit shot this pass Saturday?  

jasper
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The procrit is starting to work again, from 40 to 57 is a good sign.

jasper
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I did talk with my dr.  He felt that with my wbc and anc, and the platelet issue, I should reduce to 90 tonight, instead of 180.  But no neupogen yet.  I told him I would comply, but I am only planning to reduce to 135, not 90.  My hema said not to worry about neupogen, and he would not worry about the platelet issue as of yet, but of course the call is my liver doc's.  

I am tempted to not reduce tonight.  You guys have got me thinking.....

jt
Helpful - 0
144210 tn?1273088782
I'm with FlGuy on this. Your numbers look just fine for tox. Mine are worse.  I would not reduce at all. Be firm with the doc; this is your life.
Helpful - 0
96938 tn?1189799858
Although the doctors rule (sort of ) - if it were me I stay on full dose of peg and riba.  The ANCs, if they get low enough, are fixable with Neupogen.  If hgb tanks, there's Procrit.  Although there's nothing like those for platelets you can see that the platelets bounce around.  And, as long as the platelets stay north of 30 or so the hemotologist should not have an issue.  Treatment is rugby, not badminton.  It's a contact sport so get in and mix it up.
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Avatar universal
excuse me!  my....not me!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
OK!!!!!  Here are me cbc results from this a.m.
WBC  1.7
LY  47.0
MO  10.5
GR  42.5
ANC  700

HGB  10.2
HCT  31.8
PLT  57


I did reduce my riba on Fri p.m. by 200.  I am now taking 800 a day.  I am to take my interferon tonight.  my procrit again Sat. a.m. Waiting for my liver dr., and my hema to call back after getting these results and talk with me about what to do.

Here is my opinion.:  I am starting wk. 20.  My whites and anc is steadily dropping.  My platelets are crazy.  40 on Friday, and 57 today?  What's up with that?

I think I should stay on the 800 daily of riba.  Cut the interferon to 135 instead of 180.  Until all my counts come up some and level off.  Then go back to full dosage.  

I am afraid that if I don't, I could put myself in a position to have to stop completely.  I would rather reduce, and stay in the game, than be out altogether.  Not sure whether to introduce neupogen into the mix yet or wait a couple of weeks.  

What do you guys think?

JT
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
at the bottom of this page it will give you links "Other related discussions" that may help you with the platelet delima.

jasper
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Apologize guys for the smart *** attitude in the last post I reread it myself, Oops. sorry.

jasper
Helpful - 0
388154 tn?1306361691
Ok you one!!

Funny just found this  viagra has something to do with platelets.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/01/030110193129.htm

BTW thx for the link jasper seems very informativ and easy to understand about platelets,
I have saved it will recomend other interested in subject to do the same.
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Avatar universal
I'm with you in the procrit, jasper.  Makes sense to me that with increased red blood cells, I would have more platelets....right?  I am back on the procrit now, regularly, as of today.  Might consider taking one in the middle of the week, to jump start things.  When the procrit was in my system, all my numbers were up!  And I was feeling much better.    But because my numbers were up, my NP said to back off the procrit.  Should not have listened.  But I hate the procrit shots, so I guess I jumped at the chance to not have to take it.  Anyway, I'll get the CBC done on Monday, try to get in to see my hep dr., call my hema dr., and go from there.  I am supposed to take my interferon Mon. night.  I guess I will wait and see what to do...

Thanks for all your help!

jt
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
http://cancer.emedtv.com/procrit/procrit-uses.html
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ok you two, the use of procrit stimulates what? and out of what comes what?

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/thrombocytopenia.htm

AND Yes it does have everything to do with Procrit if used because of what?

geterdone
Helpful - 0
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