treatment choices

[pitter]

hello to old friends, and new, I have not been around here in a long time.
I have been made aware of a few new drugs for hep c (gen 1).
I was hoping to get some feed back from anyone here, as to which are the favored
with the least amount of side effects. (Can't tolerate much of any drug)
Of course wanting to know the best results of any of these tx.
I have recently gotten info on Viekira,, and heard that Harvoni was taken off the market?
Any info will be much appreciated.
Happy day!

[Ekkiemom]

Hi P......welcome back to the forum....Best wishes to you

Peace
Deb

[pitter]

Hi go pack,
Best best wishes , yes please keep posting on your progress, it is very helpful.
Thank you.

[pitter]

Geno 1a

[pitter]

Hi Willy 50,
I remember you also, you helped me before with questions, thank you.
Appreciate this input. Do you happen to know if Harvoni has to go with Ribavirin?

[pitter]

Thx Dee

[pitter]

Thank you Lynn,   Is the ribavirin the one that gives you riba-rage? That scares me bcz I would probably be a witch !

[gopack]

Harvoni is a breeze with me. No side effects at all. On day 28. Get lab work done tomorrow. will post results. takes about a week for results to come back to me.

[Willy50]

Hi I remember you from 2006 or 7.

Both drugs are quite available and approved.
There are several issues involved;

Your insurance provider; some cover only Harvoni, some only Viekira Pak, and some cover both. (and there are also some wiggle room options to get a treatment which the formulary does not offer "preferred status".

Are you a Genotype 1a or 1b?
Each treatment does better with one subtype than the other; Harvoni better on 1a's and Viekira Pak better on 1b's..

Both are good treatments and will offer high cure rates, but I would first assess my needs, and determine which will provide the highest cure rate, easiest treatment, then see if you can negotiate from there.

If you can't, and have to go with what you are offered, I still think both are good treatments.

~W

[Dee1956]

p.s. Harvoni hasn't been taken off the market, Express Scripts now has a contract with Viekira Pak so for the most part they are only approving that regimen.  They will approve others if one can't take the Viekira Pak for some reason.
Take Care, D

[Dee1956]

Hi there, welcome back, there is no problem asking a question.  If you don't know the answer please feel free to ask.  That is why many are here to help others.
Worried Mom did it and did not have any problems which is really good.
My Best
Dee

[flyinlynn]

As you have gt 1 treatment with Viekira Pak will include Ribavirin

[pitter]

thank you worried mom, that is very encouraging! Congratulations!!

[pitter]

yes Susan, I remember you too!  Sorry to hear that it has been difficult for you, and kudos for keeping on trying, I do see that we are closer to much better treatments , and I am sure there will be more successful tx for you. thx for your input. All good wishes for you!

[pitter]

thx Jules.

[pitter]

thank you , w. mom.....

[AWorriedMom]

Hi Pitter. I can speak to the Viekira Pak from personal experience. I was in the Abbvie Turquoise Trial for cirrhotics and I cleared. This is after years of trying every treatment available and never responding at all. The only side effect I had was a tiny bit more fatigue than I usually felt when not treating. I pulled the 24 week arm and found the whole experience pretty amazing.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[susan400]

I remember you, do you remember me?  Susan 400?   Last summer before Harvoni was approved, the 'newest-Latest and greatest- treatment drug was Sovaldi.  I was on Sovaldi+ SOC from June-Sept.  I was so excited because I had finally reached undetected in the first 4 wks. I was still und on week 8 of treatment and again on 1 wk post TX (or 1 wk after the end of treatment -week 12).  Unfortunately, for me, at the 12 wk post treatment viral load check, it showed that I had relapsed.  Naturally, I was disappointed, although not devastated.  For people who have not done treatment in awhile there are two good new drugs out there.  Harvoni (which consists of Sovaldi + Ledisavir(probably not spelling that right) )   and also a new 4 drug cocktail produced by Abbvie.    Currently, I am in waiting mode again as between the insurance company and the Patient assess Network-Gilead.., they shelled out over $100,000 for the 3 mon. treatment. Fortunately, I ended up w/no co-pay.  With that said, it would be difficult to get them to want to treat me again so soon since I am not a late stage or cirrhotic.  If I just try and stay healthy and my liver cooperates, maybe in a few years the insurance companies may have knocked the price down and I can regroup and reassess doing yet another treatment.  I wish you well, Pitter. I'm sure w/your doctors, you will make the right choice for you.

Susan400

[jules2551]

Harvoni has NOT been taken off the market.  

Good luck to you!

Jules

[pitter]

I am answering to my own post. :) Well, I just popped and asked my question, then , I read further down, and see the post about these kind of questions being repeatedly asked.
Sorry, didn't realize it could be an annoyance.
Viekira is one the main one I wanted any response on, since it claims to have very few side effects.
Thank for reading this.