Aa
what is infergen
i am new and have not heard of this tx i am on pegasys, riba combo
I was terrified to start tx, and then when I started pegasys - I was shocked to find out that I actually felt better on tx than before it. Yet, my CBCs showed that pegasys didn't work for me. When we switched to infergen I felt sort of relaxed about it - if I didn't have bad experiences with pegasys, then how bad would it be on infergen? I could give up during those first days on infergen, cause at nights it was really hard - severe pains all over my body. But then it stopped, I survived :), and the rest of tx was pretty easy. Really, forget about "the tx vet" factor, Bill ;) I still feel like a rookie :) But I will proudly accept the "vet" title when I finally get SVR.
Bill, I think that hearing all these horror stories made me expect the worst and when it didn't kill me I was pleasantly surprised.
Sunshines76 honestly my doctor hasn't really discussed it. He's taking it one step at a time I guess. I assume that's the case because a) I am 1a b)I am stage 3 c) I was a non responder to peg d) I'm "only" 35. I rather psyche myself up for 72 weeks then be pleasantly surprised than assume 48 and have my dreams crushed lol!
In any case I just realized I have so many questions to ask, I really need to write 'em down!
Sunshines76 honestly my doctor hasn't really discussed it. He's taking it one step at a time I guess. I assume that's the case because a) I am 1a b)I am stage 3 c) I was a non responder to peg d) I'm "only" 35. I rather psyche myself up for 72 weeks then be pleasantly surprised than assume 48 and have my dreams crushed lol!
In any case I just realized I have so many questions to ask, I really need to write 'em down!
That's the way to go! I like your attitude :) I had only first 3 days on infergen tough, then the pains went away and I was surprised how "not so bad" it was. I've done 44 weeks of infergen so far, 4 weeks to go. Were you recommended 72 weeks? Do you think your doc might adjust to 48 weeks if your 4 week PCR shows UND?
Thanks for your response! I appreciate it. I gotta say that for ME infergen has been way easier than pegintron. The only thing is that I've got injection site rash.other than that it hasn't been horrible yet. This is week 3 for me so I know if I respond I have 69 more weeks to go and things change but if that's what it takes that's what it takes. I will see my kids graduate from college dammit!No matter what I have to do! Again thanks for your candid response!
Yeah, Magnum said to hell with finesse and tried the sledgehammer approach to viral eradication; unfortunately, it was ineffective.
My old GI doc said that *to a patient* it kicked butt. His Infergen patients had few kind remarks about the drug, apparently. Although like Sunshine above, I’ve heard a few reports in here from folks that claim it isn’t that bad. Now remember that anyone taking Infergen is a Tx veteran, and just maybe they are so rattled from prior treatments that they’re a bit numb from it all :o).
Hmm… ambivalence as a predictive value :o)? Too funny, Dave!
--Bill
My old GI doc said that *to a patient* it kicked butt. His Infergen patients had few kind remarks about the drug, apparently. Although like Sunshine above, I’ve heard a few reports in here from folks that claim it isn’t that bad. Now remember that anyone taking Infergen is a Tx veteran, and just maybe they are so rattled from prior treatments that they’re a bit numb from it all :o).
Hmm… ambivalence as a predictive value :o)? Too funny, Dave!
--Bill
I went back and read magnums thread and you were correct as usual, he was taking a huge dose of the Infergen. still don't most people have really bad side effects from it. My doc has said it would be the next step if things don't go as hoped with my tx. I don't even like to mention it yet since I am not there yet. Hopefully ambivalence does not determine whether one becomes und or not!
There was a woman on our forum who did 72 weeks of daily infergen. How she kept her sanity I will never know - 72 weeks of interferon were hard enough to me.
Hopefully the new PIs will pan out and that will be a viable option. You don't want to do infergen if you don't have to, many people do a week or two then quit because it's so difficult.
I was a fast responder who then stop responding and got stuck not clearing until somewhere after week 12 but before 24. I did 72 weeks and finally did achieve SVR. Don't give up..........just don't give up.
Hopefully the new PIs will pan out and that will be a viable option. You don't want to do infergen if you don't have to, many people do a week or two then quit because it's so difficult.
I was a fast responder who then stop responding and got stuck not clearing until somewhere after week 12 but before 24. I did 72 weeks and finally did achieve SVR. Don't give up..........just don't give up.
thank you to everyone for your response, i think they should let you pick more than one , for the best answer. mary ann
I believe Magnum was using some Loony-Toones Infergen dosage, so that would have obviously exaggerated his misery no doubt.
INFERGEN Interferon alfacon-1 is a recombinant non-naturally occurring type-I interferon. The 166-amino acid sequence of it was derived by scanning the sequences of several natural interferon alpha subtypes. The success rate is between 9% and 36%, depending on length of treatment and genotype.
Stalion, everyone responds to interferons differently. I am on infergen, and I don't have any major issues with it. But I know other members, like Magnum, I think, who had very tough time on it and he would not advise it to anyone now. At the end of the day, if it comes to it, it will be your decision whether to try infergen or wait for new PIs.
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