Aa
why peginterferon alfa-2b
The last test show AST 124, ALT 212, I will be starting treatment prescribed: Ribapack ribavirin tablet 400 mg & Ribavirin tablet 600mg dose pack # 56 tablets per month, and peginterferon alfa-2b inj kit 120 Mcg/0.5ml. My qustion is why peginterferon alfa-2b
Welcome to the forum,
Most of us take our interferon shot in the evening before bed. I usually did it about two hours before sleep. The idea is you sleep through the worst of the side effects from the shot. Most of our doctors also recommend taking tylenol with the shot to counteract the flu like symptoms.
If you find your having difficulty sleeping you may want to adjust your riba timing. It's not necessary to take it 12 hours apart, 5 is fine. You should however take it with a substantial meal or it can cause nausea.
Are you being treated by a hepatologist or a GI ?
Trolleater: Brainfog was present with tx before the triple tx existed. Just accept it, your brain will return after tx is over:)
Most of us take our interferon shot in the evening before bed. I usually did it about two hours before sleep. The idea is you sleep through the worst of the side effects from the shot. Most of our doctors also recommend taking tylenol with the shot to counteract the flu like symptoms.
If you find your having difficulty sleeping you may want to adjust your riba timing. It's not necessary to take it 12 hours apart, 5 is fine. You should however take it with a substantial meal or it can cause nausea.
Are you being treated by a hepatologist or a GI ?
Trolleater: Brainfog was present with tx before the triple tx existed. Just accept it, your brain will return after tx is over:)
Is it the ribaviran that makes me do that, I was blaming the Incivek, not that it really makes a difference, but at week twelve the Incivek goes bye bye, and the riba stays .....
when i was comparing 2a and 2b most folks that i read about that had done both seem to think the side effects of 2a were less. i insisted on pegasys 2a. i think some of the programs for those who are uninsured and low income provide 2b. willb, one of the A+ posters on the site, posted a great article. thanks will
eric
eric
Here is something in regards to 2a and 2b,however as it pertains to G1 & G4..
G3 has an approx. efficay cure rate of 75% ,irrespective of what is used as far as 2a or b
best of luck with your tx. and welcome to the group...
Will
Here is something you may want to look at,if you haven"t already in regards to the two Interferon's from two studies done in Italy. Keep in mind these were done before the intro of Inci and Vic and are results with just Riba added.
As the article states there are some conflicting arguments as to what may be the better of the two,if either,however there are some differences pointed out here.
From the 1st study it seems for Geno type 1 & 4 that Pegasys had a slightly better result 48% vs 32% than for pegintron and the side effects were basically the same.
In the 2nd study for G1 &4 again pegasys had a 55% success and pegintron 40%
In this second study patients without cirrhosis did quite a bit better with Pegasys (76%) than than with Pegintron(56%),,however those with cirrhosis did the same .
Those with higher viral loads,also seemed to do better with Pegasys (76% than Pegintron(56%) ..and those with low VL about the same.
Again ..this is before the addition of Inci or Vic,and as Dr Zeuzem states in his editorial more studies must be done with these added as to which may be better.
Zeuzem : "Taken together, since the publication of the pivotal phase 3 trials for peginterferon alfa-2a and alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin, it took another 8 years to characterize the pharmacodynamic differences between the 2 drugs in detail," Zeuzem wrote. "At the dawn of new direct antiviral drugs against HCV we need now to investigate how important the observed differences between the peginterferons (and other long-acting interferons such as albumin interferon) are in combination with HCV NS3/4A protease and NS5B polymerase inhibitors."
Pegashttp://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2010/021210_a.htmlys
G3 has an approx. efficay cure rate of 75% ,irrespective of what is used as far as 2a or b
best of luck with your tx. and welcome to the group...
Will
Here is something you may want to look at,if you haven"t already in regards to the two Interferon's from two studies done in Italy. Keep in mind these were done before the intro of Inci and Vic and are results with just Riba added.
As the article states there are some conflicting arguments as to what may be the better of the two,if either,however there are some differences pointed out here.
From the 1st study it seems for Geno type 1 & 4 that Pegasys had a slightly better result 48% vs 32% than for pegintron and the side effects were basically the same.
In the 2nd study for G1 &4 again pegasys had a 55% success and pegintron 40%
In this second study patients without cirrhosis did quite a bit better with Pegasys (76%) than than with Pegintron(56%),,however those with cirrhosis did the same .
Those with higher viral loads,also seemed to do better with Pegasys (76% than Pegintron(56%) ..and those with low VL about the same.
Again ..this is before the addition of Inci or Vic,and as Dr Zeuzem states in his editorial more studies must be done with these added as to which may be better.
Zeuzem : "Taken together, since the publication of the pivotal phase 3 trials for peginterferon alfa-2a and alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin, it took another 8 years to characterize the pharmacodynamic differences between the 2 drugs in detail," Zeuzem wrote. "At the dawn of new direct antiviral drugs against HCV we need now to investigate how important the observed differences between the peginterferons (and other long-acting interferons such as albumin interferon) are in combination with HCV NS3/4A protease and NS5B polymerase inhibitors."
Pegashttp://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2010/021210_a.htmlys
Here is something in regards to 2a and 2b,however as it pertains to G1 & G4..
G3 has an approx. efficay cure rate of 75% ,irrespective of what is used as far as 2a or b
best of luck with your tx. and welcome to the group...
Will
Here is something you may want to look at,if you haven"t already in regards to the two Interferon's from two studies done in Italy. Keep in mind these were done before the intro of Inci and Vic and are results with just Riba added.
As the article states there are some conflicting arguments as to what may be the better of the two,if either,however there are some differences pointed out here.
From the 1st study it seems for Geno type 1 & 4 that Pegasys had a slightly better result 48% vs 32% than for pegintron and the side effects were basically the same.
In the 2nd study for G1 &4 again pegasys had a 55% success and pegintron 40%
In this second study patients without cirrhosis did quite a bit better with Pegasys (76%) than than with Pegintron(56%),,however those with cirrhosis did the same .
Those with higher viral loads,also seemed to do better with Pegasys (76% than Pegintron(56%) ..and those with low VL about the same.
Again ..this is before the addition of Inci or Vic,and as Dr Zeuzem states in his editorial more studies must be done with these added as to which may be better.
Zeuzem : "Taken together, since the publication of the pivotal phase 3 trials for peginterferon alfa-2a and alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin, it took another 8 years to characterize the pharmacodynamic differences between the 2 drugs in detail," Zeuzem wrote. "At the dawn of new direct antiviral drugs against HCV we need now to investigate how important the observed differences between the peginterferons (and other long-acting interferons such as albumin interferon) are in combination with HCV NS3/4A protease and NS5B polymerase inhibitors."
Pegashttp://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2010/021210_a.htmlys
G3 has an approx. efficay cure rate of 75% ,irrespective of what is used as far as 2a or b
best of luck with your tx. and welcome to the group...
Will
Here is something you may want to look at,if you haven"t already in regards to the two Interferon's from two studies done in Italy. Keep in mind these were done before the intro of Inci and Vic and are results with just Riba added.
As the article states there are some conflicting arguments as to what may be the better of the two,if either,however there are some differences pointed out here.
From the 1st study it seems for Geno type 1 & 4 that Pegasys had a slightly better result 48% vs 32% than for pegintron and the side effects were basically the same.
In the 2nd study for G1 &4 again pegasys had a 55% success and pegintron 40%
In this second study patients without cirrhosis did quite a bit better with Pegasys (76%) than than with Pegintron(56%),,however those with cirrhosis did the same .
Those with higher viral loads,also seemed to do better with Pegasys (76% than Pegintron(56%) ..and those with low VL about the same.
Again ..this is before the addition of Inci or Vic,and as Dr Zeuzem states in his editorial more studies must be done with these added as to which may be better.
Zeuzem : "Taken together, since the publication of the pivotal phase 3 trials for peginterferon alfa-2a and alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin, it took another 8 years to characterize the pharmacodynamic differences between the 2 drugs in detail," Zeuzem wrote. "At the dawn of new direct antiviral drugs against HCV we need now to investigate how important the observed differences between the peginterferons (and other long-acting interferons such as albumin interferon) are in combination with HCV NS3/4A protease and NS5B polymerase inhibitors."
Pegashttp://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2010/021210_a.htmlys
i am week 48 of triple therapy and have had sleep issues. the docs recommended taking the ribavirin in the morning because it made me wired. you can take the interferon at any time as long as you are consistent about taking it the same day of the week. i took it at about 8pm along with tylenol.
thank you for responding i think the ribavirin tablet 400 mg has kicked in hard to think clearly
I have hep- c for a longtime& genotype 3 yes i read the article shows a statistically higher SVR rate for 2a. that is why i asked the question of Alpha 2a vs Alpha 2b at 7am i started with ribavirin tablet 400 mg- will take Ribavirin tablet 600mg at 7pm not sure what time i should take peginterferon alfa-2b =feeling dinggy
I'm the opposite of Frijole. I did 2b first and failed treatment, 2a the second time. Although successful it was not due to the 2a. But, I found that the side effects were much less than 2b.
Tomato/Tomato
Tomato/Tomato
I have hep- c for along genotype 3 yes i read the article shows a statistically higher SVR rate for 2a. that is why i asked the question of Alpha 2a vs Alpha 2b at 7am i started with ribavirin tablet 400 mg- will take Ribavirin tablet 600mg at 7pm not sure what time i should take peginterferon alfa-2b
Not sure of the question. Is it you don't know why you need interferon or is it a question of Alpha 2a vs Alpha 2b. I have taken both. I relapsed with 2a and was put on 2b the second time. There are differences.
frijole
frijole
"My qustion is why peginterferon alfa-2b"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
That is a very good question.
Without researching I really don't know the difference between alpha-2a and 2b, but the end result in the following article shows a statistically higher SVR rate for 2a. I would discuss this with your doctor to ask why and arm yourself with information/studies if you have a chance to research and print out the reports. Maybe your doc prefers the Redipens over the syringes?? You might be able to change this prior to starting if there's a reason to consider changing to alpha 2a. Maybe others have more insight to the differences between the two. Best of luck.
"Results -- More patients in group A than group B achieved an SVR (110/160 [68.8%] vs 87/160 [54.4%]; P = .008). Higher SVR rates were obtained in group A than group B among patients with genotype 1/4 (51/93 [54.8%] vs 37/93 [39.8%]; P = .04), with genotype 2/3 (59/67 [88.1%] vs 50/67 [74.6%]; P = .046), without cirrhosis (96/127 [75.6%] vs 75/134 [55.9%]; P = .005), and with baseline levels HCV RNA >500,000 IU/mL (58/84 [69%] vs 43/93 [46.2%]; P = .002). SVR rates in groups A and B were not statistically different among patients with baseline HCV RNA ≤500,000 IU/mL (52/76 [68.4%] vs 44/67 [65.7%]; P = .727) or in patients with cirrhosis (14/33 [42.4%] vs 12/26 [46.1%]; P = .774).
Conclusions -- In patients with chronic HCV infection, peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin produced a significantly higher SVR rate than peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin.
http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(09)01811-3/abstract
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
That is a very good question.
Without researching I really don't know the difference between alpha-2a and 2b, but the end result in the following article shows a statistically higher SVR rate for 2a. I would discuss this with your doctor to ask why and arm yourself with information/studies if you have a chance to research and print out the reports. Maybe your doc prefers the Redipens over the syringes?? You might be able to change this prior to starting if there's a reason to consider changing to alpha 2a. Maybe others have more insight to the differences between the two. Best of luck.
"Results -- More patients in group A than group B achieved an SVR (110/160 [68.8%] vs 87/160 [54.4%]; P = .008). Higher SVR rates were obtained in group A than group B among patients with genotype 1/4 (51/93 [54.8%] vs 37/93 [39.8%]; P = .04), with genotype 2/3 (59/67 [88.1%] vs 50/67 [74.6%]; P = .046), without cirrhosis (96/127 [75.6%] vs 75/134 [55.9%]; P = .005), and with baseline levels HCV RNA >500,000 IU/mL (58/84 [69%] vs 43/93 [46.2%]; P = .002). SVR rates in groups A and B were not statistically different among patients with baseline HCV RNA ≤500,000 IU/mL (52/76 [68.4%] vs 44/67 [65.7%]; P = .727) or in patients with cirrhosis (14/33 [42.4%] vs 12/26 [46.1%]; P = .774).
Conclusions -- In patients with chronic HCV infection, peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin produced a significantly higher SVR rate than peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin.
http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(09)01811-3/abstract
Peginterferon alfa-2b is used alone or in combination with ribavirin to treat chronic hepatitis C, a viral infection of the liver.This medication reduces the amount of hepatitis C virus in the body and helps the body's immune system fight the infection.
Need more info on medical condition to truly answer, obviously you have elevated liver functions, do you have hep c ?
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