Aa
Pegasys vs. Peg-Intron
Since I lost my job and just being switched to Cobra I ve been waiting and waiting and waiting to get an authorization from Insurance company..so I can get meds. Just got call from PA that if my ins co doesnt accept Pegasys or if the co-pay is too high..they will try peg-intron instead? ( When the PA called my ins. co. they told her I have NO insurance-Wrong!- thats the resaon for delay...plus we still dont know what forularies they cover and how much the co-pay is?
She said if all fails she (the PA) could go directly to the drug manufacturer and get them for me for free since Im not working? But if they see I have elected to continue Cobra and have insurance they would allow me to have meds for free??
Does this happen to alot of people? I know all about the system in which we have to deal with but its been a month already and nothing is happening. Ive been assertive..but not a pain in the @@@
Then....Im sitting here thinking..hmm..okay will have to wait another 3 weeks or so to start nobody said anything about having a CURRENT PCR taken right before treatment. I called...got a return call back saying they can use the same PCR for up to a year they go by logs??? She said 1 million s the same as 8 million?? OMG- Then in the next sentence she said I will send you lab papers to have your PCR done if you want a current one?? OMG-???
Im disappointed already and havent even begun?
I feel caught in the "web" already--and its too early to feel this way.
Now Im questioning whether I will be put On Peg or Peg-Intron?? I need to do the right thing.
She said if all fails she (the PA) could go directly to the drug manufacturer and get them for me for free since Im not working? But if they see I have elected to continue Cobra and have insurance they would allow me to have meds for free??
Does this happen to alot of people? I know all about the system in which we have to deal with but its been a month already and nothing is happening. Ive been assertive..but not a pain in the @@@
Then....Im sitting here thinking..hmm..okay will have to wait another 3 weeks or so to start nobody said anything about having a CURRENT PCR taken right before treatment. I called...got a return call back saying they can use the same PCR for up to a year they go by logs??? She said 1 million s the same as 8 million?? OMG- Then in the next sentence she said I will send you lab papers to have your PCR done if you want a current one?? OMG-???
Im disappointed already and havent even begun?
I feel caught in the "web" already--and its too early to feel this way.
Now Im questioning whether I will be put On Peg or Peg-Intron?? I need to do the right thing.
From what I understand: In Canada PegInterferon and Ribavirin is sold as a package deal, both meds. The combination of the two is referred to as Pegetron. In the US they are usually separate, you get a prescription for the PegInterferon (whether PegIntron or Pegasys) and ribavirin. North or South of the border, the combo sucks equally.
I've done both (they all s**K) and the peg-intron seems to hit harder! I've cleared and relapsed on both, I believe if you do some research you'll see that there is a difference in size, half life, and some info on big (over weight) patients doing better on the peg-intron! Look it up! What ever you try, hit it hard! And just a little heads up, I’ve read a lot of post recently from people about how their treatment is going, there are a lot of people who do this treatment and only take Tylenol, who don’t need sleeping pills, who drag there butts to work everyday and only get their cbc/doctor visit once a month! I’m not saying you will or will not feel like **** (cause I do), and I'm not saying there are not peopleI who get slammed with this treatment, I am saying take these posts with a grain of salt and remember some people love drama and posting!
Peginterferon Alfa-2b (PegIntron) -- avail with Redipen
Peginterferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys)
Pegetron =PegIntron Plus Ribavirin
(I think this is a Canadian only packaging, not sure)
I just wanted to re-ask the pegetron question.
from what i understand, it IS peginterferon alfa-2b redi pen for injection with riba- in apckage called pegetron.
do they have pegetronin states? when someone mention spegintron- is that the same.
jjmjm?
from what i understand, it IS peginterferon alfa-2b redi pen for injection with riba- in apckage called pegetron.
do they have pegetronin states? when someone mention spegintron- is that the same.
jjmjm?
Hi ..I am taking pegetron ...but never see this mentioned on a lot of wesbites, here, etc. is peg-intron the same as pegetron? it is peginterferon alfa-2b...is pegetron maybe the CDN name? anyone?
thanks
thanks
thanks so much. Love the ketchup comparison--Im glad to hear its not a big deal either way.
That I did not know. But I would rather HEINZ!! hahaha
Thanks very much.-You helped me out.
Be good!
That I did not know. But I would rather HEINZ!! hahaha
Thanks very much.-You helped me out.
Be good!
Mostly - it's the same medication just made by two different companies. Usually whichever company your doctors hospital is affiliated with is the one they prescribe for you.
Like Heinz is ketchup and so is Delmonte...bother are ketchup at the end of the day you still put it on your burger. ;)
So don't worry about it at all - it's not that big a deal.
More importantly, make sure you get a hard copy of the results from every single test you take. You will find out later just how crucial this is.
And yes it's hard to imagine but 1 million 8 million that is true. you'll learn all about this stuff as time goes by. It's important to keep asking questions and learning. Doctors dont' care about you as much as YOU DO...so it's important you are able to ask the right questions etc.
Good luck!
Like Heinz is ketchup and so is Delmonte...bother are ketchup at the end of the day you still put it on your burger. ;)
So don't worry about it at all - it's not that big a deal.
More importantly, make sure you get a hard copy of the results from every single test you take. You will find out later just how crucial this is.
And yes it's hard to imagine but 1 million 8 million that is true. you'll learn all about this stuff as time goes by. It's important to keep asking questions and learning. Doctors dont' care about you as much as YOU DO...so it's important you are able to ask the right questions etc.
Good luck!
Thanks Jim. Yes Im seeing LJ at Univ. of Miami. Thanks for the info. Ive learned so much here that Im not going to let "anything fly by"
Comparing Peg-Intron to Pegasys should I be overly concerned as to which one I will wind up taking.?
I was originaly told Pegasys and now there's chance of Peg-Intron. I wont know till push comes to shove.
Thanks alot for your knowledge..
Comparing Peg-Intron to Pegasys should I be overly concerned as to which one I will wind up taking.?
I was originaly told Pegasys and now there's chance of Peg-Intron. I wont know till push comes to shove.
Thanks alot for your knowledge..
Welcome to the "system" :)
Sounds like your PA is somewhat on top of the situation in terms of offering to help get drug assistance. (You can do this yourself by visiting the drug companies web sites but nice that they offered to help.)
As to the "PCR", often they will use older ones, but since she's giving you the option to take another, take advantage of it -- and try and do it as close to starting treatment as possible. (BTW that comment about 1 million being "same as 8 million" is somewhat accurate given the variablility in these tests and the fact that the difference between the two numbers is less than one log).
Are you treating under a liver specialist (hepatologist) or a GI. If you have a choice, use a heaptologist, although I don't see any red flags yet with your current team from what you posted.
Moving foward, since they appear to work with you, discuss *before* treament a few issue. First, you minimally want a week 4 viral load test sensitive down to 50 IU/ml (ideally down to 5 IU/ml). That test should be taken the day before your fifth injection. Also, you want to make sure they will use "helper" drugs -- Procrit and Neupogen -- before reducing your meds, assuming you run into problems. Other things to discuss, but those are two big issues that initially come to mind.
-- Jim
Sounds like your PA is somewhat on top of the situation in terms of offering to help get drug assistance. (You can do this yourself by visiting the drug companies web sites but nice that they offered to help.)
As to the "PCR", often they will use older ones, but since she's giving you the option to take another, take advantage of it -- and try and do it as close to starting treatment as possible. (BTW that comment about 1 million being "same as 8 million" is somewhat accurate given the variablility in these tests and the fact that the difference between the two numbers is less than one log).
Are you treating under a liver specialist (hepatologist) or a GI. If you have a choice, use a heaptologist, although I don't see any red flags yet with your current team from what you posted.
Moving foward, since they appear to work with you, discuss *before* treament a few issue. First, you minimally want a week 4 viral load test sensitive down to 50 IU/ml (ideally down to 5 IU/ml). That test should be taken the day before your fifth injection. Also, you want to make sure they will use "helper" drugs -- Procrit and Neupogen -- before reducing your meds, assuming you run into problems. Other things to discuss, but those are two big issues that initially come to mind.
-- Jim
I wasnt supoose to start originall till X-mas being I have been home since 8-10 Ithought Id begin now. Im not going to go back to Work till January.
Im so tired of waiting to be tortured...strike when the iron is hot...just taking so long
Thanks :)
lol
Im so tired of waiting to be tortured...strike when the iron is hot...just taking so long
Thanks :)
lol
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis Social Community
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
