interferon&procrit

[bazzoka]

I have not started interferon yet now they tell me I have to procrit
The question is this a dangerous combination of drugs that can increase
my sides and be dangerous to my life ?.Also I can not drink water last year
I almost died from it and I am limited to 48 ounces a 24 hour is that dangerous too?

[IAmTheWalrus]

Welcome! Procrit is used often for people treating for HepC, so I would say it is not a dangerous combination. But ask your doc about this, particularly with diabetes.

You should stay reasonably hydrated whether on TX or not. Your doctor should be able to tell you if there is a minimum amount of water you need. Sometimes people forget that they fulfill some of their hydration requirements in food and drinks besides water. Soup, juices, and much food has H2O.

You need to know a lot more to make a decision to treat. Your viral genotype and the condition of your liver (by biopsy) are very important in assessing the situation. Not everyone treats, or should.

Good luck!

[Jacob43]

Just checked your profile and see you're my father's age.  Have you thought about NOT treating?  I don't know your stats.  But that's an option.  You are diabetic.  Perhaps eating and living well is your better option.   How long have you had HCV ?   I don't plan on treating for a very long time.  You may never need to treat depending on your biopsy.

[nygirl7]

Procrit is the magic drug that enables your hemoglobin to go back and for you to feel much much better.  You don't mention what your hemo is at but generally they will not let you go on it unless it has dropped under 10 - and then you really do need it.

If you haven't even started treatment but your hemo is that low I'm not sure that they would let you start........so the question is indeed a bit confusing.

If the doctor is saying you may have to go on Procrit during treatment then you are lucky that your doctor understands it might become necessary. Not all docs do.

[alagirl]

A few things.  Comments and questions.  First, many people need procrit while treating.  It helps your side effects, not vice versa.  It is the ribavirin, and not usually the interferon, that causes the anemia that makes procrit necessary.  That said, interferon can impede your bone marrow, but this is more unusual and not usually something that happens immediately.

I didn't drink more than 48 oz of water per day on tx.

The question I have is whether they said you will certainly need procrit - kind of odd unless they are pre-dosing you, or whether you will likely need it during tx and they are letting you know for when and if this happens.