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Hepatitis C (Expert Forum)
Tapering at end of treatment
Answered by
Douglas Dieterich, MD - Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology
The Mount Sinai Medical Center
New York - NY
Questions posted in the Hepatitis C Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Tapering at end of treatment
by geterdone, Jun 18, 2008 06:55PM
Dear Dr. Dieterich
Enjoyed your video and information on Hepatitis C which gave me an eye opening insight of what was going on inside my liver and how the virus has evolved and the damage being done over time, well presented. I do have a question though, most SOC ends abruptly after 24, 48, or in some cases 72 weeks. Would it not be better for patients to taper off the interferon and Ribavirin at the end of there treatment rather than stopping abruptly at the end and continue to have symptoms or damage to the organs involved during treatment and at such high levels of the meds. Would it be better for the patient, to stop abruptly or taper off the meds after completing the treatment course?
Thanks in advance,
Jasper
Enjoyed your video and information on Hepatitis C which gave me an eye opening insight of what was going on inside my liver and how the virus has evolved and the damage being done over time, well presented. I do have a question though, most SOC ends abruptly after 24, 48, or in some cases 72 weeks. Would it not be better for patients to taper off the interferon and Ribavirin at the end of there treatment rather than stopping abruptly at the end and continue to have symptoms or damage to the organs involved during treatment and at such high levels of the meds. Would it be better for the patient, to stop abruptly or taper off the meds after completing the treatment course?
Thanks in advance,
Jasper
Doctor's Answer
by Douglas Dieterich, MD, Jun 19, 2008 03:57AM
, Jun 19, 2008 03:57AM
To: Jasper
Actually the long half lives of both drugs (ribavirin being the longest) accomplishes the same thing. The levels gradually come down to zero over time. It is a few weeks with interferon and a few months with ribavirin. Good question! DTD
