Confused with Hep B therapy.

[Candid2012]

I want to thank u for all expert advice on this forum. I have hepB infection. My doc  dat carried out a series of test including the LFT. Outcome was normal according to him. He prescribed zeffix and livolin.

My concern is dat I'm not comfortable with d zeffix(lamivudine) because of the side effects. I want to start wit tenofovir and alinia.
Can I start taking dis drug without my doctors consent?

Secondly, I don't know where to get this drug in Nigeria. Can some1 help wit more info?

[Candid2012]

Tanx. It appears dat LFT and HBVDNA are the only tests available to us here in Nigeria.
Ill keep u posted wen I get d result

[Candid2012]

Tanx for d info.
R u on any antiviral drug now? If yes, did u buy it here in Nigeria or u ordered it from abroad?

From ur experience, wat r ur challenges? Were u able to get an updated specialist for treatment in Nigeria?

[naijagal]

I do my LFT and hbdvna @ pathcare but hsag,vit d,fibro test n mutation test is done outside  d country..i

[naijagal]

Hsag is not available either..u can get it done outside the country..india,dubai saudi arabia are some of the places u can get it done..

[Candid2012]

Tanx. I'm in Lagos. My email: ***@****

I have not started any treatment yet. If I'm HB e antigen Negative. Can I delay the therapy? Wat happens to viral load?

Secondly, where in Lagos can I do all these test?
Tanx.

[stef2011]

both very good choices

biopsy carries a very low death risk but although low somebody will fall into it,
so do it only if you find a very reliable doctor otherwise it is better wait for a fibroscan to be available in near future or move to other countries.

[Candid2012]

Yeah, I read d publication too. I just sent him email.

D issue now is getting an updated specialist doctor in Nigeria to do biopsy.
Do u have an idea of any specialist to do dis in nigeria?

Secondly, In d absence of Fscan... I don't think d hbsag quantity is available in Nigeria. Im thinking of sending my blood sample to India for d hbsag quant test... Wat do u think about dis?

[naijagal]

Here is the naija link stef was talking bout www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php -it was written by one of us..becareful wit naija doctors..most of them are quick to put patients on medication..remember its somethin u have to take for the rest of ur life..dont be in a haste to take pills unless ur e antigen positive.while we wait for a more promising drug..stay positive,live a healthy lifesyle,stay away from drugs,alcohol,narcotic,processed food,and above all be prayerful.living wit hep b is not d end of d world..we shud be thankful its not HIV.

[naijagal]

@ candid. Fibro scan is not available in nigeria..are u in lagos or abuja?

[stef2011]

in nigeria you miss everything, especially reliable and updated doctors but it is better know where liver damage stands, if no fibroscan  biopsy is the other option

other members had simialr problem, one of nieria medhelp members made an internet page about hbv problem in nigeria but i dont have web address try to google maybe they found a solution

[Candid2012]

Rep9ac and gs9620. Wat r these drugs?

[Candid2012]

Thanks.
Just worried about d wat treatment to go for.
I  will find out if fibroscan is available in Nigeria. Wld keep u posted wen I get the results.

Thanks

[stef2011]

scans are useless, they cannot detect liver damage and fibrosis, just cancer, only fibroscan and biopsy can detect liver damage

no drug to make hbsag negative, sequential combos of tdf and intf add on are the only with good rates of response over the years but nothing to make hbsag negtive in a short time or for sure

I'm new to this forum, what are the most important test index?
fibroscan
hbsag quantity

hbvdna pcr
hbeag
ast/alt

in order of importance, every tests alone is not useful except the first two

Thirdly, what drugs can i start with now?
if hbeag is positive you may try tdf+intf and see if you clear hbv, while if hbeag is negative better wait for rep9ac or gs9620

[Candid2012]

Thanks stef2011.

Forget to mention that a liver scan was done and result showed the liver is still ok, no inflammation. However, what is the best management therapy and drugs to bring my test result to undectable?

I'm new to this forum, what are the most important test index?
is it HbvDNA quantity, AST, ALT, Hbsag quantity or what?

Thirdly, what drugs can i start with now?
tenofovir or lamuvidine or alinia?
I'm scared of lamivudine sideeffects...

please help.

[stef2011]

do change doc right away, both are very old filed hbv drugs out of guidelines since years because they worsen hbv infection making hbv mutations.definitely not a doctor but drug seller especially because antivirals do not treat hbv but only liver damage and he did not check the liver before even considering if needed or not

tenofovir is the first hiv antiviral so you ll find it in nigeria too but you need to know if your liver is daamged because these antivirals wont clear hbv