Aa
Am I allergic to Triple therapy ?
What's the difference between side effects and allergies?
Hey there, Pooh and NYGirl7 are correct. Incivek, along with Peg and Riba, is a harsh tx, once you finish that the peg and riba are not as hard. It can take time. You are not alone, others are here. Please post a question so others can support you. Low HGB can make you breathless, tired, off balance, etc. I thought I was dying and was told it was the tx. Please call your doctor.
Best of luck to you
Dee
Best of luck to you
Dee
Have you had your hemoglobin levels been checked lately shortness of breath is a side effect of low hemo. There are meds that can help but they take time to work.
Hello and welcome to the forum.
You say you have 3 months left. So are you finished with Incivek?
I found that after I was finished with the 12 weeks of Incivek, I felt much, much better. I still have fatigue and some aches, no motivation, some nausea, lingering rash. (The nausea is under control with Zofean and the rash is under control with Hydoxyzine and fluocinonide ointment.)
Everyone reacts differently so there is no guarantee that you will feel better off the Incivek, but many people do.
If you can start a new thread and tell us about your side effects, perhaps we can offer suggestions to ease them.
You say you have 3 months left. So are you finished with Incivek?
I found that after I was finished with the 12 weeks of Incivek, I felt much, much better. I still have fatigue and some aches, no motivation, some nausea, lingering rash. (The nausea is under control with Zofean and the rash is under control with Hydoxyzine and fluocinonide ointment.)
Everyone reacts differently so there is no guarantee that you will feel better off the Incivek, but many people do.
If you can start a new thread and tell us about your side effects, perhaps we can offer suggestions to ease them.
Iam happy I found this blog. I have been on the triple tx, and it is driving me up the wall. i thought I was having heart problems due to the sudden lost of breath. i was thinking that this was all in my head until i read that others were going through this incevik nightmare. does it lighten up at all. i can not work, due to the suddeness of the side effects. one minute i say ,man i feel good. the next minute i am on the ground. i only have 3 months of tx left, but my God it does not seem to get better. help
I am sorry to hear you are having bad side effects. Some side effects a person cannot do much about them, but others can (and in my opinion should) be treated, with prescriptions if necesary.
Have you asked your doctor for a prescription for an antinausea medication. Many of us take Zofran for the nausea and/or vomiting. I take 8 mg Zofran every 8 hours and it has worked well. I take it at least an hour before taking my meds in the am and then every 8 hours after that. (Before I got on the Zofran I was nauseated, bloated, felt horrible all of the time.)
The rash should also be treated in my opinion. If over the counter meds do not work, ask your doc for some prescriptions and/or see a dermatologist for an evaluation and treatment. Over the counter stuff worked for me for almost 3 months, then the rash went beserk and spread all over the place. Hydrocortizone cream and Benadryl did absolutely nothing for the rash once it changed and went beserk. I got prescriptions for fluocinonide ointment which I put on am and pm, and Hydroxyzine 10 mg, 2 tablets at bedtime. These work. I still have the rash, in places, and it moves around. I no sooner get rid of it in a few places and it pops up in other places. The derm and my treating doc think I have an allergy to Riba but the rash is staying under control so I am continuing treatment.
I hope you get some relief and I wish you well.
Have you asked your doctor for a prescription for an antinausea medication. Many of us take Zofran for the nausea and/or vomiting. I take 8 mg Zofran every 8 hours and it has worked well. I take it at least an hour before taking my meds in the am and then every 8 hours after that. (Before I got on the Zofran I was nauseated, bloated, felt horrible all of the time.)
The rash should also be treated in my opinion. If over the counter meds do not work, ask your doc for some prescriptions and/or see a dermatologist for an evaluation and treatment. Over the counter stuff worked for me for almost 3 months, then the rash went beserk and spread all over the place. Hydrocortizone cream and Benadryl did absolutely nothing for the rash once it changed and went beserk. I got prescriptions for fluocinonide ointment which I put on am and pm, and Hydroxyzine 10 mg, 2 tablets at bedtime. These work. I still have the rash, in places, and it moves around. I no sooner get rid of it in a few places and it pops up in other places. The derm and my treating doc think I have an allergy to Riba but the rash is staying under control so I am continuing treatment.
I hope you get some relief and I wish you well.
I been in the treatmen for 4 months already and as the treatment goes along the side effects gets worse, Now im dealing with more vomiting before it was once a day early morning but now is everytime i take the Victrelis, aside from the rash all over my body and the itch is killing me and the feeling of being tired,fatigue and i cant go to the gym cause i have no energy. Yes i will say that almost 80% of my body is covered by this rash and my Dr. ask me if i wanted to quit and that is not an option i told him not after i came this far. The depression is minimun i can deal with my ouw demons ,after all i been living with them all my life so thats not a big deal.
My husband's rash on Incivek was considered to be moderate. It was bright red and very itchy. It moved from one area to another, started with the chest and abdomen, moved to the back, then to the arms all the way down to the fingers, and then to the legs all the way down to the toes. The back was probably the worst, hives, welting, and small blisters. He didn't have any trouble breathing while he had the rash, and he didn't have a swollen tongue that I know of. (He is having some shortness of breath now that he's becoming anemic, but not when he had the rash). I would say that it covered 80% of his body at one point, but it was the most severe on his back. Now the rash has pretty much disappeared and his skin is peeling on his hands. I described the rash to his doctor, and she saw it when it was beginning to calm down. She didn't make him stop the Incivek. Before he started the triple therapy, she did say if he developed "red man syndrome", he would need to stop.
Advocate 1955
Advocate 1955
I see you reported yourself, don't worry when I was having an itch attack I could barely type or talk, just itch. Finally the benen dry and the atarax help. The best thing is the ice pack
Love
D
Love
D
Hi I think you need to go to a hospital. Do you have one near that has a liver specialty? Don't know where you are but at least they could apply dressings to your scalp and/or body. The could make you comfortable. Just being in the hospital would make you feel better as you could be monitored.
Ths SGS is serious, I read someone here who's Mom had it. Are you still flushing your self with the water?
Praying for you very hard. Trust your body. Also Incivek can cause sever side effects to other medications which the doc is supposed to check before starting tx. It is possible by morning you might start to feel better with the Incivek getting out of your system.
Ths SGS is serious, I read someone here who's Mom had it. Are you still flushing your self with the water?
Praying for you very hard. Trust your body. Also Incivek can cause sever side effects to other medications which the doc is supposed to check before starting tx. It is possible by morning you might start to feel better with the Incivek getting out of your system.
Thanks so much for all your help. I am going to keep monitoring my progression. If my hands and feet start to swell, I'm done. I will seek immediate medical attention. Hopefully I will show some sign of improvement by Sunday.
Have a great weekend!
Carolyn
Have a great weekend!
Carolyn
I can see you are up against a very difficult situation. I don't envy you. I agree with you that this forum is a Godsend. People here are very helpful and also many are quite knowledgeable. The problem is, none of us are doctors. I truly hope your rash improves, and soon. I wish you the very best.
I will send you a picture! My husband showed the nurse the pic and told the doc. I am his first on triple therapy. I am up against a difficult situation, if it wasn't for this forum, I don't know what die do. Really if you want to see my arm, I'll show you!
You are the only one who knows how severe your skin condition is (I mean, of us on this forum). Has the doctor actually seen it? I hope so. You should not have to make the call about what to do. He is the doctor. He is supposed to be treating you, not telling you the hospital won't help you. He should be doing the exam, assessment, and making the decisions based on what you look like and your symptoms. I do know that one patiernt my doctor was treating developed a severe skin problem at week 9, had to be dicontinued off of treatment, and had to be hospitalized in the intensive care unit. I would be pretty nervous if my tongue was swollen. Like I said, we don't know what you look like and we are not doctors, but I hope he has seen your skin (and tongue) in person and has examined you and I hope he is an expert (and you are not his first patient). I really hope you do okay and I wish you the very best of luck. Don't wait until you are critical to seek help.
Here is another link:
http://www.rxlist.com/incivek-drug.htm
Rash
In controlled clinical trials, rash events (all grades) were reported in 56% of subjects who received INCIVEK combination treatment and in 34% of subjects who received peginterferon alfa and ribavirin. Rash most frequently began during the first 4 weeks, but could occur at any time during INCIVEK combination treatment. Improvement of rash occurs after INCIVEK dosing completion or discontinuation; however, rashes may take weeks for complete resolution.
Rash events led to discontinuation of INCIVEK alone in 6% of subjects and discontinuation of INCIVEK combination treatment in 1% of subjects. For serious skin reactions and severe rash, see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS.
Under the Precautions section:
Serious Skin Reactions
Serious skin reactions, including Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) were reported in less than 1 % of subjects who received INCIVEK combination treatment compared to none who received peginterferon alfa and ribavirin alone. These serious skin reactions required hospitalization, and all patients recovered. The presenting signs of DRESS may include rash, fever, facial edema, and evidence of internal organ involvement (e.g., hepatitis, nephritis). Eosinophilia may or may not be present. The presenting signs of SJS may include fever, target lesions, and mucosal erosions or ulcerations (e.g., conjunctivae, lips).
If a serious skin reaction occurs, all components of INCIVEK combination treatment must be discontinued immediately and the patient should be promptly referred for urgent medical care.
Rash
Rash developed in 56% of subjects who received INCIVEK combination treatment [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Severe rash (e.g., a generalized rash or rash with vesicles or bullae or ulcerations other than SJS) was reported in 4% of subjects who received INCIVEK combination treatment compared to less than 1% who received peginterferon alfa and ribavirin alone. The severe rash may have a prominent eczematous component.
Patients with mild to moderate rashes should be followed for progression of rash or development of systemic symptoms. If rash progresses and becomes severe or if systemic symptoms develop, INCIVEK should be discontinued. Peginterferon alfa and ribavirin may be continued. If improvement is not observed within 7 days of INCIVEK discontinuation, sequential or simultaneous interruption or discontinuation of ribavirin and/or peginterferon alfa should be considered. If medically indicated, earlier interruption or discontinuation of ribavirin and peginterferon alfa should be considered. Patients should be monitored until the rash has resolved. INCIVEK must not be reduced or restarted if discontinued due to rash. Treatment of rash with oral antihistamines and/or topical corticosteroids may provide symptomatic relief but effectiveness of these measures has not been established. Treatment of rash with systemic corticosteroids is not recommended [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Here is another link:
http://www.rxlist.com/incivek-drug.htm
Rash
In controlled clinical trials, rash events (all grades) were reported in 56% of subjects who received INCIVEK combination treatment and in 34% of subjects who received peginterferon alfa and ribavirin. Rash most frequently began during the first 4 weeks, but could occur at any time during INCIVEK combination treatment. Improvement of rash occurs after INCIVEK dosing completion or discontinuation; however, rashes may take weeks for complete resolution.
Rash events led to discontinuation of INCIVEK alone in 6% of subjects and discontinuation of INCIVEK combination treatment in 1% of subjects. For serious skin reactions and severe rash, see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS.
Under the Precautions section:
Serious Skin Reactions
Serious skin reactions, including Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) were reported in less than 1 % of subjects who received INCIVEK combination treatment compared to none who received peginterferon alfa and ribavirin alone. These serious skin reactions required hospitalization, and all patients recovered. The presenting signs of DRESS may include rash, fever, facial edema, and evidence of internal organ involvement (e.g., hepatitis, nephritis). Eosinophilia may or may not be present. The presenting signs of SJS may include fever, target lesions, and mucosal erosions or ulcerations (e.g., conjunctivae, lips).
If a serious skin reaction occurs, all components of INCIVEK combination treatment must be discontinued immediately and the patient should be promptly referred for urgent medical care.
Rash
Rash developed in 56% of subjects who received INCIVEK combination treatment [see ADVERSE REACTIONS]. Severe rash (e.g., a generalized rash or rash with vesicles or bullae or ulcerations other than SJS) was reported in 4% of subjects who received INCIVEK combination treatment compared to less than 1% who received peginterferon alfa and ribavirin alone. The severe rash may have a prominent eczematous component.
Patients with mild to moderate rashes should be followed for progression of rash or development of systemic symptoms. If rash progresses and becomes severe or if systemic symptoms develop, INCIVEK should be discontinued. Peginterferon alfa and ribavirin may be continued. If improvement is not observed within 7 days of INCIVEK discontinuation, sequential or simultaneous interruption or discontinuation of ribavirin and/or peginterferon alfa should be considered. If medically indicated, earlier interruption or discontinuation of ribavirin and peginterferon alfa should be considered. Patients should be monitored until the rash has resolved. INCIVEK must not be reduced or restarted if discontinued due to rash. Treatment of rash with oral antihistamines and/or topical corticosteroids may provide symptomatic relief but effectiveness of these measures has not been established. Treatment of rash with systemic corticosteroids is not recommended [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Your funny honey, yea...we could do whole blogging on how they ain't goin so well. My husband looked right at me and said, " I'm not touching that!" so I grabbed my big beautiful dog and told him to stay away from daddy!
Everyone try to laugh a little!
It's Friday night and someone's out there having fun just for us!
Hugs to you all!
Carolyn
Everyone try to laugh a little!
It's Friday night and someone's out there having fun just for us!
Hugs to you all!
Carolyn
sex always gets me screwed up. -:)
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That isn't one of the side effects that I've experienced recently - well, while doing trt at least, :o)
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That isn't one of the side effects that I've experienced recently - well, while doing trt at least, :o)
Hey, we shall overcome! You hang in there too Billy.
Wouldn't we all look great walkin around shopping together, somebody would scream,"CALL 911!!!"
Wouldn't we all look great walkin around shopping together, somebody would scream,"CALL 911!!!"
tx can be so tough... incivek works great but for some of us i wonder how long the sides stay for...i'm back to walking up the stairs and resting...i can go shopping with my gf but i need the cart and have to stop about every minute to rest...sometimes if my gf isn't right there folks will come over and ask if i'm alright..i just can't hold my head up for long when my hgb gets real low..all my sx seem to get worse as hgb drops....your not alone...i think we do the best we can to get through tx...on the good side i have seen lots of folks that have had a hard time tx svr.....good luck.....billy
Yea, I suffer from the swollen tongue and major rash all over, seems more allergic to me because of the amount of coverage. I have stopped the incivek for 32 hours now, cut the ribo in half, All my sx really got stoked up after giving my injection Wed night. I told the doctor I might need to go to the hospital. He said they won't help you. He explained that in order to receive a steroid shot, I would have to be off all my meds. So, I basically have been made responsible to make this call. I am 10 weeks in tx. So I guess I need to pick 2 more symptoms from the drug allergy list in order to be considered allergic.
Hmmm...okay shortness of breath, and naseau or whatever 2 I'm delt.
These sx are about the same as allergic reactions. It's very confusing for me. It's only my life a stake. Haha
Oh I'm probobley a wimp and a nervous Nelly!
I will do my best to get the incivek out of my system with lots of water.
Once I do this, I will probably feel better.
What a ride this has been. Boy, if I posted pics of what I look like, I would scare people to death!
Thanks for the help, you da man!
Hugs,
Carolyn
Hmmm...okay shortness of breath, and naseau or whatever 2 I'm delt.
These sx are about the same as allergic reactions. It's very confusing for me. It's only my life a stake. Haha
Oh I'm probobley a wimp and a nervous Nelly!
I will do my best to get the incivek out of my system with lots of water.
Once I do this, I will probably feel better.
What a ride this has been. Boy, if I posted pics of what I look like, I would scare people to death!
Thanks for the help, you da man!
Hugs,
Carolyn
Sorry ... when I said classic symptoms of drug allergies I meant hives, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling tongue, lips and/or throat, and possible anaphylactic shock. As you will see from the articles, though, there are a wide range of drug allergy symptoms.
In addition, it is well known that Incivek can cause very serious and life threatening rash/skin side effects. Therefore, in my opinion, if anyone is having severe rash, blistering, sores, and other severe skin/rash symptoms as described in the Incivek data sheets, the person needs to call the doctor and also probably see a dermatologist. Some people have to be taken off the Incivek because sometimes the side effects are life threatening.
I included the links because I think those articles give pretty good information about drug allergies.
In addition, it is well known that Incivek can cause very serious and life threatening rash/skin side effects. Therefore, in my opinion, if anyone is having severe rash, blistering, sores, and other severe skin/rash symptoms as described in the Incivek data sheets, the person needs to call the doctor and also probably see a dermatologist. Some people have to be taken off the Incivek because sometimes the side effects are life threatening.
I included the links because I think those articles give pretty good information about drug allergies.
Now i need to go find out what are "Classic allergic reactions".
I will attempt to research this without frustration.
Thanks for the links,
Carolyn
I will attempt to research this without frustration.
Thanks for the links,
Carolyn
I think I would characterize the difference like this:
Side effects of a drug produce symptoms that occur in several different people when they take the drug. They could be nausea, vomiting, headache, rash, itching, weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gastric distress, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, tremors, irritability, and many others, inculding severe side effects. Side effects generally do not produce the classic allergic reaction that happens when a person is allergic to a drug (or a food).
On the other hand, an allergic reaction is caused by the body's immune system overreacting to the drug, which is viewed as a chemical "invader," or antigen. This overreaction is often called a hypersensitivity reaction.
•The body produces antibodies to the antigen and stores the antibodies on special cells.
◦The antibody in an allergic reaction is called immunoglobulin E, or IgE.
◦When the body is exposed to the drug again, the antibodies signal the cells to release chemicals called "mediators." Histamine is an example of a mediator.
◦The effects of these mediators on organs and other cells cause the symptoms of the reaction.
These links take you to some good articles that explain drug allergies:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug_allergy/article_em.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000819.htm
Hope this helps.
Side effects of a drug produce symptoms that occur in several different people when they take the drug. They could be nausea, vomiting, headache, rash, itching, weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gastric distress, dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, tremors, irritability, and many others, inculding severe side effects. Side effects generally do not produce the classic allergic reaction that happens when a person is allergic to a drug (or a food).
On the other hand, an allergic reaction is caused by the body's immune system overreacting to the drug, which is viewed as a chemical "invader," or antigen. This overreaction is often called a hypersensitivity reaction.
•The body produces antibodies to the antigen and stores the antibodies on special cells.
◦The antibody in an allergic reaction is called immunoglobulin E, or IgE.
◦When the body is exposed to the drug again, the antibodies signal the cells to release chemicals called "mediators." Histamine is an example of a mediator.
◦The effects of these mediators on organs and other cells cause the symptoms of the reaction.
These links take you to some good articles that explain drug allergies:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug_allergy/article_em.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000819.htm
Hope this helps.
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