Catching a cold on peginterferon and ribavirin?

[Doofus_jones]

Dear Friends

I'm on my 9th injection of Peg (10th on Wed) and have low hemoglobin and platelet count. Feeling very weak and dizzy. Now it looks like I'm catching a cold. Does anyone have experience on dealing with a cold on these drugs. Is there any danger of it turning into something more serious?

Any info appreciated

Pete

[Doofus_jones]

Hi Hector

I have now been put on Eprex (epoetin alfa) to raise hemoglobin. Three injections per week and my interferon has been lowered to 135mm. After the first injection of Eprex I noticed from the package it says "notify Dr if you get cold symptoms."  Well I had tthe symptoms before. I had better call him tomorrow.

Hector, I am looking forward to hearing news of your successful transplant.

best wishes

Pete

[rk2761]

I was given a pneumonia shot going into treatment (for 21 strains). It's probably a coincidence, but I got a really bad chest cough at the same time.

And throughout treatment people asked if I had a cold cause I was always stuffed up and coughing. I told them it was allergies (didn't want anyone thinking I was going to give them something.) I still get stuffed up but it's not constant like it was on treatment. I'm six week post treatment.  And yesterday someone asked if I had a cold. (I don't)

I agree with Hector - you might be feeling a combination of sides from treatment. Ask your doc what you can take. There were some cold meds I could take, I can't remember what right now. I do remember that I had to watch the acetominiphine (sorry, too lazy to check spelling on that) content in them so I didn't take too much.

Good luck managing your sides.

rk

[Diana66]

Hi Pete
It seems that is not easy to get a flu or any viral cold under the tx. I came across couple of papers exploring Riba for flu with success.

On the other hand we are not protected and in fact are even more prone to bacterial infections. Chest infections, pneumonias can have a bacterial cause so those are the ones to watch for.

I had similar symptoms since I started tx, I always keep an eye on temperature but so far any symptoms I had went up and down so I think they are from the interferon

I would mention it to the doctor though on my next visit

[HectorSF]

Hi Pete.

Are sure it isn't the anemia? (weak and dizzy).
Or the flu-like symptoms of interferon based treatments?

Either way it is always good to call your treating doctor and let them know what is happening. Patients will cirrhosis are more prone to dangerous infections. So you want to at least have the doctor be aware of your symptoms and then they can advice you on what you can do to best manage it.

Take care!
Hector