Copegus 800 mg enough?

[wonderingwhen]

Hello everyone, I am not new to his forum just mostly read all the posts, this time I have a question.  Some good info!
Just started tx on the 16th of Sept. So far sides are not as bad as I thought they might be. But in doing a little reading I found that I should be taking 1000 mg of riba, not the 800 mg I was prescribed. Being that I am type 1, stage 2-3 56 yrs young, 160lbs and treatment is scheduled for 48 weeks and not for 24. I have a call in to my Dr to ask if this is correct. Any input out there will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Chuck

[mikesimon]

I agree that 800 mg. is not ideal for type 1s. I'd try to take at least 1000mg. I don't recall that ribavirin affects platelet count. I know it can impact RBCs and hemoglobin but I thought interferon is the culprit as far as platelets are concerned. Someone will correct me if I am wrong here but that is my recollection. Mike

[Tonyz]

Riba is weight based. I believe 75Kg's is the point at which 1000 and 1200 Mg is defined.


              Blessings


                  TonyZ

[jmjm530]

Pegasys is prescribed all the time for people over 165 lbs and there is no "cut off" in the standard definition of that term. That is what I meant.

I also believe that Pegasys is better for those under 165 lbs and have previously recommended Peg Intron for those overweight. Don't have to call my doc, he's on the same page.

[jmjm530]

Cougareyes makes a good point about the riba. When you speak to your doctor point out that recent studies show full-dose ribavirin -- especially during the first 12 weeks -- to be very important for SVR. Have you had any bloodwork yet? For example did you get your hemoglobin checked yet?

[jmjm530]

Goofy said prev: "I'm 163 undressed and I'm on 1,200. "
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I was about to sit down to eat dinner and that is more information than I needed. :)

I started 1200 when I weighed 176 and have stayed with it down to 150.  In the beginning the NP was pressing me to reduce the riba as I lost weight. So I'd get on the scale with my heaviest boots and pockets loaded with coins. LOL. Now everyone leaves me alone because they know I don't listen anyway. :) The only way I'd reduce riba now is if my hemoglobin drops to a level I'm uncomfortable with and my weekly Procrit injections can't fix. This could happen as my hemoglobin is down a point the last couple of weeks.

Regarding the test sensitivity...

Ideally, you would match test sensitivity to whatever study you're basing a decision on. 50 IU/ml seems to be the standard a lot of them use but each study publishes their standard somewhere. Hopefully. :)

Would a 200 IU/ml sensitivity make any difference? Maybe not but if it were me, I'd fork out the cost if needbe at least for the week 4 PCR. Especially if I were basing a tx decision on a study that used a more sensitive test.

-- Jim

[cougareyes]

Can't really spell out what PCR means right now but it is the viral load, amount of HCV in your blood.
By the way, interferon is what effects your platelets and wbc; so that can't be the reason your riba dose is lower. Good Luck