Correct ribivirin dosage vs weight

[kespr]

Does anybody know the break down of the amount of rib to take and when you should lower it based on your weight. Is there a basic formula that docs use

[kespr]

I've already had two blood transfusions since july of this yr. I started tx at 225 and I'm now @ 183

[jmjm530]

So how much do you weigh now? I can't even imagine functioning with a Hgb in the 8's but we all react so very different. What you do want to avoid is a transfusion which happens around Hgb 7. So if you're 8.3 now and dropping like .5 per week, then I'd heed your doctor and drop the riba a bit. You don't want to celebrate EOT with someone else's blood being pumped into your arm.

-- Jim

[kespr]

Well actually my gi is talking about going on for 72 wks this time around so I might not be done yet. I guess we have to fight with our insurance on who is going to pay beyond the standard 48 wk protocal

[jmjm530]

You lower your ribavirin when Procrit intervention fails to keep you at a level that will allow you to maintain treatment in a safe manner. I believe DoubleDose, as well as many others have reduced ribavirin, and still achieved SVR.

On a personal note I started at 1200 mg/day at 176 lbs. I am now at 150 lbs at the same dosage and 60,000U/wk of Procrit. If I don't feel better very shortly I will have no alternative but to reduce my ribavirin at least temporarily.

Ribavirin plasma levels are important to SVR but in most cases there is no SVR if you have to stop your entire tx prematurely.

As to your specific question of lowering ribavirin as you lose weight, many doctors follow this route and my NP has asked me a couple of times to do such. Up until now I've declined.

There are a couple of formulas regarding weight and ribavirin for geno 1's. One formula has 1200mg/day for 165lbs and up and 1000mg/day for below 165lbs. The other formula is more specfic weight based and ranges from approx 800 to 1400 depending on your weight. I'll leave it to others for search them out.

-- Jim

[cougareyes]

What are you talking about, you're almost done you lucky b*****d.
If you can hang on, hang on; if not at this point to drop down to 1000mg, I have to agree w/ your doc - would be ok. Keep It Up

[kespr]

My Doc told me it was ok due to constant battle with blood counts and I've lost 42 lbs since starting tx. I'm in wk 45 of 48
and I'm taking Pegasys 180mcg + 1200mg rib. He said 1000mg would be ok based on me weight loss and the fact that my crit has been getting low (26) and Hemog as low as 8.3 in resent wks