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Hepa C

I was diagnose having hepa C virus as early as December 21, 2000while undergoing routine company medical check-up.
Hepatitist C Antigen Test was taken on July 30, 2001 and with result of "Positive for the presence of HC-RNA.”
Conbination Therapy of Interperon and rebairin was made for 4 months and Hepatitist PCR Assay Test was performed on April 25, 2002 where the result was "HCV-RNA not detected".
Another Hepatitist PCR Assay Test was conducted on September 9, 2002 with result of only 58,900 IU/mL (Note: > 800,000 Ui/ml - HIGH / < 800,000 UI/ml -LOW)"
However, HCV-RNA Viral Load (Quantitative) Test was conducted again on July 4, 2003 with result : HCV-RNA Detected Greater than 850,000 IU/mL.
this was repeated on July 25, 2005 with same result.
I was subsequently treated with Pegasys 180 mcg SQ, Rebavirin 200N6/Tab 2 TA , TID and Phosphatisylcholine2 caps TID. Conversely, my medications were witheld on the 8th week due leukopenia and decreaselevel of Absolute Neutrophic Count.  Thus,  Geno typing was conducted on December 29, 2006 with result: Genotype 1.
I get this from my past medical records
Recently I have RNA Viral result that was validated May 25, 2012. My Test Results shows 9,822,742 IU/ml  ( HCV RNA Viral Load detection limit: 25 - 391,000,000 IU/mL)
I was advice to undergo again the  Pegasys / Revabirin Combination therapy.
I am quite anxious and contemplating to use alternative method of treatment or Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Thank you very much,
Jun Parcon (E-mail Add:  ***@****)
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Avatar universal
did you find the supplier of Protease Inhibitors for Hepa C Therapy here in the Philippines. Thanks Kabayan,
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Avatar universal
thanks
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1815939 tn?1377991799
It appears that you underwent treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin twice in the past, but both times the treatment was cut short.

It appears that you had 4 months of treatment the first time and 8 weeks of treatment the second time. Is this correct or did you treat longer than 4 months the first time and longer than 8 weeks the second time?

The first time you attained an Undetectable status at 4 months which is a good sign.

As far as alternative therapies are concerned, there are no known alternative therapies that will cure HCV. Currently, the only marketed treatments that will cure HCV at this time are the medical treatments (Interferon, Ribavirin, and a Protease Inhibitor if Genotype 1). (There are some new drugs in trial studies, but they may not be available for 3-5 years.)

You said the doctor is advising you to treat a third time with Interferon and Ribavirin. You are Genotype 1. The current recommended treatment for Genotype 1 is Interferon, Ribaviriin, and a Protease Inhibitor, either Teleprevir or Boceprevir). This triple medication treatment has a cure rate of about 75 - 80 % as compared to a much, much lower cure  rate using only Interferon and Ribavirin.

Are the Protease Inhibitors not available in the Philippines? It does not seem to make a lot of sense (to me) to retreat with the same drugs (Interferon and Riba) that you have already treated with twice when there is an additional drug available (Protease Inhibitor) to add to the treatment and obtain a much, much higher cure rate.

Instead of trying alternative therapies, which will not cure Hep C, perhaps discuss treatment with your doctor and see if you can add the third drug, the Protease Inhibitor, to the treatment so that you would be on the triple medication regimen that is the current recommended treatment for Genotype 1.

I see you are 55 years old. Hepatitis C damage (liver fibrosis) picks up speed as we age. If you have not had a biopsy that might be a good thing to have to see what your fibrosis stage is. If you have a lot of fibrosis, the time is more urgent to successfully treat soon. Alternative therapies will only delay treatment and the fibrosis will continue to worsen.

I wish you the very best and hope you can successfully treat soon.
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