Infergen

[garde]

Anyone out there been on Infergen?  (if so, what kind of side affects). My Hep wants me to start this because the Pegintron I was on has not eliminted my viral load after 9 months.   My gastro guy cut me back to maintance does, but my Cryoglobulinemia is coming back already.

Hepo says the Infergen is for non responders, and has a greater success of eliminating the viral load.

[PasoPerson]

I am a Hep C, genotype 1a.  24 weeks of treatment on Interferon + Ribavirin only got my VL down to 66,000.

Doctor put me on Infergen + Ribavirin.  In 4 weeks' time my VL went to 2400.  It worked great.  

However, I have had a seizure disorder since 1972 and the Infergen allowed my seizures to break through their medicine.  Grrr.  Have been depressed ever since.  They told me to take a 6 month break.  Time to go to doctor in a couple weeks now, and I am going to try again on Infergen at first to get VL down, then Interferon to complete the job ... I hope I hope I hope.  My neurologist will up my meds while on this regimen, should hold seizures at bay.

So the end result is if you are taking medication for anything that requires you maintain that med, check first with your GP.  If not, I would highly recommend Infergen.  It did the trick for me.

[Myown]

I have been trying to read as much as I can at different sites, but it still doesn't come completely together. Guess your experiencing the same.

Did you have a ANTINUCLEAR AB test in any of your tests? I think(?) this is why she thinks I have it. I'm concerned about this being a problem with svr. Some articles say get rid of hep and cryo clears with it and other articles say you have to stay on low dose therapy or something. scary stuff.

missmiss has finished tx,and is going to have a cryo test to see what type cryo she has. So i guess that means it didn't go away with tx.?

Meantime, I have a doc appointment beginning of Oct., so I'll ask Doc about it, even if I hopefully don't have it and I'll let you know what she says.

[52TELE]

Me too me too!! Please tell us your experience with Cryo .

[Myown]

Sorry don't know anything about infergen, but I'm sure someone will offer advice/opinion when they see your post.

trying to learn as much as possible about cryo,I might have it.

Did your doctor think the cryo was reason you didn't clear?

Also, if you don't mind, can you tell me what you mean when you say the cryo is comming back? You have physical symptoms (what are they)? or you know cryo is back because seen in blood labs?

thanks

[52TELE]

"But, now I know why I act as I do at times"

I love it. Some people never figure it out , some people blame everything they can on treatment. It's too bad you had to go through so much on your journey.  Your welcome here , we fight like brothers and sisters sometimes, but your more than welcome to join us.

Here are my stats

49 yr old male in Dallas area.
dx fall of 2004 after life insurance exam.
Infected 1975
HCV genotype 1a
Initial VL 2.2 million
bx spring 2005  grade 2 stage 3.
Started .5 ml pegintron and 1400 mg ribavirin March 2005
Hemolytic anemia early on. Started 40,000 units Procrit late April 2005
HGB maintaining 11.5-13.5 .
2 log drop at 12 wks but not UND
UND at 16 wks . Extend treatment 4 wks.
Just completed shot 25/52.

My Dr. is Monty Trioutman at University of North Texas Health Science Center.

[Lonestar823]

I had very good results with Infergen.  I did the Peg  but still had a viral load of 300 at six months and so he took me off all meds.  Six months later he suggested I try the Infergen.  I am also 1A.  I started with a vl of 3 million but it jumped sky high after stopping the Peg.  I cleared the virus after 18 weeks on the Infergen. Think I would have cleared sooner but I was only on 800 Riba.  Week 12 he upped me to 1000 and that did the trick.  I did 73 weeks of daily shots with twice a week Procrit at six months. It was a battle, a real battle with every side under the sun but not any different than the Peg for me, only, longer.  So long I don't know how I did it looking back.  I finished 9 weeks ago and within two weeks I was mostly myself again.  A few lingering sides but not bad.  If I can help you in any way, just whistle. ; ]