Is neupogin for 48wk tx?

[pcds]

I had neupenia at 2 wks, and started neupogin at week4 of tx, when my count did not improve.  2x week was too much, and after stopping 10 days with starting WBC after 4 shots, at 23, I tanked on day 10 without neupogin at 1.8.  Now I am 2.7 on day 6 after last shot of neupo.  Has anyone needed neupo and then not?  Or did you need the who time, and how did you know you didn't need it?  Were you taken off for trail periods?
Judy

[spectda]

Trinity-pretty scary that you got bacterial Pneumonia. A lot to go through without SVR. Hopefully it won't be long before you get to try again with one of the new drugs.

Judy-I apologize for jumping in on your thread, tX seems to lead to self absorption!

Dave

[Trinity4]

Once my dosage was regulated and if I remember correctly my ANC hung around 1000.
The first dose wasn't as fast acting on me as it is on some so when my ANC didn't rise quickly enough (300 to 600) I was put on two injections a week.  After about the 3rd week my ANC shot up over 1500 so I was cut back to 1 shot a week and as I continued my ANC stabilized enough to skip a week or even two, but after two weeks it would start tanking.  I also had bacterial Pneumonia twice and was put on high doses of antibiotics before starting Neup.
I hated Neupogen because of the bone pain and fevers it caused but in my case I couldn't have continued treatment without it.  Even thought I didn't SVR at least I know it wasn't because of dose reductions or skipping shots so the discomfort was worth the peace of mind in that respect.

Trinity

[spectda]

My Anc was at 280 last week. They reduced my pegintron and I am taking one injection of neupogen a week for now. I don't blame you for not skipping. I am not too happy about the dose reduction either. I know it's different with everybody, but how much did the neupogen improve your anc? The trial requires mine to be at least 750 to not reduce the peg.
Dave

[Trinity4]

Yes it did.  My local hepa was a little too conservative and I would have been continually dose reduced or taken off of treatment without it.  Actually, before he prescribed the Neup I was dosed reduced twice and then told to skip a shot which I did not do.  Imagine that!

Trinity

[spectda]

Did the neupogen substantially improve your anc?

[Trinity4]

I was on Neupogen 48 out of 72 wks.  It's a balancing act.  Lots of blood tests to monitor ANC levels.  Some weeks 2 injections, other weeks no injections.  The longest I went without Neupogen was 2 wks because my ANC would drop below 400 and would not rebound.  

Trinity