Pegintron Vs Pagasys for my Mother

[Fajardo]

My mother was diagnose with Hepatitis C (Genotype 1), She is not in the Hepatic cirrhosis Stage yet, she is in hepatic fibrosis stage. We want to start with the Treatment and has found some doubts. We saw more than one doctor just to confirm and see what they suggest.
One doctor prescribed Pegasys 180 mcg and the other doctor Pegintron 80 mcg.
My mother is 70 years old and has weight of 120 Lbs (55 Kgs).
The doctor that choose Pegintron said that because of my mother weight 180 mcg is high for her that's why he prefer 80 mcg.

Any suggestions? Thanks

[Fajardo]

Thanks spectda/FIguy,
I will keep posting info. regarding the process when we start next week.
Thanks all

[FlGuy]

PegIntron is weight based, weigh more - higher dose (between 80 - 150).  Pegasys is one size fits all (180).  I'm one who has used both and found that Pegasys is less nasty than PegIntron.  Others may say the opposite.  But, in informal observation over the years slightly more people think that Pegasys is not as bad and PegIntron.

By the way, some less weighty people have chosen Pegasys for the reason that the doc suggests against  -  they thinking that proportionally stronger is better.  But, for 70 year old.....not so sure.

[spectda]

Incivek is also called telaprevir.
Victrelis is also called boceprevir.

I think the choice of pegasys is probably best also although I am not an expert.
Good luck and I hope she does well with it. Keep posting on the forum and let us know how things go. there are many experienced people here that can offer advice and support.

-Dave

[Fajardo]

Thanks for the inputs. We live in Dominican Republic (The Caribbean).
We have seen two doctors and they are hepatolgist with experience triating Hep C. physical, mental and emotional  is very good, but strength is relative, for being 70s I guess she is strong enougth. I will search if Victrelis or Incivek are available. Thanks again.
After reading all the posts and coeric advaice my beleive is that Pegasys would be the right choice for Her.

[spectda]

Hi
Some people who have tried both say that the sides from pegintron are worse. Is she seeing a doctor who is a hepatologist or gastroenterologist very experienced in treating hep c?

How is her physical, mental and emotional health and strength? Has she had a liver biopsy and if so what stage of fibrosis does she have?

Do you live in the US or a country that has the new medications available (victrelis or Incivek)? When one of these drugs is used in combination with interferon and ribavirin the possibility of success is much higher, and treatment time may be reduced depending upon response. Of course more drugs also means more side effects.

Welcome to the forum,
Dave

[coeric]

i believe the overall efficacy of both drugs is similar. some say that they have experienced fewer side effects with the pegasys.  i am seriously considering tx because it looks like this disease has a good chance of killing the body.  i am 55 and was dx'd with cirrhosis.  however if i thought some other disease had a good chance of killing me before the HCV - i would not treat.

eric