Aa
Starting hep c treatment
I started the pegasys treatment and I am on shot two.. Does it get worse before it gets better? The first shot made me really ill for a few hours.. I feel weak but fine to get up and get dressed etc.. Also I have a really hard time eating 20g of fat with my incivik .. Sometimes I don't eat before I take it.. Or I try to eat is that ok? I haven't lost any weight although I am hoping too I could loose a few pds.. I am really worried about getting depressed or start using drugs again.
"Sometimes I don't eat before I take it.. Or I try to eat is that ok?" "
____________
In short, no. It is not OK to take the meds in that order. As Pooh mentioned the dosig requirement specifically states, "Eat a meal or snack that contains about 20 grams of fat, within 30 minutes before you take each dose of INCIVEK.
http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/317371
_____________________
I agree with everything that has been said so far.
I am not familiar with "imao foreal" but if by the anus part you mean you are beginning to experience diarrhoea then it is crucial to take the proper amount of fat with your dose so you will absorb the meds. I know the fat requirement is gross but there is a reason for the fat requirement with the protease inhibitor Incivek (Telaprevir). There are lots of threads on here related to that but it boils down to enhancing the bioavailability of the med as well as enhancing the absorption.
I took an over-the-counter diarrhoea med prophylactically every day and brief but disgusting experience with the runs disappeared. I to plain old generic Kirkland Brand of the Loperimide (Immodium-D).
Do not let any of your side effects snowball. Many will escalate and not resolve on their own.
______________________
Weight gain/loss:
As you will see the more you read, everyone's experience is different. The first time I treated I gained 55 pounds. It took me a while to get back into shape after treatment. This time I lost a lot of weight but it was most muscle. I only ate when I took my meds so even though I was consuming high fat I virtually gave up carbs. This was not intentional I just think the Incivek can cause loss of appetite and an aversion to certain foods.
____________
In short, no. It is not OK to take the meds in that order. As Pooh mentioned the dosig requirement specifically states, "Eat a meal or snack that contains about 20 grams of fat, within 30 minutes before you take each dose of INCIVEK.
http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/317371
_____________________
I agree with everything that has been said so far.
I am not familiar with "imao foreal" but if by the anus part you mean you are beginning to experience diarrhoea then it is crucial to take the proper amount of fat with your dose so you will absorb the meds. I know the fat requirement is gross but there is a reason for the fat requirement with the protease inhibitor Incivek (Telaprevir). There are lots of threads on here related to that but it boils down to enhancing the bioavailability of the med as well as enhancing the absorption.
I took an over-the-counter diarrhoea med prophylactically every day and brief but disgusting experience with the runs disappeared. I to plain old generic Kirkland Brand of the Loperimide (Immodium-D).
Do not let any of your side effects snowball. Many will escalate and not resolve on their own.
______________________
Weight gain/loss:
As you will see the more you read, everyone's experience is different. The first time I treated I gained 55 pounds. It took me a while to get back into shape after treatment. This time I lost a lot of weight but it was most muscle. I only ate when I took my meds so even though I was consuming high fat I virtually gave up carbs. This was not intentional I just think the Incivek can cause loss of appetite and an aversion to certain foods.
Thank you I am trying to eat before incvk I have to say I really hate the itching of the anus lmao forreal tho
the best thing you can do is drink LOTS of water and try to exercise. even if you just walk. laying around will make you feel worse. i went thru 48 weeks and still went to the gym for low impact aerobics 3x/weekly. it really helped me. good luck with your tx. belle
Tomorrow I will be doing my 5th shot. There are good days and there will be some bad days but as the weeks went on I started to feel a little bit better. Everybody is different and react different ways but you have to eat 20 grams of fat before you take the inck. I know at times it may be hard but you have to get it down. Good luck!
Thank you everyone for your feedback and pooh I am happy to hear you are well and cured. I find medmd a very helpful forum and will continue to use.
Nina and Justasetup,
First welcome to the forum and I think you will both find some helpful advice here. I would just tell you both that this stuff effects us all differently but I would recommend you both prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
You may want to check the search box for possible side effects and remedies in case you experience them because when they hit you may not feel like running to the store.
You can also check the box for foods for your 20gm fat intake. Eating the 20gms 3 times a day was tough for most of us. Some really experience difficult side effects so be ready just in case.
anyway Welcome and best of luck to you both!
Gene
First welcome to the forum and I think you will both find some helpful advice here. I would just tell you both that this stuff effects us all differently but I would recommend you both prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
You may want to check the search box for possible side effects and remedies in case you experience them because when they hit you may not feel like running to the store.
You can also check the box for foods for your 20gm fat intake. Eating the 20gms 3 times a day was tough for most of us. Some really experience difficult side effects so be ready just in case.
anyway Welcome and best of luck to you both!
Gene
Welcome to the forum. I have responded to your questions in order.....
"I started the pegasys treatment and I am on shot two.. Does it get worse before it gets better? The first shot made me really ill for a few hours.. I feel weak but fine to get up and get dressed etc.."
Everyone is different and everyone reacts differently to the treatment and the shots. I took 325mg Tylenol the eve of the shot and another one the next morning. I think that helped. I found that I always felt more tired, more like I had the flu, more like a wet noodle, more weak and dizzy the day or two after the shot. Then I felt a little better as the days wore on, but then it was time for the next shot. I did notice that, over all, I felt better after I had been on treatment for several months. However, others tend to feel worse as the weeks wear on.
Feeling so tired all of the time got on my nerves because I was accomplishing absolutely nothing. One thing that helped me with that frustration was to just drop the expectations. If I got something done, fine. If I got nothing done, fine. I made no plans for anything during treatment except lab appts., MD visits, tests, and the Symphony performances (about once a month). In fact, I scheduled the injections for Mondays so that my best days would be Sundays (the Symphony performances are always on Sundays). I made no commitments for other events and no commitments for evenings. I did fine after coming to grips with the fact that life on treatment was not the same as life not on treatment. I made treatment my priority and I kept my eye on the prize, SVR/cure. I made it through 48 weeks of treatment, finishing Aug. 25th, and was Undetectable at week 12 post end of treatment (99.7% chance for cure now). Treatment was worth it. I feel great, better than I have felt for 19 years. So, take it week by week. Time will go by faster than you think. Come here for information and support.
"Also I have a really hard time eating 20g of fat with my incivik .. Sometimes I don't eat before I take it.. Or I try to eat is that ok?"
You really need to eat the 20 grams of fat in the form of food within 30 minutes before you take the Incivek. The fat and the timing are crucial. The 20 grams of fat are necessary for the maximum absorption of the Incivek and for the Incivek to have full efficacy.
From:
http://www.incivek.com/how-to-take-incivek
How to Take INCIVEK
Take 2 INCIVEK pills (a dose) 3 times a day
Eat a meal or snack that contains about 20 grams of fat, within 30 minutes before you take each dose of INCIVEK
Each dose should be taken 7 to 9 hours apart. Pick the same time each day to make it easier to remember
INCIVEK must be taken with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin
Always take INCIVEK with food
If you take INCIVEK on an empty stomach, you may not get enough medicine in your blood to clear the virus. That's why it's important to eat a meal or snack that contains fat, within 30 minutes of taking each dose of INCIVEK.
Eating the fat is imperative in order to obtain the best chance at cure.
I ate a lot of Greek Goddess yogurt (which is quite high in fat). I always ate toast or some other food along with it.
" I haven't lost any weight although I am hoping too I could loose a few pds."
You may not lose weight on the Incivek. In fact I gained. But my net weight loss while on 48 weeks of treatment was 70 pounds.
"I am really worried about getting depressed or start using drugs again."
It would be advisable for you to speak with your doctor and/or your psychiatrist about your concerns. Depression is a very real side effect (for some) while on treatment. Some of us were placed on antidepressants prior to treatment or we were already on them. I was on Wellbutrin before I started treatment and stayed on it throughout treatment. I am now reducing the Wellbutrin and will be off of it soon. I had NO problems with depression while on treatment.
"I started the pegasys treatment and I am on shot two.. Does it get worse before it gets better? The first shot made me really ill for a few hours.. I feel weak but fine to get up and get dressed etc.."
Everyone is different and everyone reacts differently to the treatment and the shots. I took 325mg Tylenol the eve of the shot and another one the next morning. I think that helped. I found that I always felt more tired, more like I had the flu, more like a wet noodle, more weak and dizzy the day or two after the shot. Then I felt a little better as the days wore on, but then it was time for the next shot. I did notice that, over all, I felt better after I had been on treatment for several months. However, others tend to feel worse as the weeks wear on.
Feeling so tired all of the time got on my nerves because I was accomplishing absolutely nothing. One thing that helped me with that frustration was to just drop the expectations. If I got something done, fine. If I got nothing done, fine. I made no plans for anything during treatment except lab appts., MD visits, tests, and the Symphony performances (about once a month). In fact, I scheduled the injections for Mondays so that my best days would be Sundays (the Symphony performances are always on Sundays). I made no commitments for other events and no commitments for evenings. I did fine after coming to grips with the fact that life on treatment was not the same as life not on treatment. I made treatment my priority and I kept my eye on the prize, SVR/cure. I made it through 48 weeks of treatment, finishing Aug. 25th, and was Undetectable at week 12 post end of treatment (99.7% chance for cure now). Treatment was worth it. I feel great, better than I have felt for 19 years. So, take it week by week. Time will go by faster than you think. Come here for information and support.
"Also I have a really hard time eating 20g of fat with my incivik .. Sometimes I don't eat before I take it.. Or I try to eat is that ok?"
You really need to eat the 20 grams of fat in the form of food within 30 minutes before you take the Incivek. The fat and the timing are crucial. The 20 grams of fat are necessary for the maximum absorption of the Incivek and for the Incivek to have full efficacy.
From:
http://www.incivek.com/how-to-take-incivek
How to Take INCIVEK
Take 2 INCIVEK pills (a dose) 3 times a day
Eat a meal or snack that contains about 20 grams of fat, within 30 minutes before you take each dose of INCIVEK
Each dose should be taken 7 to 9 hours apart. Pick the same time each day to make it easier to remember
INCIVEK must be taken with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin
Always take INCIVEK with food
If you take INCIVEK on an empty stomach, you may not get enough medicine in your blood to clear the virus. That's why it's important to eat a meal or snack that contains fat, within 30 minutes of taking each dose of INCIVEK.
Eating the fat is imperative in order to obtain the best chance at cure.
I ate a lot of Greek Goddess yogurt (which is quite high in fat). I always ate toast or some other food along with it.
" I haven't lost any weight although I am hoping too I could loose a few pds."
You may not lose weight on the Incivek. In fact I gained. But my net weight loss while on 48 weeks of treatment was 70 pounds.
"I am really worried about getting depressed or start using drugs again."
It would be advisable for you to speak with your doctor and/or your psychiatrist about your concerns. Depression is a very real side effect (for some) while on treatment. Some of us were placed on antidepressants prior to treatment or we were already on them. I was on Wellbutrin before I started treatment and stayed on it throughout treatment. I am now reducing the Wellbutrin and will be off of it soon. I had NO problems with depression while on treatment.
"Sometimes I don't eat before I take it.. Or I try to eat is that ok?"
No
Effects of Fod on Oral Absorption
The systemic exposure (AUC) to telaprevir was increased by 237% when telaprevir was administered with a standard fat meal (containing 533 kcal and 21 g fat) compared to when telaprevir was administered under fasting conditions. In addition, the type of meal significantly affects exposure to telaprevir. Relative to fasting, when telaprevir was administered with a low-fat meal (249 kcal, 3.6 g fat) and a high-fat meal (928 kcal, 56 g fat), the systemic exposure (AUC) to telaprevir was increased by approximately 117% and 330%, respectively. Doses of INCIVEK were administered within 30 minutes of completing a meal or snack containing approximately 20 grams of fat in the Phase 3 trials. Therefore, INCIVEK should always be taken with food (not low fat).
How should I take INCIVEK?
Take INCIVEK exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much INCIVEK to take and when to take it.
Take INCIVEK 3 times a day. Each dose should be taken 7 to 9 hours apart. Eat a meal or snack that contains about 20 grams of fat, within 30 minutes before you take each dose of INCIVEK. Talk to your healthcare provider about examples of foods that you can eat that contain about 20 grams of fat. Always take INCIVEK with food.
http://pi.vrtx.com/files/uspi_telaprevir.pdf
No
Effects of Fod on Oral Absorption
The systemic exposure (AUC) to telaprevir was increased by 237% when telaprevir was administered with a standard fat meal (containing 533 kcal and 21 g fat) compared to when telaprevir was administered under fasting conditions. In addition, the type of meal significantly affects exposure to telaprevir. Relative to fasting, when telaprevir was administered with a low-fat meal (249 kcal, 3.6 g fat) and a high-fat meal (928 kcal, 56 g fat), the systemic exposure (AUC) to telaprevir was increased by approximately 117% and 330%, respectively. Doses of INCIVEK were administered within 30 minutes of completing a meal or snack containing approximately 20 grams of fat in the Phase 3 trials. Therefore, INCIVEK should always be taken with food (not low fat).
How should I take INCIVEK?
Take INCIVEK exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much INCIVEK to take and when to take it.
Take INCIVEK 3 times a day. Each dose should be taken 7 to 9 hours apart. Eat a meal or snack that contains about 20 grams of fat, within 30 minutes before you take each dose of INCIVEK. Talk to your healthcare provider about examples of foods that you can eat that contain about 20 grams of fat. Always take INCIVEK with food.
http://pi.vrtx.com/files/uspi_telaprevir.pdf
Sure good luck.. That's what they told me too 3/7 they also told me some people just stay sick. I was very hesitant about starting but I must say it's not as bad as I hyped myself up for it to be. I do notice my hair has started falling out a lot more then usual. The 2nd shot I didn't get sick at all.
We are in the same boat and I wish you the best of luck. My first treatment is tomorrow. I am NOT claiming the side effects. I am picturing that I will be just fine during treatment. If I am ill for a few hours as you were, that will be fine with me. My Dr. told me that I may be ill 3 days out of 7. THAT MUST NOT HAPPEN!!! Let's keep in touch.
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