Stopping Treatment Early Possibly

[Ajw78757]

Throwing this out there for some opinions/theories from others.
There are some really knowledgeable people on this site.

Background:

I was on Incivek for 12 weeks and missed one single dose only.
I have been on SOC (including the 12 weeks w/incivek) for  a full 18 weeks now and
have maintained full adherence to dosing of SOC.

Geno 1a
Started TX w/ VL >20,000,000 and AST/ALT 150/350 range for last 5 yrs or so
within 10 days (first PCR) my VL dropped to 40 and close to normalized LFT.
4 week and 12 weeks PCR was UND.
LFT have stayed normal after 3 weeks


Stopping Early Rebuttals:

I know it is not recommended because the only time frame tested in trials was 24 weeks-
I know that I 'SHOULD" just do the 24 weeks just to make sure.
I know many had to do 48 or 72+ weeks (I feel your pain).
And yes, maybe I am just being a baby wanting to stop early.

MY theory (not fact) :

The virus is gone. Has been gone for a while now.
INF/RIBA have done for my body all it can in relation to the Hep C Virus.
I am continuing taking it because that's the only data published.

My Drs. input:

He cannot recommend stopping early because the data only supports 24 week TX time.
He also said if I were to stop anything early, stop the INF and to continue with the RIBA.
He also said if I stopped the INF a couple weeks early, it probably wouldn't have much of an impact on SVR-
BUT- he cannot recommend doing so, nor can he recommend how early would be "probably ok"

My POSSIBLE plan:

Continue with RIBA full 24 weeks, but stop INF at week 20 or 22
I feel like the INF in particular is not beneficial to me at this point.

I am not for sure going to stop, I am a very cautious person (mostly).
And I would hate to retreat- but given the new trials without INF at all, and
if I continue the RIBA I don't think stopping the INF early is going to have much of an effect on SVR.

Anyone care to offer discussion?

In particular-

I know no one is a Dr., BUT- If you were going to stop the INF early how early?


Thanks,

Aaron

[Ajw78757]

OK-

I get it.

Everyone thinks I should do the full course....I get it.

That was not the reason I posted this question- to ask whether I should stay the full course- I very clearly outline what I "should do"

The point of my post was to see if any other people had stopped early and to see if any other people had similar opinions- obviously not.


I don't think anyone else saying the same exact thing in a different metaphor or reworded or calling it dumb is necessary.

I get it thanks.

I get it.

Just to be clear I am not stopping early (I stated this in my last post)

NOW-

Thank you for your inputs.

I have decided not to stop early- in part because of your posts- thanks.

As I stated in my last post-

I will do the full course- but
I will do a dose reduction the last two weeks, there is data from the trials saying dose reduction does not effect SVR.

I see no risk in this.

It feels right, I feel I am being logical- and I will go with my gut on this one.
The stopping early seems a little more risky- but dose reduction feels good.


Obviously I opened a can of worms asking for input- I should have been more specific.

Thanks to all trying to help.
You have helped me decide to do a dose reduction instead.


Hope you enjoy your day.
And thank you again

Bows,

A

[curiouslady1]

It does seem kind of ridiculous that you might then have to go through another treatment regimen for months and months.  Even if it is more benign in terms of sides, it is still a pain in a..  If you fail your treatment you will be kicking yourself that maybe the reason was because you left two weeks early.  On the other hand, if you fail and you went the full course you will be able to tell yourself "I did the best I could".  

[1oftheclub222]

You have already decided to do the INF for 20 or 22 weeks, by that point you are already 83-91% complete with the treatment...to me, it kind of seems like running a marathon and stopping at 25 miles, cause you know your going to be sore from running so far, you were probably going to be sore after the first mile or 2...it's only 2 or 4 more weeks...if you can do the 20-22 weeks, why not finish?  The INF is in your body already, do you have any data that says 22 weeks of INF poison is less damaging to your body than 24 weeks?   There is data that says 24 weeks of INF has a good chance of SVR.

It must be so hard, and granted i haven't started treatment yet,  but it sounds like you are basing this on an emotional decision rather than a logical one...it seems like it would  suck a lot more to have to do the whole thing all over again cause you didn't want to wait 2 weeks.

[brianmo]

When I first came on the forum years ago and was considering tx a year was my only option. When triple came out, I jumped on it. I feel so grateful to only have to do 24 when some on here have done two, three tx.s in a row. Yes, I understand wanting to stop early. I was UND at 4,8 and hopefully 12 next week and my friends say can you stop now??   My drug induced brain tells me maybe but my doctors say no.   Please hang in there, we will happy dance together then you can go live life....

Mo

[nygirl7]

I am not interested in debating opinions at this point and feel (my damn feeling again) "

hey if you quit early and relapse then it's on you, why are you even bothering to ask? Seriously I don't get it? 24 weeks is a breeze do you know how long some people in here have treated to get rid of this virus and then relapsed anyway?

Postpone your trip even if you stop 2 weeks early for some dumb reason (to go on a trip and 'feel good') is that worth it if you relapse? The odds are NOT 100% with these meds why take thata chance!!!!!!!!!!

[curiouslady1]

If you fail the triple or need to stop early and eventually fail, it is possible to do the new all oral regimen.  In fact they are recruiting for people who have failed the triple in early 2012 in the Pharmasset trials.