Earlier discontinue triple therapy hepatitis c

[mjui]

I was undetectable for virus after 2 weeks. Having a bunch of side effects.
Does anyone discontinue treatment earlier (after 12 weeks) without virus coming back.

[pooh55811]

I understand how the side effects are a big problem and that they make you feel terrible. Please try to hang in there and finish treatment if you can. If you are successful at treatment, you will be cured.

For itching - ask your doctor for a prescription medication for itching. I take Hydroxyzine 25-50 mg. every 6 hours. It works. (I was miserable before I started on Hydroxyzine.) (It is also clearing up my rash.

For depression - ask your doctor or psychiatrist for an anti-depressant. The Hep C drugs can make a person very depressed. See a psychiatrist if necessary.

For insomnia - if you are not depressed and if your itching stops, you may be able to sleep better. Plus, Hydroxyzine can make you a bit sleep. I found that the hydroxyzinemade me a little drowsy, but what helped the most was not waking up at night and itching to death.

I have found that if the side effects are addressed by the doctor and appropriate medications are prescribed, the side effects can be controlled and managed.

Best of luck.

[LookingForward12]

I am right here with you at weeks 13/14. I am so tired of itching and scratching and all the other sides which have hit me like a ton of bricks! I so want this to be over. But since I didn't win the lottery, I am not sure I want to take a chance and gamble on the 'what if' of quitting early. Hang in there and we will muddle through this together to the end!

[Revalation]

Maybe you can start dealing with the problem one day at a time.
Try not look back or project forward. Just go min. by minute if you have to.
We will all be pulling for you.

Reva

[Idyllic]

Yay! Glad you posted and let us talk you off the ledge. I have been feeling so discouraged lately. I have secretly felt so much like you have. Sometimes I just read people's journals and look for a happy ending.

[mjui]

Thank you all for great support.
As stormy456 says, what would I feel if I relapse?
Will try to continue with my treatment.  

[stormy456]

I agree with all posters above, think of how you would feel if you relapsed.  You'll always wonder "what if?"   That would be terrible.

I will tell you that my husband felt much better by around week 14, and has found the SOC part of treatment fairly easy.  I would expect at least some of your sfx to ease up, just  hang in there!

[willbb]

Hi Dee ..hope you are feeling ok  :)

[Dee1956]

Hi I know how you feel, at 13 weeks I wanted to stop so badly, I was having terrible side effects and I just wanted it to stop.  WillBB helped me through that and I continued and am so happy I did, I am now 8 weeks post tx and am feeling great.  I know it is hard
I know of 2 women who stopped at or about 12 weeks they are UND however they are lucky.  I am not and would never take the chance, you are over halfway there.  Please just take it one step at a time.  You will get through it.

[willbb]

Was visiting my doctor again today, after examination, he suggest me to continue therapy.
-----------------------------------
Good advice...

You Mention you are having itching,insomnia and depression. These are all treatable when doing  HCV therapy and hopfully your doctor gave you advice and /or prescriptions for all these .This is his/her job  and the reason they get paid.

To be blunt ...if you quite now and have advanced liver damage(fibrosis) and develop ESLD (End Stage Liver Disease) because you are not able to treat again for possibly many years then the itching and insomnia will seem like a distant walk in the park..

Hope it works out for you...
Will

[mjui]

My feeling that after all RX medication I taking, to reduce my side effect, I will get much more sick, then I was before the therapy.
Maybe I just feel exhausted from itching, depression, insomnia, but I really want to stop. I do understand, that drop it after 13 weeks is not right especially with my virological response.

Was visiting my doctor again today, after examination, he suggest me to continue therapy.
I feel frustrated, and have no idea what to do.
Wish you a great result after your treatment!  

[Idyllic]

Wow, I was just so happen to be reading one of your earlier posts where you mention you finished the Incivek a few days ago. Maybe your rash really will clear up in a few days. I mean you finished the 12 week leg of treatment so now it is just the Interferon and the Riba.  But about your lymph nodes.

Does your doctor really think it is the Interferon/Riba that is the cause of the swollen lymph nodes in your neck? I have been active on and off in HCV forums for a few years now and I confess I have never heard of or read about that side effect. That is why I was hoping the PI was really the cause and that in a few days the problem would resolve.

I just hate to see a fellow HCV'r hang it up after going through such a horrible experience. I really want to encourage you to hang in there no matter what since you are UND. I am having my own set of sides and I am so miserable myself right now that it scares me. It is the physical stuff that is creating the psychological discomfort so trust me I know some of the things that must be going through your mind.

I am not sure of the risks involved or actually even the implications of swollen lymph nodes. Is stopping treatment the only option your doctor proposed?

I am sorry this is happening and I wish I knew what to say. I am not familiar with the odds of SVR after 12 weeks of treatment on PI's and I believe that is your real question. Hopefully there are a few success stories out there. Feel better♥

[willbb]

Just to tag onto cando's post...Keep in mind if you stop treatment and relapse the  resistance issues  are very much an unknown presently.

It may be years before you would be able to treat again and the present condition of your liver should surely play a huge part in any desicion you make now ...

Hopfully you and your doctor can find a way to continue this therapy ,for another 12 weeks,as being UND. @Wk. 2 is a great predictor of success..
Best..
Will

[can-do-man]

Is it possible to become SVR after 12 weeks, yes. But they found 24 weeks work the best. Only you know if its worth the risk as it's a one time deal with these PI's... Do you feel lucky?

Good luck!