is triple therapy (incivek) the right prescription?

[OC]

I'm genotype 1a and was a non responder in 2002, I took peg/intron A (scheering-plough) with ribavirin.

Now my hepatologist is prescribing the triple therapy (pegasus - ribavirin) with incivek.

My question is, if i failed on peg/intron A with ribavirin before is this the right prescription?

thanks!

[Aeschines]

Thanks you and  pooh55811 are Great!. But the whole forum is great. I will keep u all updated on my next Nov. doctor's visit  (to doctor who we think screwed up), and how long it takes me to get back to UCSD.

[ceanothus]

NSAIDs are a whole class of drugs called Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs, and it includes all of the following:
aspirin Salsalate (Amigesic)
celecoxib (Celebrex),
diclofenac (Voltaren),
etodolac (Lodine),
ibuprofen (Motrin),
indomethacin (Indocin),
ketoprofen (Orudis),
ketorolac (Toradol),
nabumetone (Relafen),
naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn),
oxaprozin (Daypro),
piroxicam (Feldene),
sulindac (Clinoril), and
tolmetin (Tolectin).

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is not an NSAID. It is the only over the counter pain med that is considered safe for people with cirrhosis, as long as the daily dosage is kept to 2,000 mg per day or less. Ironically, it is one of the most dangerous to the liver in cases of overdosage, so be careful of the total dosage. It is added to many combination remedies, so one has to keep totals of the amount in each of the different sources. The overdose danger with Acetaminophen applies to everyone, but the warnings against NSAIDs are really oriented towards those with serious liver damage and if your liver is still in pretty good shape you might not have to worry over modest use of NSAIDs. I just like to warn people because some are prescribed large doses of them for arthritis or for back problems, and that in itself might accelerate liver damage from HCV, and in combination with even modest amounts of alcohol it is nearly certain to cause problems. I'm pretty sure it contributed to rapid progression to cirrhosis in my case.

[Aeschines]

NSAIDs  are acetaminophens, right? Do they include Ibuprofen and Aleve class pain meds (I forget he tech name) drug?

Yes, I will have to wait and I think my liver is in good shape. My doctor said I have some scarring but not much. Again, I can just thank GOD because I do not know why. I eat well, and do not drink alcohol (since I was diagnosed in 1994.)    I feel so blessed for you guys because if I hadn't stumbled onto this site I would continue to be treated by my current doctor, who I will see for the last time on Nov.12 when I seek an explanation for the 24 weeks vs 48 weeks. Then, I am going back to UCSD where my treatment began 10 yrs. ago.

[Aeschines]

Great Work Pooh. That one is right. I was treated at that liver clinic in 2003-5  (before my insurance ran out), and, as I said when I identified the  code & exchange as in Hillcrest,  that great liver center is in the UCSD facility in Hillcrest.  Also the 200 W Arbor Drive  (Hillcrest) San Diego, CA 92103 is Martinez's address also, and the phone # you gave for his is correct.  The only minor error was Gish's address should be Martinez's and the '858' number does not go with Arbor Dr., but goes with the La Jolla address I gave which was 9350 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037.  

When I treated there in 2003-05, Dr. Tarek Hassenein was in charge of the Liver Clinic. He did my biopsy. He used to leave and go speak on Hep-C all across the country. Have anybody heard of him? (PS I did a typo for his ph. #. His number should same as Martinez.)

[pooh55811]

I got that information on line by googling Dr. Gish's name. His name does not come up on the UCSD Health System website. That is why I am not so sure if he still treats people.

This one for Dr, Martinez:

Dr. Anthony Martinez
UC San Diego Health System
Liver Center:  619-543-5415

I took it right off of the  UCSD Health System website.

http://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/gastro/areas-expertise/liver-center/Pages/liver-center-team.aspx

Maybe it is outdated. I do know that the forum member who treated with them did so in 2011, so perhaps they are no longer there.

You live near there so you probably know more about the numbers than I do. I hope you find a good one. I would think the UCSD would be a good place to start.

[Aeschines]

I am not a Mr. Know it all, but I think the addresses and/ or tel #s are wrong on these physicians. Both appear to practice at UCSD, a large Univ. Cal hospital in San Diego. The W. Arbor Drive address is in a neighborhood called 'Hillcrest' where UCSD has a large med center. The UCSD facilities there (I was treated at both) has the 619-543 area code & exchange.  The '858-657' area code and exchange in in the north, main, campus located at: 9350 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037. Hope this helps for future.

But I understand and will sort it out.