pegasys versus peg-intron, side effects?

[orphanedhawk]

Hi,
   Any opinions on which treatment has less horrible side effects, pegasys or peg-intron?
   Thanks

[Alady1620]

I have heard that the sx for peg-intron are worse than pegasys.  There is a thread from last week discussing this very topic.  You might check the archives for a quick answer.

[NYgirl]

They are both peg interferon so the sides are going to be pretty much the same.  Everybody is different and everybody judges sides different - so it's kind of hard to say what's "harder" pretty much.

I've had two doctors tell me it doesn't matter which you take it's just the brand name of the stuff.

But of course I am sure people haev OPINIONS but you have to remember...none of us are doctors in here just patients and that is all our words are.  You can get whopper sides or none at all from EITHER.

[GrandOak]

There are actually a few threads on this subject in the archives and as nygirl pointed out are based mostly upon anecdotal experiences of individuals who have tried both, which may or may not hold for any particular person as the sx's people experience on this tx are genuinely unique for each person.

[FlGuy]

I recently had to make the decision.  I'm not trying to convince you, just give you my reasons for choosing Pegasys.  Two docs said it didn't matter.  I used peg Intron the first time and cleared, so the docs though I'd respond to Pegasys. PegIntron is weight based, Pegasys is not.  At my weight (180) it didn;t matter.  If you are heavier (say around 195) Intron could be a better 'weight shoice'.  If you are lighter than about 160 by using Pegasys you'd be using more per pound (assuming more is beeter).  Stories from other people (the anecdotal part) hints that the sides from Pegasys may be less, but eyeryone is different.  Due to an old thumb injury the Intron Redi-pen was a little clumsy, Pegasys pre-filled might be a little easier.  In the end it really proabably doesn't matter that much.  For me, I could have gone either way.

[slowsouthernstyle]

i used both of those drugs and they both are bad.slow

[slowsouthernstyle]

i used both of those drugs and they both are bad.slow

[mikesimon]

I used both and Pegasys was a lot easier for me to tolerate - there was no comparison in the sides. I did Peg-Intron for 1 year and relapsed and then 6 weeks later I started Pegasys and stayed on it for 73 weeks. I could never have tolerated Peg-Intron for that long and, in fact, though I cleared on Peg-Intron late and knew I shouldn't stop when I did I just couldn't go on any longer. Mike

[orphanedhawk]

Thanks. I am small, 105 lbs, sometimes less.  I was leaning towards the pegasys but now I'm just as confused as I am about everything else. I'll check the archives.

[jmjm530]

Because Pegasys is not weight-based, it might give you more bang for the buck as they say.

Good luck!

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

PegIntron comes in (I think) 4 doses (different colored box), based on your body weight.  If you doc rx's PegIntron he'll prescribe according to your weight.   Pegasys, as mentioned is one-size-fits-all.

[desrt]

As reported in the Aug 2006 Journal of Hepatology:

"Patients receiving Peg-Intron had significantly greater up-regulation of interferon-alfa response genes compared with those receiving Pegasys. Patients treated with Peg-Intron also had a significantly greater log maximum and log time-weighted average decrease in serum HCV RNA. A greater proportion of patients receiving Peg-Intron achieved a 2 log reduction in serum HCV RNA by week 8 compared with those taking Pegasys. There was an aproximately 16-fold greater exposure to pegylated interferon in the serum of patients treated with Pegasys."

or

Peg-Intron works better but Pegasys stays in your system longer making the NET RESULT the same.

Now if S-P and Roche could just get together and stick S-P's IFN-alfa 2b onto Roche's branched PEG molecule.........

[orphanedhawk]

Okay, I think I'll be blond about it and do the pegasys because I was born in the year of the horse.

[Algernon]

I went to a good hepatologist at a big liver center and they suggested Pegasys for small folks.  I'm small and I'm clear after 17 weeks post--used Pegasys.  Good luck to ya.

On, and those pre-filled syringes were easy to handle.

[GrandOak]

I have not tried the weight-based PegIntron which requires mixing prior to injection.

But, I've found that the pre-filled syringes of the Pegasus are very convinient compared to the Procrit or Neupogen which I had to draw from vial into the syringe.

[FlGuy]

The study desrt referred to was sponsored by PegIntron (Shering) in the same issue:

[friole]

I'll just weigh in for Pegasys.  It was easy to administer and I cleared after 56 weeks of treatment.


FL -- thanks for the whole story

frijole

[Kalio1]

PegIntron comes in prefilled vials like Pegasys does and it also comes in mix yourself vials. Pick your poison.

[NYgirl]

LOL yeah like Schering would finance a study to say PegASYS was better?

hahahahahahahhahahaa  It's all in the $$$ and nada much otherwise and if that don't prove it...nothing will.

[FlGuy]

The lead sentence/paragraph in the article:  "A combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is standard therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, but there is little research comparing the two approved brands of pegylated interferon"

From my own observation, if you inserted the word 'independent' between the words 'little' and 'research' it might be a more accurate statement.  Maybe something like the safety impact tests for autos.  After all, there are a lot of us 'test crash dummies' out here.

[NYgirl]

Yeah but is anybody looking at our cars after we do?  ;)

I think I need a whole new chassis!  :)

[LLflowlee]

  hello i have a daughter that has taken pegintron starting aug 07 she is suffer bad depression and mind promblems how long does this last after stopping the med? i don't want to put her away for ever she is really a good person. now she is nuts as abug. any help? email me at ***@**** with an answer please.

[bd91160]

DON'T use ANY!  There has to be a better way.  I have had serious health problems 5 years off the drug!  No Hep!
But I have fagiue to the point I can't get out of bed
lost my eye sight!
still have hallutionations
Hearing loss, memory loss,
There are days I feel like I have had treatment!
My hands and feet swell with tingling and numbness
The worst is.............. the jiont pain!
Go figure, they made me well!

[orphanedhawk]

Its spooky seeing a post of mine from out of the past pop up. I wish medhelp would stop doing that!

[Bill1954]

Wow! A hearty welcome back to you; how are you feeling post-transplant? I think what happens with these posts is that they’re regenerated when someone clicks on the archives; this kicks them back out into circulation automatically. Glad to see you back posting again; take good care,

Bill