Copegus anyone?

[Magnum]

I just picked up my Infergen and Copegus. I don't know what Copegus is but I assume it's a generic for Ribavirin. I'm to take 1200mg daily. Anyone ever taken these? Will they have a worse effect than Ribavirin? will I lose all my hair? Will my tongue swell as it did with Ribavirin? Will I glow in the dark? Are they as effective when coupled with Infergen as Ribavirin?

All help is greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance...

Magnum

[Magnum]

Well, you should be thankful your ex-boyfriend is gone. He was not for you if he bailed out at the first sign of trouble. There will be someone who is compassionate and understanding in your life.

As for doing treatment again, I said the same thing as you "never again" after the first time. Here I am preparing for the 4th time. I guess I just hate the thought of losing. I know there's nothing else right now, and for me to give in, even under the pressure of constant sorrow and torture, will have made all of that fruitless.

I plan to continue to counter-attack my enemy and be victorious. I think once you give your body a good rest, you should consider another battle and be victorious. Maybe because I've been through so many physical problems in my life, it has tempered me to continue through the torture, the pain, the anger and the depression. Remember it's either "The Agony Of Defeat or The Thrill Of Victory". Best of luck to you.....

Magnum

[doll face]

I took copegus(ribavirin)for 72 weeks and there was no difference than when I took Rebetrol( also ribavirin) Just a different name for the same med.

[NYgirl]

I take the Rebetol version of the same exact stuff, 1000 a day.

I think everybody in here treating is on Riba of some sort - it's the only thing that has a chance of a cure now (the combo treatment).

[texasgal]

Well, thanks for sharing your sides with me.  As I stated before, I went through the same sides plus fever, chills, brain fog, speech impediment, weight loss, sight loss, psychosis, delusions of grandure, depression, moodiness.  Gosh, shall I go on.  I was gaunt and dead looking as well.  I still am as a matter of fact.  I took myself off the meds because I couldn't handle it any more.  I had a beautiful head of hair and even though it is coming back, it feels like peach fuzz and is driving me crazy.  I doubt that it will ever be the same.  My boyfriend left me as soon as he found out I had Hep C.  It was all the torture I could handle.  The only good news is that I my PCR came back undetectable after the first 3 months.  I will find out Monday if I am still there.  I do know one thing, no matter what, I will never put those horrible drugs back in my body ever again and I am not completely sure I will ever be the same again.  It was awful and I just don't understand why they have to make the drugs more horrible than the disease itself.

Linda

[Magnum]

Well, I lost about 1/2 of my hair during all three treatments, and although it pretty much all came back in-between treatments, I lost my curls about 60% and they never came back. Shucks...

However, there is hope. I think the fact that if this doesn't work after three months, the doctor will take me off it, but if it does work and I'm undetectable, then it will be the first time in four treatments that I will be. Having had former experiences with the treatments I think, prepares one for the upcoming battle.

Sorry to hear you had such discomfort. Don't think I didn't have my bouts of torture. How's this: Seven sores on my lip all at once overnight, tongue swelling so that I was chewing the side of it while eating, enormous rashes and scratching until bleeding, gaunt death-like look, jaw in tremendous pain, joint pains all over, a crack on my upper lip that would not heal until several weeks after stopping treatments, extremely volatile temper (I destroyed several things I like because they weren't working properly), sleeplessness, irritability, leg cramps.... Shall I go on? I know about torture, but since there is no other way, here we go again... Once, in the words of my former Gastro, he said, "Even though you were not cured, we bought a year of time". I'll take that.

Good luck texasgal and may God grant you the health we all need, to go on with our lives.... and Merry Christmas...

Magnum

[texasgal]

One of the questions  you asked was about your hair.  I was on daily infergen and copegus.  I lost 90% of my hair.  Not only the hair loss, but the combination of all of the other sides was the worst experience I have ever been through in my life.

However, please do not let my experience hinder your decisions about treatment.  As you will find on this board, everyone experiences different side effects.  I just happened to have all of them to the max and more.

Linda

[cougareyes]

Copegus is the brand name by Roche for ribravin, same makers of pegasys.   Peace