I want to welcome you and your Dad to the forum! You have found a group of caring individuals willing to help advise and support you both along the way. Let me first say that your Dad is fortunate to have you by his side throughout this. I'm very pleased to hear he isn't suffering the sides we all remember from previous therapies.
The Viekira Pak protocol is an excellent opportunity for him to finally rid himself of the virus and starting it now sounds like an excellent decision. Even compensated cirrhotic's have a good response to this protocol. I'm including a link I posted previously but wanted you to see it if you missed it as you browsed the forum. It's very informative.
The blood work looks quite good! His viral reduction is great and look at those LFT'S! They're great! Thanks for sharing that, it really helps us understand his response to treatment. I would expect him to be undetected very soon if not already there. He has much to look forward to and I hope you keep us advised of his progress. If we can be of assistance, don't hesitate to ask. My best to you both!
Hello everybody. I'm here to share my father's experience with Viekira Pak. He's 72 yo, geno 1b with cirrhosis and he failed all the previous therapies with Interferon and Riba but he didn't try neither Telaprevir nor Boceprevir. He is on 12 week of Viekira plus weight-based RBV (1000 mg [<75 kg], so he takes 9 pills a day with food. (3 pills of Viekira + 2 Riba in the morning and 1 Viekira + 3 Riba in the evening) These are his blood work results.
pre tx Vl Rna <600.000 Ast 298 Alt 200 Alb 43 Bil tot 1,9 Plt 58 Wbc 3,64 Rbc 3,99 Hg 13,6
1 week Vl Rna 216 Ast 123 Alt 125 Alb 44,4 Bil tot 1,7 Plt 81 Wbc 5,3 Rbc 4,03 Hg 13,8
2 week Vl Rna 125 Ast 50 Alt x Alb 44,7 Bil tot x Plt 119 Wbc 6,6 Rbc 3,95 Hg 13,2
3 week Vl Rna 18 Ast 46 Alt 31 Alb 44,3 Bil tot 1,9 Plt 92 Wbc 5,5 Rbc 3,9 Hg 13,3
Now dad is on the his 5 week of treatment and hes still waiting for his 4 week blood exams. Till now he didn't have any sides from the drugs and could barely say he is on therapy just because he had to swallow a lot of pills.. At first he was scared from Riba because in the past he had to discontinue one of his treatments for the horrible rash and itching the Riba gave him but maybe it was the interaction with interferon, in fact today he has no sides at all. I'm reading a lot of forum around and I see all people are on Harvony and just few news on Viekira.. I understand it has a better compliance with its just 1 pill a day but we took what they offered us because dad was on the hedge of decompensation and he couldn't wait anymore. I considered even Harvoni is often paired to Riba as well in patients with cirrhosis and/or prior treatment failure, so its really 4 Viekira against 1 Harvoni a day, being Riba the same dosage for both the drugs. I know he can manage it and he is doing well. Then I found a document online where it is said
«Viekira Pak® (requires Harvoni failure)>> The use of Viekira Pak® (paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir combination) may be considered medically necessary to treat Genotype 1 patients meeting the above criteria with failure or intolerance to Harvoni® (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir). The use of Viekira Pak® (paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir combination) may be considered medically necessary to treat Genotype 1 patients meeting the above criteria that have not been treated with Harvoni but have a creatinine clearance (CrCl) < 30 ml/min.»
It seems Viekira is our last resort and I'm a bit worried now. However I really believe knowledge is power and I''ll continue to share how our tx goes hoping more people could join their feedback. I read some people wonder if Harvoni suppress their immune system. for they kept colds during tx and felt it does weaken their immune system, I know for sure this isn't happened to my dad and even his Dr said he cannot get any viral sick while on treatment, his drug will prevent it.. That's all for now, Forgive me for my too long first post but I tried to be as clear as possible, next time Ill be shorter. Wishing you all the best
-- Edited by llory on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 05:38:52 PM
zavr said
Feb 19, 2015
Thanks, guys! Can't wait to see many more treatment option trains taking off from the station soon! Choo-choo! :)
Gator Man said
Feb 19, 2015
Wow! This place is getting busier than Grand Central Station. Good going Natalia!
G Man
Matt Chris said
Feb 19, 2015
Hey Natalia
This is a needed thread and I am happy & impressed that you have made the effort to model it after the Harvoni thread. ABBvies "Viekira" prrotocol is a well received among its patients with very little side effects and high SVR rate when prescribed correctly, either 12 weeks for non-cirrhotics or 24 for cirrhotics.
Its my personal belief that I would had attained SVR if I was on the 24 arm for Cirrhotic patients in ABBVies Clinical trial (Turqouise II).
Thanks for having the vision Natalia
matt
Tig said
Feb 19, 2015
Natalia,
Great idea!! Bring it on people! Another train on the tracks, WOOT, WOOT!
Tig
zavr said
Feb 19, 2015
At the risk of shamelessly plagiarizing from our older and wiser brother-thread "Harvoni," here is an invitation to share any questions, concerns and reports for HCV treatment with AbbVie's "Viekira Pak."
As with the "Harvoni" thread, feel free to speak up about your experiences with treatment, doctors, labs, and side effects. I hope this will be a source of encouragement and support for anyone on the Viekira Pak train :) As Matt wisely said, "Have fun, keep it light and dignified, remembering how to disagree without being disagreeable."
Hello Ilory,
I want to welcome you and your Dad to the forum! You have found a group of caring individuals willing to help advise and support you both along the way. Let me first say that your Dad is fortunate to have you by his side throughout this. I'm very pleased to hear he isn't suffering the sides we all remember from previous therapies.
The Viekira Pak protocol is an excellent opportunity for him to finally rid himself of the virus and starting it now sounds like an excellent decision. Even compensated cirrhotic's have a good response to this protocol. I'm including a link I posted previously but wanted you to see it if you missed it as you browsed the forum. It's very informative.
The blood work looks quite good! His viral reduction is great and look at those LFT'S! They're great! Thanks for sharing that, it really helps us understand his response to treatment. I would expect him to be undetected very soon if not already there. He has much to look forward to and I hope you keep us advised of his progress. If we can be of assistance, don't hesitate to ask. My best to you both!
Tig
http://abbvie.mediaroom.com/2014-12-19-AbbVie-Receives-U-S-FDA-Approval-of-VIEKIRA-PAK-Ombitasvir-Paritaprevir-Ritonavir-Tablets-Dasabuvir-Tablets-for-the-Treatment-of-Chronic-Genotype-1-Hepatitis-C
Hello everybody. I'm here to share my father's experience with Viekira Pak.
He's 72 yo, geno 1b with cirrhosis and he failed all the previous therapies with Interferon and Riba but he didn't try neither Telaprevir nor Boceprevir.
He is on 12 week of Viekira plus weight-based RBV (1000 mg [<75 kg], so he takes 9 pills a day with food. (3 pills of Viekira + 2 Riba in the morning and 1 Viekira + 3 Riba in the evening)
These are his blood work results.
pre tx
Vl Rna <600.000
Ast 298
Alt 200
Alb 43
Bil tot 1,9
Plt 58
Wbc 3,64
Rbc 3,99
Hg 13,6
1 week
Vl Rna 216
Ast 123
Alt 125
Alb 44,4
Bil tot 1,7
Plt 81
Wbc 5,3
Rbc 4,03
Hg 13,8
2 week
Vl Rna 125
Ast 50
Alt x
Alb 44,7
Bil tot x
Plt 119
Wbc 6,6
Rbc 3,95
Hg 13,2
3 week
Vl Rna 18
Ast 46
Alt 31
Alb 44,3
Bil tot 1,9
Plt 92
Wbc 5,5
Rbc 3,9
Hg 13,3
Now dad is on the his 5 week of treatment and hes still waiting for his 4 week blood exams. Till now he didn't have any sides from the drugs and could barely say he is on therapy just because he had to swallow a lot of pills.. At first he was scared from Riba because in the past he had to discontinue one of his treatments for the horrible rash and itching the Riba gave him but maybe it was the interaction with interferon, in fact today he has no sides at all.
I'm reading a lot of forum around and I see all people are on Harvony and just few news on Viekira.. I understand it has a better compliance with its just 1 pill a day but we took what they offered us because dad was on the hedge of decompensation and he couldn't wait anymore. I considered even Harvoni is often paired to Riba as well in patients with cirrhosis and/or prior treatment failure, so its really 4 Viekira against 1 Harvoni a day, being Riba the same dosage for both the drugs.
I know he can manage it and he is doing well.
Then I found a document online where it is said
«Viekira Pak® (requires Harvoni failure)>>
The use of Viekira Pak® (paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir combination) may be considered medically necessary to treat Genotype 1 patients meeting the above criteria with failure or intolerance to Harvoni® (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir).
The use of Viekira Pak® (paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir combination) may be considered medically necessary to treat Genotype 1 patients meeting the above criteria that have not been treated with Harvoni but have a creatinine clearance (CrCl) < 30 ml/min.»
https://www.premera.com/medicalpolicies/CMI_042547.htm
It seems Viekira is our last resort and I'm a bit worried now.
However I really believe knowledge is power and I''ll continue to share how our tx goes hoping more people could join their feedback.
I read some people wonder if Harvoni suppress their immune system. for they kept colds during tx and felt it does weaken their immune system, I know for sure this isn't happened to my dad and even his Dr said he cannot get any viral sick while on treatment, his drug will prevent it..
That's all for now, Forgive me for my too long first post but I tried to be as clear as possible, next time Ill be shorter.
Wishing you all the best
-- Edited by llory on Sunday 22nd of February 2015 05:38:52 PM
Wow! This place is getting busier than Grand Central Station. Good going Natalia!
G Man
Hey Natalia
This is a needed thread and I am happy & impressed that you have made the effort to model it after the Harvoni thread. ABBvies "Viekira" prrotocol is a well received among its patients with very little side effects and high SVR rate when prescribed correctly, either 12 weeks for non-cirrhotics or 24 for cirrhotics.
Its my personal belief that I would had attained SVR if I was on the 24 arm for Cirrhotic patients in ABBVies Clinical trial (Turqouise II).
Thanks for having the vision Natalia
matt
Natalia,
Great idea!! Bring it on people! Another train on the tracks, WOOT, WOOT!
Tig
At the risk of shamelessly plagiarizing from our older and wiser brother-thread "Harvoni," here is an invitation to share any questions, concerns and reports for HCV treatment with AbbVie's "Viekira Pak."
As with the "Harvoni" thread, feel free to speak up about your experiences with treatment, doctors, labs, and side effects. I hope this will be a source of encouragement and support for anyone on the Viekira Pak train :) As Matt wisely said, "Have fun, keep it light and dignified, remembering how to disagree without being disagreeable."
Warmly,
Natalia