Hi Ginny, welcome from me too, I`m glad you found us!
Yes, Malcolm is right, the Victrelis treatment protocol hasn`t changed. If you were on treatment with Incivek you would only take that for 12 weeks, but you need to take Victrelis for the whole course, once you`ve done the 4 week lead-in of Peg/Ribavirin.
Sorry you`re finding the sx (side effects) hard going, this isn`t an easy treatment regimen and you`re bound to be feeling tired. Try to get as much rest as you can, and keep your stress levels to a minimum. Many people here have been through treatment with Victrelis and will be happy to share tips on dealing with sx, and we have a useful `search` box at the top of the page.
Wishing you the best of luck, stay in touch!
mallani said
Nov 16, 2013
Hi Ginny,
Welcome to the Forum. The protocol for Victrelis has not changed. The 4 week leadin with Peg/Riba is still the same, and Victrelis is then added for 24 or 44 weeks. As you are cirrhotic, you get the 44 weeks of Victrelis ( total Rx length 48 weeks). Incivek is only taken for 12 weeks. The anaemia from the Peg/Riba is certainly more pronounced, and a Hb of 10.2 at week 13 is good- it means the drugs are doing their job. Unfortunately, fatigue becomes a big issue. I stayed on 1200mg/day of Riba for the full 48 weeks, and my Hb was 7.2 by the end. In the USA, Hb below 10 is usually treated by Riba reduction and/or procrit. Try to stop them dropping the dose too much, as cirrhotics need all the help they can get. Working full time will be difficult- can you get time off? The rash you mention in your Bio. is probably from Riba. Don't scratch and use a low strength steroid cream. 0.5% triamcinolone kept mine under control. On the Forum, cirrhotics treated with Victrelis have had good results, so keep truckin'. It's not easy, but the prize at the end is worth it. Good luck.
Ginny said
Nov 16, 2013
My doctor just told me that the protocol for Victrellis has recently changed. I'm in week 9 of the Vic and was told I would only take it for 12 weeks. Now that's been changed and I have to take it for the remainder of my 48 weeks! Anyone else been told this? My Hgb is at 10 now and the Vic has been much more difficult than just the iPeg/rib combo alone. Any feedback would be helpful.
Hi Ginny, welcome from me too, I`m glad you found us!
Yes, Malcolm is right, the Victrelis treatment protocol hasn`t changed. If you were on treatment with Incivek you would only take that for 12 weeks, but you need to take Victrelis for the whole course, once you`ve done the 4 week lead-in of Peg/Ribavirin.
Sorry you`re finding the sx (side effects) hard going, this isn`t an easy treatment regimen and you`re bound to be feeling tired. Try to get as much rest as you can, and keep your stress levels to a minimum. Many people here have been through treatment with Victrelis and will be happy to share tips on dealing with sx, and we have a useful `search` box at the top of the page.
Wishing you the best of luck, stay in touch!
Hi Ginny,
Welcome to the Forum. The protocol for Victrelis has not changed. The 4 week leadin with Peg/Riba is still the same, and Victrelis is then added for 24 or 44 weeks. As you are cirrhotic, you get the 44 weeks of Victrelis ( total Rx length 48 weeks). Incivek is only taken for 12 weeks. The anaemia from the Peg/Riba is certainly more pronounced, and a Hb of 10.2 at week 13 is good- it means the drugs are doing their job. Unfortunately, fatigue becomes a big issue. I stayed on 1200mg/day of Riba for the full 48 weeks, and my Hb was 7.2 by the end. In the USA, Hb below 10 is usually treated by Riba reduction and/or procrit. Try to stop them dropping the dose too much, as cirrhotics need all the help they can get. Working full time will be difficult- can you get time off? The rash you mention in your Bio. is probably from Riba. Don't scratch and use a low strength steroid cream. 0.5% triamcinolone kept mine under control. On the Forum, cirrhotics treated with Victrelis have had good results, so keep truckin'. It's not easy, but the prize at the end is worth it.
Good luck.
My doctor just told me that the protocol for Victrellis has recently changed. I'm in week 9 of the Vic and was told I would only take it for 12 weeks. Now that's been changed and I have to take it for the remainder of my 48 weeks! Anyone else been told this? My Hgb is at 10 now and the Vic has been much more difficult than just the iPeg/rib combo alone. Any feedback would be helpful.