There is help available. Do a search on this and you will see post others have done with links to financial assistance.
suziq said
Jan 22, 2014
Hi Bookworm and Dragon Slayer,
There are financial assistance programs for all three drugs. Some people are paying as little as $30 a month. I'm sure Dragon Slayer knew that but forgot to mention it. Don't want you to panic at the cost without assistance.
SuziQ
Hep-C Dragon Slayer said
Jan 22, 2014
Hi Bookworm and welcome.
I joined this group myself just three weeks ago and I have learned so much from everyone. I now ask the right questions to my doctor and nurse and get answers I understand.
I am genotype 1 and have had HepC for 15 years and did not know until 6 months ago.
I just finished day 18 of the tx (Sovaldi / Oylsio / Riba ) and am not taking the Interferon due to sarcoidosis. The tx is 12 weeks minimum for me 24 maximum. This depends on getting UND viral count. If I am UND week 4 my doctor said I will probably be a 12 week tx if week 6 I will go 20 weeks and if week 8 the full 24 weeks. This is all to change because the off label tx was not completed in trials and this is new charted waters !
My wife is negative for HCV but does have the antibodies so her system won the battle up front.
The cost for the Sovaldi is around $28,000 for 28 days, The Olysio is $22,500 and the Riba is $1275.
It may take a week to 2 weeks for your boy friends insurance company to review so my advice is to start the process as soon as you can.
By not knowing all these years it has played with my liver and I do have cirrhosis (non fatty non alcohol) and from working in a steel mill many years ago, I developed Sarcoid on top of this so I have granulomas in liver and lungs.
One step at a time, you have to clear out the HEP C, get the liver a little more healthy and then wipe out the Sarciods.
I share this so you can pass on to your boy friend, don't wait especially now with the new tx that's available.
Tig said
Jan 22, 2014
Current treatment recommendations (non cirrhotic). Patients with cirrhosis and HCC awaiting transplantation, 24 to 48 weeks.
TREATMENT
DURATION
Patients with genotype 1 or 4 CHC
SOVALDI + peginterferon alfaa + ribavirinb
12 weeks
Patients with genotype 2 CHC
SOVALDI + ribavirinb
12 weeks
Patients with genotype 3 CHC
SOVALDI + ribavirinb
24 weeks
a See peginterferon alfa prescribing information for dosing recommendation for patients with genotype 1 or 4 CHC. b Dose of ribavirin is weight-based ( < 75 kg = 1000 mg and 75 kg = 1200 mg). The daily dose of ribavirin is administered orally in two divided doses with food. Patients with renal impairment (CrCl 50 mL/min) require ribavirin dose reduction; refer to ribavirin prescribing information.
It helps to give the genotype of your boyfriend--and the stage of the virus if you have it. Yes, Sovaldi is being prescribed now. For genotype 1, it includes interferon. treatment is generally 12 weeks. Some people are getting the Sovaldi Olysio combo to avoid interferon. Not sure if that treatment is 8 or 12 weeks. There are also some clinical trials available. Most of them are 8-12 weeks. All that is required for these things is that a person has Hep C.
It is a wonderful time to be considering treatment in the USA as the old treatment of 48 weeks with interferon is being replaced by easier, shorter treatment. Check out the clinical trials thread and posts that mention Sofosbuvir(sovaldi). There is lots of information here. Also a lot of people in the New thread are posting about the newly approved meds.
SuziQ
Bookworm said
Jan 22, 2014
My boyfriend has Hep C. I am trying to get information that I can give to him. I just found out about the new drug Solvaldi that the FDA approved. Apparently, it is already being prescribed by doctors. What constitutes being a good candidate for this drug? I see that it is used in combination with another drug. If prescribed, how long is the usual treatment? I, myself, am waiting to get the results of my blood tests to see if I have it.
Sorry Bookworm, Suziq is correct.
I should have mentioned that.
There is help available. Do a search on this and you will see post others have done with links to financial assistance.
Hi Bookworm and Dragon Slayer,
There are financial assistance programs for all three drugs. Some people are paying as little as $30 a month. I'm sure Dragon Slayer knew that but forgot to mention it. Don't want you to panic at the cost without assistance.
SuziQ
Hi Bookworm and welcome.
I joined this group myself just three weeks ago and I have learned so much from everyone. I now ask the right questions to my doctor and nurse and get answers I understand.
I am genotype 1 and have had HepC for 15 years and did not know until 6 months ago.
I just finished day 18 of the tx (Sovaldi / Oylsio / Riba ) and am not taking the Interferon due to sarcoidosis. The tx is 12 weeks minimum for me 24 maximum. This depends on getting UND viral count. If I am UND week 4 my doctor said I will probably be a 12 week tx if week 6 I will go 20 weeks and if week 8 the full 24 weeks. This is all to change because the off label tx was not completed in trials and this is new charted waters !
My wife is negative for HCV but does have the antibodies so her system won the battle up front.
The cost for the Sovaldi is around $28,000 for 28 days, The Olysio is $22,500 and the Riba is $1275.
It may take a week to 2 weeks for your boy friends insurance company to review so my advice is to start the process as soon as you can.
By not knowing all these years it has played with my liver and I do have cirrhosis (non fatty non alcohol) and from working in a steel mill many years ago, I developed Sarcoid on top of this so I have granulomas in liver and lungs.
One step at a time, you have to clear out the HEP C, get the liver a little more healthy and then wipe out the Sarciods.
I share this so you can pass on to your boy friend, don't wait especially now with the new tx that's available.
Current treatment recommendations (non cirrhotic). Patients with cirrhosis and HCC awaiting transplantation, 24 to 48 weeks.
b Dose of ribavirin is weight-based ( < 75 kg = 1000 mg and 75 kg = 1200 mg). The daily dose of ribavirin is administered orally in two divided doses with food. Patients with renal impairment (CrCl 50 mL/min) require ribavirin dose reduction; refer to ribavirin prescribing information.
* http://www.rxlist.com/sovaldi-drug/indications-dosage.htm
Hi Bookworm,
Welcome. This is a great forum.
It helps to give the genotype of your boyfriend--and the stage of the virus if you have it. Yes, Sovaldi is being prescribed now. For genotype 1, it includes interferon. treatment is generally 12 weeks. Some people are getting the Sovaldi Olysio combo to avoid interferon. Not sure if that treatment is 8 or 12 weeks. There are also some clinical trials available. Most of them are 8-12 weeks. All that is required for these things is that a person has Hep C.
It is a wonderful time to be considering treatment in the USA as the old treatment of 48 weeks with interferon is being replaced by easier, shorter treatment. Check out the clinical trials thread and posts that mention Sofosbuvir(sovaldi). There is lots of information here. Also a lot of people in the New thread are posting about the newly approved meds.
SuziQ
My boyfriend has Hep C. I am trying to get information that I can give to him. I just found out about the new drug Solvaldi that the FDA approved. Apparently, it is already being prescribed by doctors. What constitutes being a good candidate for this drug? I see that it is used in combination with another drug. If prescribed, how long is the usual treatment? I, myself, am waiting to get the results of my blood tests to see if I have it.