Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => Considering Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: applepie on April 15, 2017, 11:06:38 pm
-
Hello all!
I have type 4 and am getting ready to take technivie and ribo. It's a long story how it all came about, but I was refused treatment for Harvoni first. My doctor prescribed technivie because we were looking at applying for the patient assistance program. I'm very apprehensive, not the least of all because my doctor only plans to test me at 4 weeks to see if I've cleared the virus. I am worried it could impact my health in other ways, and I have to work and have a son. I'm nervous about what costs could come with this medication. My viral load is around 200,000 and the fibroscan I had showed a 3. However, I've read the treatment can reactivate hep b if you've had it before, and I know people have died from this. My doctor only puts a rosy spin on it, and I'm on Medicaid, so I feel like a bit of a test subject, and I'm worried about how this might impact me. I'm not sure how much longer I'll have this insurance, and with the larger uncertainty hovering over the ACA I am feeling a lot of pressure. I'd love to get rid of this as I've lived with it for 20+ years, but as we close in on my start date I am really starting to have cold feet. Any thoughts?
-
This is an excerpt from the prescribing information for Technivie:
Risk of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in Patients Coinfected with HCV and HBV
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation has been reported in HCV/HBV coinfected patients who were undergoing or had completed treatment with HCV direct acting antivirals, and who were not receiving HBV antiviral therapy.
Are you currently receiving hep b antiviral therapy? If you are the war I g does not apply to you. If your hep b is considered inactive then you should have testing while on treatment to monitor for possible reactivation of the hep b virus.
Is your doctor a hepatologist experienced in treating hep b and hep c especially coinfected patients?
If you mean on treatment testing at 4 weeks really on treatment testing really only serves to confirm patient compliance with treatment that you are taking your meds. The only test that matters is the 12 weeks post treatment test to see if you are still virus free that is the test to say you are cured. I am assuming your doctor will test you at the 12 week post treatment point to determine if you are cured.
Because you are taking ribavirin you should at least I iríamos have more frequent blood testing as riba can cause signifigant anemia (low hemoglobin HGB) in some patients so you should have a CBC drawn to monitor your HGB levels to make sure you are not having anemia and if you are having a reduction to dose reduce the riba if needed.
Your fibrosis is F3 which is right below cirrhosis (F4) so treating now can greatly improve your prognosis going forwards.