Harvoni with Ribavarin?

[Dee]

Hello, this is my first post.  I hope I am place in right place.
Has anyone heard of taking Harvoni with Ribivarin?  Could this be something that was recently discovered and now considered.
I have a friend who needs to treat and I am trying to help him
Thank you
D

[Dee]

Sorry I did spell check just word check   I mean to say I hope I am posting in the right place.  Can I blame brain fog?

[rainbowray]

The Moderator of this forum did Harvoni with Ribavirin in a trial, and was cured.
This was some time ago. The current trials suggest Ribavirin is really not needed with Harvoni treatment.   Ask the moderator, Lucinda, as she would know much more.
In my experience with Ribavirin, if it can be avoided that is better.

[Dee]

Thank you so very much.  After I asked this I found an article dated Nov 11th from a meeting in Boston where they announced study results and suggested this for hard to treat, advanced liver disease.  I am posting the article just in case someone might be interested.  I really appreciate your response I was not sure I had placed in right place.  While I am cured through Incivek, Peg and Riba I have a friend who has advanced liver disease and HCV and was trying to find help for him.  I worry because he has HE and am not sure he understands how sick he is and how urgently he needs treatment.  Every little bit of information might help him

http://www.gilead.com/news/press-releases/2014/11/gilead-announces-harvoni-study-results-in-chronic-hepatitis-c-patients-with-advanced-liver-disease-and-those-who-failed-prior-treatment

[lporterrn]

Dee - Although Rainbowray is correct in reporting my outcome, there is little benefit to adding ribavirin and the side effects are pretty awful. The studies on the link you sent are quite small, and more appropriate for someone who failed treatment with sofosbuvir. But someone who hasn't taken Harvoni at all would probably be better off taking it without ribavirin.

[Dee]

Dear Lucinda, thank you so much this information.  I really appreciate very much.
My friend did try interferon and ribavirin about 5 or 6 years ago.  He could not take it and work so did not finish, I don't know if he got to UND or not.
Now my friend has edema and HE for which he takes medication.  He doesn't have anything else so I am hoping I can convince him to try the Harvoni.
I am looking for a hepatologist for him now.  He lives in MD though he could go to DC or Virginia.  I am trying to help him.  I don't think he realizes how sick he is.
Thank you again for your help.  I recently found your site while looking up Harvoni, it looks like a really nice place with a lot of helpful knowledgeable people.
Dee

[BattleTheBeast]

Hi Dee,

So happy you are cured and on the other end of this battle and it's awesome you are helping your friend.

I don't know what town he is in but if you just do a Google search for Infectious Disease Doctors or Hepatologists and the name of the town he's in I am sure you will get a nice long list. The other option is to find out who his insurance is through and search or call them for a listing of the type of doctors you are seeking. For me, my preference was to go to an ID doctor for a few reasons but mostly because of their experience treating ID's, running the clinical trials and in dealing with the insurance companies and pharmacies getting approvals for the medications.  Basically they know the right thing to say and when to say it. The new meds are super expensive and it's been pretty tough for some to get approvals. I wouldn't rule the hepatologist out but I'd use one my ID doctor recommended and has worked with. Just my two cents but please do what you think is best.

Thank you for helping your friend, he's a very luck guy to have someone like you in his corner. 

~Mel~

[Dee]

Thank you so much! Sorry for the late reply, my PC has been down.
Take Care
D