Anyone on Viekirax/Exviera without riba??

[Ange]

Hi I'm on Day 3  ( end of).   Bloody bother---- am trying to stay calm but itching quite badly already, kind of general and prickly.  The inter/riba trxt in 2009 nearly killed me and I went crazy. I,ve done research on net and seems like adding riba makes very little difference >4%.  I was prescribed 2 strong sleeping pills a week which is a relief as I will get 2 nights sleep a week minimum.  I'm going to stay calm and positive this time drinking lots water, moisturising, doing breathing exercises to stay relaxed if /when I wake at night.  It's only 12 weeks.  I want to know what life is like without virus.  Geno type 1b:  V/l 1.5 mill. Good luck to everyone on here x

[Lynn K]

Hi
Looking at patient information for Viekirax/Exviera patients who are GT 1b normally do not take this treatment with Ribavirin unless they have cirrhosis. 

See table 1 pg 2
http://www.natap.org/2014/HCV/ExvieraSmPC%20Jan2015eMC.pdf

If you do have cirrhosis it does make us harder to treat and we can little afford to not have a successful treatment. So even if only a 4% point difference I am sure you do not want to risk treatment failure and relapse. I Treated for 24 weeks with Harvoni and added Ribavirin for 15 of those 24 weeks due to my cirrhosis and past treatment history.

Yes Ribavirin is not a lot of fun to be sure. Hang in there when the 12 weeks have past and you are cured you will never need treatment for hep c again.

Good luck
Lynn

[Ange]

Thanks for the reply Lyn.  I dont think I've got cirrohsis ultrasound said not fibroscan 12.3 but I had been drinking now I have stopped totally.  I feel so itchy and weak on this I cannot add the ribavarin it would finish me off!  You,re right if I dont clear this I'll be devastatsd but I believe the 4 drug cocktail is enough. Hope you are well x

[Lynn K]

Per the prescribing information as a GT 1b if you don't have cirrhosis you should not have to also take Ribavirin if you are GT 1a with or without cirrhosis you would need the Ribavirin or as a 1b with cirrhosis but not as a 1b without cirrhosis.

Have you been prescribed Ribavirin or are you just concerned they might want you to take Ribavirin?

[HazelAustralia]

Hi Ange,

I think it's pretty urgent that you ask your doctor whether you have cirrhosis or not, and if you don't, why she or he prescribed the ribaviron (I think you did write in another post that it was prescribed). Tiredness and itchiness of the skin are symptoms of cirrhosis too I believe. I think you do have a right to make a decision about your treatment, but I would hate for you to make a decision without having all the available and vital information. Do you feel comfortable with your doctor?

Best wishes,

Hazel

[Ange]

Thanks again I'm feeling better now. Day 6, yes I was prescribed ribavarin but I have researched in depth and for geno-type 1b with or without cirrhosis  the results are very promising!  The itching is better since I bought antihistamine over the counter. Thankfully I.m sleeping better too.  I asked if I really had to take Ribavarin and was told the product license required it.  I'm not proud to be doing this but I was not convinced at all that it was necessary to take that horrible strong drug again.

[HazelAustralia]

Hi Ange,
Okay - best of luck. One week down already!
H.

[Ange]

Thanks Hazel its quite a roller coaster even without the riba.  I'm coping ok though with this odd feeling of a very speedy head? and night time itcching which is annoying. Sleep seems very light too but hey ho..... it's gotta be done. Finished day 8 now  and I'm feeling grateful and blessed xx