At 12 weeks, last Harvoni yesterday...or not

[expat]

My husband and I went to his liver clinic appointment at the VA this morning. He took his last pill yesterday, he was undetected at 8 weeks.

We were told today that his Transplant Dr in Nashville now wants him on 24 weeks. So we aren't done, we are only half done. Another 12 weeks to go. I understand they are trying to ensure the bug stays gone, but I sure didn't see this coming.

[atomic dog]

Hope it hasn't been too hard.

[expat]

Compared to the triple therapy and the transplant this has been a cakewalk. He has actually had less trouble with headaches than before. He has an autonomic disorder that plagues him with hypertension headaches several times a week, but in the last 12 weeks he has only had two. 
He has no problem doing the extra 12 weeks, I think it was more the surprise.

[MEG]

expat, I imagine the shock it must have been---but i'm so grateful that his physician team is being proactive.

24 weeks is like a cadillac life-insurance policy. The relapse rates of folk with this many weeks tx during the trials is almost non-existent.

My sense is that since he took until 8 weeks to be undetectable that they wanted to  that whoop that hcv under submission..thank God that he's tolerated it well....Best and please keep us posted.  Don't be surprised if the side effects may begin to surface as the additional weeks accumulate Harvoni in his system....It will be fine if they do. You'll both manage. Meg.

[expat]

I don't know, at least I cannot find, any statistics on people treated that long. If anyone knows, let me know thanks.
 

[MEG]

I'll try to dig them up this w/e. This issue of treatment length for people with varying degrees of liver involvement has come up and I vividly recall one of the moderators?, long-time posters? posting some 24 week results....quite impressive.

It opened up a dialogue on what really is the ideal treatment length for SVR...which we obviously won't know until the "real-world" results begin to pour in.

Perhaps if you do a search here you'll find those posts before I do...best, Meg.

[GLCII]

From what I read right, 24 weeks of Tx has a 1% relapse rate. With or without cirhosis. 99% (108/109) SVR I think the Tx's should be a standard 24 weeks.

If that was the odds in a hand of Black Jack, I'd bet the farm!!! 

I'd say that's a good thing.

[expat]

I have read a copy of the last month's lab results, drawn every two weeks. His LFTs are trending up.  I would think that is what is behind the extension.

[mario555]

I am taking 24 weeks of treatment and still have 4 pills to go! It has been a challenge and I can't stand the stuff anymore but... as mentioned, there is almost no way to relapse with that much medication...
At first I discussed with my doctor about taking only 12 weeks. He was adamant to get me 24 weeks. I sure am happy now because I "felt" I wasn't cured after 12 weeks! I started having another set of more serious side effects stronger than the first 12 weeks. I "felt" my body was getting rid of another batch of viruses. Since week 20 I feel "cured".
So? 24 weeks can be done. I used valium in small infrequent quantities to calm me down. I'll let you know how fast I recoup after the end of treatment.
As information, I am F-4 with 8 millions VL at start of treatment. I was UND at week 4. I relapsed twice on Peg Inf  and Riba.