12 wks with or without ribavirin?

[ricpark]

I have in my hands Harvoni and Ribavirin and to start in 2 days (5/4/15). According to Gilead being treatment naive, genotype 1a, stage 3, viral count 17.5 mil, I would only need Harvoni for 12 wks. They stated over the phone to me that they found no benifit from Ribavirin. The 6 mil break point is for 8wks. There is a study from France I think that says Ribavirin helps. Do I piss off my doctor and refuse the Ribavirin? I'm still having side effects from my cancer treatment from a year ago and looking to avoid new side effects if possible (getting cured is my first choice).

[atomic dog]

I would at least ask for clarification about why the dr prescribed the Riba.

[Lynn K]

Per the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C INITIAL TREATMENT OF HCV INFECTION

http://www.hcvguidelines.org/full-report/initial-treatment-hcv-infection

Three options with similar efficacy in general are recommended for treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 1a infection (listed in alphabetic order; see text).

Daily fixed-dose combination of ledipasvir (90 mg)/sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 12 weeks* is recommended for treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 1a infection.
*See text for further detail on length of treatment

Rating: Class I, Level A

Daily fixed-dose combination of paritaprevir (150 mg)/ritonavir (100 mg)/ombitasvir (25 mg) plus twice-daily dosed dasabuvir (250 mg) and weight-based RBV (1000 mg [<75 kg] to 1200 mg [>75 kg]) for 12 weeks (no cirrhosis) or 24 weeks (cirrhosis) is recommended for treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 1a infection.

Rating: Class I, Level A

Daily sofosbuvir (400 mg) plus simeprevir (150 mg) with or without weight-based RBV (1000 mg [<75 kg] to 1200 mg [>75 kg]) for 12 weeks (no cirrhosis) or 24 weeks (cirrhosis) is recommended for treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 1a infection.

Rating: Class IIa, Level B

SVR for Genotype 1a treatment naive without cirrhosis in the ION 3 clinical trial 96% (165/172) after 12 weeks of Harvoni

I would discuss with your doctor just what you said about still having side effects from cancer tx and wanting to avoid side effects if possible. You do have F3 which is almost F4 which maybe why he wants you to be treated as though you have cirrhosis which then the recommendation is 12 weeks Harvoni and Riba or 24 weeks Harvoni without Riba so that is something you may want to think about as well you really do need to cure your Hep c on this shot

Good luck