stop trtmnt due to side effects

[colaa4]

scared of permanent nerve damage and severe/worsening lasting leg pain that people have reported post trtmnt-harvoni. i have leg pain which started with faint mild muscle twitching. also severe depression since starting. what if my 4 wk check says i'm free and 'cured?' if i should have to d/c trtmt, what are chances of staying cured? if anyone knows or has similar situation? (many people have tested negative after 4 weeks)

[Lynn K]

You are not considered cured until 12 weeks post treatment. The test has a lower limit of ability to detect the virus which is why the result is “NOT DETECTED” it does not say eradicated or cured.

I was not detected at the end of treatment after 12 weeks of Sovaldi and Olysio but was found to have relapsed when retested at 12 weeks post treatment.

If you stop treatment prematurely you risk relapse and developing resistance to the meds and having to take a longer and stronger treatment later.

I wouldn’t do it

[Type0Negative]

Leg pain may be due to DVT- please, discuss with your MD.

[Vasi]

I experienced roller coaster emotions while on Harvoni. One of the drugs in it can cause that although most of the literature does not mention depression, which causes those of us affected to feel like we are going nuts. I also experienced bruising and severe joint pain.

My last pill was May 13, Virus was not detected 12 weeks following. I am so thankful! Yet the sad times of great depression still roll on. And the joint pains, especially in my right hip are sometimes unbearable! I can deal with the bruises.

I don’t want to take antidepressant as those come with added issues that hurt another part of the body. Just wanting to have some idea when it’s gonna be done.

[Angelica]

Hi Vasi,

maybe you are not depressed in the clinical sense. You have finished a treatment which was hard on your system and not only you have not experienced the feel good factor, you are actually in pain. Furthermore, there is no help for those in such situations. What I am trying to say is that you have reasons to feel at least unhappy. You are looking for answers, not antidepressants.

At my last check up, one year end of treatment I was told that there are those who do not feel well after treatment but they do not know why. Believe it or not, that made me feel a little better as there was at least an acknowledgment. Of course, I thought to myself, the reason they do not know why is because they don't do much to find out. Clearing the virus is all that matter and they only monitor for that until they discharge you. GPs do not know what to look for even when they want to help, so it may take some time before the answers are found.

[andrew j]

Yes - that seems to be pretty-much where it's at, doesn't it?

Just to add, Vasi - there are some posts in the 'Post-Treatment' section you might find interesting.

Best wishes,

A.