I have got Neupogen prescription once my neutrophils fell through 0.75.
Did not have it to hand on a dart's day and had to reduce one time interferon to 135ug.
After 3 Neupogen injections neutrohils up to 12.5, wbc - to 15.5 (from 1.9).
Skipped one weekly Neupogen, given the elevated results,.
Next day labs showed wbc at 3 and neutrophils down to 0.9...
Looks like will have to use Neupogen for the remaimimg tx to keep interferon at 180ug recommended dose.
-- Edited by Bouba on Wednesday 20th of February 2013 08:59:32 PM
DJ said
Feb 20, 2013
OK, I guess I just have to see how things go. My doctor didn't advice me to do anything different, but reminded me to continue taking Vit D (she seems to think Vit C helps treatment work better, not sure how but I take per her request). I will be glad when cold and flu season is over.
mallani said
Feb 20, 2013
Hi Deb,
Most patients on HCV Rx suffer from decreased white blood cells (WBC). This is a direct effect of bone marrow depression from Interferon.
Normal range for WBC is 4.0 -10.5 billion cells/Litre. HCV patients on Rx typically drop the WBC by 30-50%, so this is normal. There is no indication for Interferon dose reduction unless the WBC fall below 2. Of interest is the Neutrophil count (the most common WBC). This is the cell responsible for fighting infection and some Doctors prefer to use this count . During Rx, my Neutrophil count averaged 1.3, and dropped to 1.1 at it's lowest.
Low WBC and platelets are due to Interferon. Ribavirin does not play a significant role.
By all means try any supplements that are approved by your Doctor. They probably don't have any effect.
If WBC become very low, drugs like Neupogen can be used to stimulate WBC production. This should be tried before Interferon doses are reduced.
DJ said
Feb 20, 2013
JoAnneh wrote:
How low are your WBC? Evidently I was supposed to be lowered around 3 month Because when I went to my visit she said, we will Do blood work to see if lowering your RIBA has helped your blood count. No one told me anything and of course I got no straight answer nor did I care for Explanation. I was glad I didn't reduce. She said my counts went up. I take B-12, Centrum without iron, vita e, Vita D daily and fish oil twice daily. I think it has definitely helped. Search vitamins on forum. Hopefully you will get better blood results soon. Many people have achieved SVR taking Reduced dosages. Keep us posted
At least so far my doctor is not having me reduce. I just want to try to keep my WBC from getting any lower so she doesn't reduce my meds. I will search the forum for vitamins. I am just nervous about taking any that my doctor didn't tell me to take, but I would ask her about adding some new ones. She has me on a multi-vitamin and a Vit D pill and I also take iron because I normally have low iron so it was from before treatment and she is having me continue. Thanks for the info!
JoAnneh said
Feb 20, 2013
How low are your WBC? Evidently I was supposed to be lowered around 3 month Because when I went to my visit she said, we will Do blood work to see if lowering your RIBA has helped your blood count. No one told me anything and of course I got no straight answer nor did I care for Explanation. I was glad I didn't reduce. She said my counts went up. I take B-12, Centrum without iron, vita e, Vita D daily and fish oil twice daily. I think it has definitely helped. Search vitamins on forum. Hopefully you will get better blood results soon. Many people have achieved SVR taking Reduced dosages. Keep us posted
DJ said
Feb 20, 2013
Is there anything we can do to help increase our White Blood Cells (non-prescription). Like are there foods that help? Or getting more rest? Anyone know of what might help. So far I am not so low that they are going to reduce my medicines, but I am wondering if there is anything I can do to keep from getting lower.
I have got Neupogen prescription once my neutrophils fell through 0.75.
Did not have it to hand on a dart's day and had to reduce one time interferon to 135ug.
After 3 Neupogen injections neutrohils up to 12.5, wbc - to 15.5 (from 1.9).
Skipped one weekly Neupogen, given the elevated results,.
Next day labs showed wbc at 3 and neutrophils down to 0.9...
Looks like will have to use Neupogen for the remaimimg tx to keep interferon at 180ug recommended dose.
-- Edited by Bouba on Wednesday 20th of February 2013 08:59:32 PM
Hi Deb,
Most patients on HCV Rx suffer from decreased white blood cells (WBC). This is a direct effect of bone marrow depression from Interferon.
Normal range for WBC is 4.0 -10.5 billion cells/Litre. HCV patients on Rx typically drop the WBC by 30-50%, so this is normal. There is no indication for Interferon dose reduction unless the WBC fall below 2. Of interest is the Neutrophil count (the most common WBC). This is the cell responsible for fighting infection and some Doctors prefer to use this count . During Rx, my Neutrophil count averaged 1.3, and dropped to 1.1 at it's lowest.
Low WBC and platelets are due to Interferon. Ribavirin does not play a significant role.
By all means try any supplements that are approved by your Doctor. They probably don't have any effect.
If WBC become very low, drugs like Neupogen can be used to stimulate WBC production. This should be tried before Interferon doses are reduced.
At least so far my doctor is not having me reduce. I just want to try to keep my WBC from getting any lower so she doesn't reduce my meds. I will search the forum for vitamins. I am just nervous about taking any that my doctor didn't tell me to take, but I would ask her about adding some new ones. She has me on a multi-vitamin and a Vit D pill and I also take iron because I normally have low iron so it was from before treatment and she is having me continue. Thanks for the info!
Because when I went to my visit she said, we will
Do blood work to see if lowering your RIBA
has helped your blood count.
No one told me anything and of course
I got no straight answer nor did I care for
Explanation. I was glad I didn't reduce.
She said my counts went up.
I take B-12, Centrum without iron, vita e,
Vita D daily and fish oil twice daily.
I think it has definitely helped.
Search vitamins on forum.
Hopefully you will get better blood results soon.
Many people have achieved SVR taking
Reduced dosages.
Keep us posted
Is there anything we can do to help increase our White Blood Cells (non-prescription). Like are there foods that help? Or getting more rest? Anyone know of what might help. So far I am not so low that they are going to reduce my medicines, but I am wondering if there is anything I can do to keep from getting lower.
Thanks!