Yes, Tigs right. I take 3 tablets twice a day instead of 2 tablets 3 times a day. Exact same amount, just easier protocol as it needs to be taken with fat. The results in studies were the same.
Tig said
Mar 13, 2014
Hi Suffering,
I'm sorry you're having to extend out to 48, but there must be some additional circumstances warranting it. The reason you stopped the Incivek two weeks early was secondary to extremely poor side effects. The issue mentioned below was stopping it for convenience because of the belief that he was undetectable from week 8, which follows the RGT standard established per the Incivek algorithm. Quitting early because someone "thinks" it should be good enough, makes as much sense as someone stopping cancer treatment because they feel it's probably been cured. There is an established protocol that should be followed to the letter. I've seen several people stop Incivek or Victrelis early and go on to SVR, but they have had to stop the medication due to severe side effects, not because things had been going well. I've seen many more success stories from following the treatment protocols and finishing, than I have seen in people that personalized the protocol simply for convenience. It's not meant to be played with. Certainly my opinion, but I think that position is held widely. As far as the Incivek dosage, yes they have changed the schedule protocol to twice a day, but the three times per day dosing is still being used. Regardless of the number of doses per day, the amount taken is still a total of 2250 mg/day. Good luck with the rest of your treatment! It's a long road, but it's worth the journey! Hang in there...
Tig
suffering said
Mar 12, 2014
My doctor stopped my Incivek 2 weeks early because of extreme side effects. I did 10 weeks. He then extended my Interferon and Riba from the original 24 week period to a 48 week period. So far I am still UND at week # 24, been UND since week 2 of Incivek, 6th week of treatment. I would have rather done the additional 2 weeks of Incivek and stop at week 24, but that was the Dr,s decision. I`m at the halfway point now, hoping he didn`t mess up my chances. :( I have heard that the dosage of the Incivek, has been cut back from 3 daily doses to 2, because of extreme side effects
-- Edited by suffering on Thursday 13th of March 2014 02:07:47 AM
Tig said
Mar 12, 2014
Hello,
The short answer is no, don't stop it for any reason, especially convenience. I just completed 24 weeks of Victrelis, 28 weeks of fun I like to call it. Its fabulous news that he was RVR at week 8. The Response Guided Therapy says just that, if you're undetectable at week 8, treatment can be stopped at week 28 (24 weeks of Victrelis), not before. I honestly don't know why a doctor would have said that, I personally think it's a poor suggestion. I know very well how unpleasant that treatment is, but he has already paid a high price to get where he's at now. Why risk it all for 3 weeks of convenience? I would highly encourage him to complete the treatment. Those last weeks only seem to take forever. It's similar to the marathon runner that sees the finish line and experiences additional fatigue. Tell him to finish the race. If he doesn't and relapses, he will always wonder if it was due to quitting before the race was over. Wish him luck and encouragement to finish all 28 weeks of treatment!
Tig
mallani said
Mar 12, 2014
Hi Alan,
RGT with Victrelis means 24 weeks of Victrelis! These numbers weren't drawn out of a hat. You won't find any statistics, as only an idiot would mess with SVR like that.
Gracie said
Mar 12, 2014
He should stick it out. A couple of weeks is nothing. If he relapsed, he will always wonder. Tell him I have 37 weeks left...2 weeks is chicken feed!
findingthecure said
Mar 12, 2014
Hi, I cleared the virus using a new clinical trial but I have a friend of mine who is on victrelis and wants to know if he can stop it two weeks early. He's on the Response Guided Therapy and is due to end at 28 weeks, but feels like his doctor is hinting that he can stop any time he wants to (he has three weeks to go). He's been UND since week 8 and is ready to stop now. He's tired of the side effects. I think if he's cleared the virus, he's probably clear and if it's going to rebound a couple of more weeks probably won't make the difference, but I hate to give him this advice if there's any chance the virus will come back. Any advice? Anyone with any statistics on this?
Hi Suffering,
I'm sorry you're having to extend out to 48, but there must be some additional circumstances warranting it. The reason you stopped the Incivek two weeks early was secondary to extremely poor side effects. The issue mentioned below was stopping it for convenience because of the belief that he was undetectable from week 8, which follows the RGT standard established per the Incivek algorithm. Quitting early because someone "thinks" it should be good enough, makes as much sense as someone stopping cancer treatment because they feel it's probably been cured. There is an established protocol that should be followed to the letter. I've seen several people stop Incivek or Victrelis early and go on to SVR, but they have had to stop the medication due to severe side effects, not because things had been going well. I've seen many more success stories from following the treatment protocols and finishing, than I have seen in people that personalized the protocol simply for convenience. It's not meant to be played with. Certainly my opinion, but I think that position is held widely. As far as the Incivek dosage, yes they have changed the schedule protocol to twice a day, but the three times per day dosing is still being used. Regardless of the number of doses per day, the amount taken is still a total of 2250 mg/day. Good luck with the rest of your treatment! It's a long road, but it's worth the journey! Hang in there...
Tig
My doctor stopped my Incivek 2 weeks early because of extreme side effects. I did 10 weeks. He then extended my Interferon and Riba from the original 24 week period to a 48 week period. So far I am still UND at week # 24, been UND since week 2 of Incivek, 6th week of treatment. I would have rather done the additional 2 weeks of Incivek and stop at week 24, but that was the Dr,s decision. I`m at the halfway point now, hoping he didn`t mess up my chances. :( I have heard that the dosage of the Incivek, has been cut back from 3 daily doses to 2, because of extreme side effects
-- Edited by suffering on Thursday 13th of March 2014 02:07:47 AM
Hello,
The short answer is no, don't stop it for any reason, especially convenience. I just completed 24 weeks of Victrelis, 28 weeks of fun I like to call it. Its fabulous news that he was RVR at week 8. The Response Guided Therapy says just that, if you're undetectable at week 8, treatment can be stopped at week 28 (24 weeks of Victrelis), not before. I honestly don't know why a doctor would have said that, I personally think it's a poor suggestion. I know very well how unpleasant that treatment is, but he has already paid a high price to get where he's at now. Why risk it all for 3 weeks of convenience? I would highly encourage him to complete the treatment. Those last weeks only seem to take forever. It's similar to the marathon runner that sees the finish line and experiences additional fatigue. Tell him to finish the race. If he doesn't and relapses, he will always wonder if it was due to quitting before the race was over. Wish him luck and encouragement to finish all 28 weeks of treatment!
Tig
Hi Alan,
RGT with Victrelis means 24 weeks of Victrelis! These numbers weren't drawn out of a hat. You won't find any statistics, as only an idiot would mess with SVR like that.
Hi, I cleared the virus using a new clinical trial but I have a friend of mine who is on victrelis and wants to know if he can stop it two weeks early. He's on the Response Guided Therapy and is due to end at 28 weeks, but feels like his doctor is hinting that he can stop any time he wants to (he has three weeks to go). He's been UND since week 8 and is ready to stop now. He's tired of the side effects. I think if he's cleared the virus, he's probably clear and if it's going to rebound a couple of more weeks probably won't make the difference, but I hate to give him this advice if there's any chance the virus will come back. Any advice? Anyone with any statistics on this?