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Post Info TOPIC: Medication Question
Carolinca


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RE: Medication Question
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Great, thanks for the feedback.  Very helpful.



__________________

Husband has HCV.  Viral load @ start of treatment was 1,600,000.  Genotype 2.

Treatment includes Ribavirin pills and Peginterferon injections for 24 weeks.

UND at 4 weeks, 12 weeks and EOT plus 1.5 weeks and 3 months. 

mallani


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Hi Carol, Pegasys is a trade name for pegulated interferon alpha 2a, and the usual dose is 180 micrograms/0.5 ml, once a week. Make a note of where hubby injects it each week, so the injection sites can be varied. I always use the abdominal wall and have a chart.

Copegus is a trade name for Ribavirin and comes in 200 mgm caps. For Genotype 2 the standard dose is 800 mgm/day, ie 2 caps morning and night with food. The dose is higher for Geno 1, where the standard dose is weight-based, and usually 1,200 or 1,000 mgm/day. I weigh 172 lbs, so have been on 1,200 mgm/day for 42 weeks.

As JoAnne mentions, a plastic pill organiser is essential so you can keep track of doses. Cheers.



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Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
Cinnamon Girl


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Good to hear things are moving forward, Carol.  I expect your husband will be instructed how to inject himself with the weekly shots.  It`s not difficult to do and most of us are pleasantly surprised to find that out after the first one.  He should be prepared for some fluey side effects following the shots, the first one especially, so it would be helpful for him to have some painkillers handy.

Best of luck to you both, hope it goes smoothly.  smile  Jill



__________________

Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
Bouba


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Carol,

Usually they prescribe 1200mg Ribavirin (aka Copegus) for those over 170-175 lbs ...Either 2 x3 pills or 3 x 2 pills after meals ...

__________________

58 yo male, HCV since 1981. Gen 1B (IL28B, CT). Diagnosed 1999,  VL before tx 100'000. Biopsy A2, F3 fibrosis. Naive, SOT (with Incivek) Oct 26, 2012. UND @ week 4, 12, 18, 24, UND 12 and 24 weeks post-RX
Bills


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 Hi  Carolinca

This sounds pretty normal  for starting out Pegasis is Interfreon ( Peginteferon alfa-2a) and they are preloaded syringes 180 ug/0.5 ( keep refrigerated ) Don't worry so much about the names for now If the dose is not 180 It will be spelled out when your husband starts

Ribavirin has a few brand names Copus pills / Ribasphere capsules guess it depends where you get it?  Pills should be 200 mgs most of us are on 6 / 1200mg a day 200 lbs or so  If he gets 2 in AM and 2 in PM that's 800mg a day so check that carefully before starting it go's by weight  I take 5 / 1000m. 

There are a lot of people here that research and read up daily this is a great place to get feedback on your questions and advice on what a doctor may be saying, ( note this is advice all decisions made by you and your doctor's)  as they arise, there is always someone here who went through it and can share their experience with you. So ask away it will relieve you min.

Good luck to you and your husband



__________________

Bills

Harvoni started 12-12-14 for 24 wks PrevTX Geno 1 stage 3 cirrhosis - non resp Int/ ribv. Started Trial  in Aug 2011 -July 2012 into Incivek relapsed  Feb 2013 Had 72 weeks on interferon & Riba.

JoAnneh


Guru

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My drug company provided an injection chart
To maintain record of location of injection as well
As keeps track of what number u r on.
I also made a list of 800 number for each drug that had
Nurses available 24-7. I called the 1st few weeks too.
They called monthly to check on me.
Use all the support you can find.
We are here for you

-- Edited by JoAnneh on Sunday 6th of January 2013 01:47:37 AM

__________________

JoAnne

Genotype 1a, Triple therapy w/Invicek started May 19, 2012

DET 4 wk. UND 2,6,12,24 48 treatment. Achieved SVR 2013!
Carolinca


Senior Member

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Posts: 102
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I just received the names and dosages of my husband's medication, but I had a few questions if anyone could assist.

 

Is Pegasys the name of the medication?   He was told to inject 180 mc each week?  Or is it suppsed to be 180 mcg?

 

The other medication is Ribavirin.  Is the medication called Ribavirin or Copegus?  Do you know what the generic is called?  Do you normally take the capsules or tablets?  He has to take 400 mg/2x each day, which is 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills at night.  The pills come in 200 mg dosages.

 

Thanks,

Carol



__________________

Husband has HCV.  Viral load @ start of treatment was 1,600,000.  Genotype 2.

Treatment includes Ribavirin pills and Peginterferon injections for 24 weeks.

UND at 4 weeks, 12 weeks and EOT plus 1.5 weeks and 3 months. 

JoAnneh


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 1077
Date:
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Great info from Bill!
Make sure u get a Monday
Thru Sunday pill box.
My pill box has an am and pm for each day.
The am is light color as pm is dark color.
This is very helpful with memory fog
Medicine creates. I think it came from
The drug company so ask about it.
HUGE HELP!
Also, I made a list of medicines I take
Daily. I put all medicines (except interferon
As it stays in refrigerator) in a box with the list
To keep me organized and focused.
Each week it makes filling up pill box
Easy.
Lots of info on this forum. Look in discussion area.
Best wishes and may Gods grace be your refuge.
Lets beat this disease!!

-- Edited by JoAnneh on Saturday 5th of January 2013 07:38:12 PM

__________________

JoAnne

Genotype 1a, Triple therapy w/Invicek started May 19, 2012

DET 4 wk. UND 2,6,12,24 48 treatment. Achieved SVR 2013!
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