HepC treatment

[FillMyArse]

So as some of you know, I've had HepC for several years and have been on a waiting list to start treatment (via UK NHS). Well that time has now come and yesterday marked the first day of finally getting treatment started and taking the necessary drugs to clear this virus. At my last sex health clinic earlier this month all other STDs including HIV were negative.

I've been put on a combination therapy of Zepatier (50mg Elbasvir / 100mg Grazoprevir) 1x daily, and Ribavirin at a daily dosage of 400mg AM and 600mg PM for four months. So far the only side effect that I've noticed is getting the shits later in the afternoon/evening. But I'm only on Day 2 so still wondering if this is definitely a side effect or coincidence and the toilet needs can be contributed to anything else (recent diet etc).

As time goes on, and the HepC becomes undetectable then I will slowly be weaned down on the Ribavirin or even taken off it if I start getting any bad side effects. But so far so good.

Latest blood results prior to starting treatment showed that VL was peaking again (it's fluctuated from a low of 87k iu/ml up to 1.5M iu/ml) and currently stands at 940k iu/ml.

VL History: (iu/ml)

May 2014: 87k

Oct 2014: 400k

Feb 2015: 1.5M

June 2015: 468k

Dec 2015: 267k

Feb 2017: 940k

There is a gap in 2016 for results as I stopped writing them down when my consultant was going through my bloods and was told VL wasn't the main parameter they use to see how I am doing... other blood parameter results were more important for them.

Mentally - getting the go ahead to start treatment has done me the world of good. Previous posts I've made on HepC threads I've said about how it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride. Hopefully now it's just onwards and upwards.

I plan to keep this thread updated at reasonably regular intervals until the treatment finishes and we see how I get on.

[Guest Rawwhitebottompig]

It's taking the NHS ages to roll out  the non interferon option. I been waiting for over a year

[Leather69]

Fortunately my Hep C cleared spontaneously (my specialist didn't want to put me on the interferon option and was negotiating to get me on a "trial" of the newer medications). However the new meds are now on our PBS scheme (Govt subsidy) and now cost a max of $38 a month.

[FillMyArse]

17 hours ago, Rawwhitebottompig said:

It's taking the NHS ages to roll out  the non interferon option. I been waiting for over a year

Well now the ball seems to be rolling with it, hopefully you won't have to wait too much longer. I'd been waiting since 2014. More options are becoming available which means competition will hopefully push prices of drugs down and the the NHS will up their caps on how many people per year will get treated.

[FillMyArse]

Been on meds now for just over a week. Apart from the occasional toilet issue as mentioned in my OP have not had any other side effects as yet. Hopefully that will continue. Get my bloods rechecked end of next week then consultation re results 2 weeks later. So far so good!! 

[wow4761]

Thought the body kills Hep C on its own?

My doctors were going to start Harvoni treatment, but when they retested me 6 months after my diagnosis, there was no trace of the virus or antibodies. 

Retested just three months ago, and still negative for antibody and virus tests. 

[FillMyArse]

On 4/10/2017 at 3:35 AM, wow4761 said:

Thought the body kills Hep C on its own?

 

Only about 10% of people are able to clear the virus without meds. After about 6months it's considered that you will not clear it on your own and it becomes classed as a chronic HepC infection until you can get meds to clear it... of which, is up to 95% success rate.

[Theo8]

On 4/9/2017 at 10:35 PM, wow4761 said:

Thought the body kills Hep C on its own?

My doctors were going to start Harvoni treatment, but when they retested me 6 months after my diagnosis, there was no trace of the virus or antibodies. 

Retested just three months ago, and still negative for antibody and virus tests. 

how could you test negative for the antibodies if you've had it?

[wow4761]

Okay, I mis-remembered. Your comment made me dig up my test results. 

Looking at my second testing results, my genotype test has, "Genotype: [Blank Space]". So the antibodies triggered a false positive but no genotype. 

Then the PCR qualitative test is "Not detected", meaning no virus. 

Sorry for the confusion. 

[Theo8]

10 minutes ago, wow4761 said:

Okay, I mis-remembered. Your comment made me dig up my test results. 

Looking at my second testing results, my genotype test has, "Genotype: [Blank Space]". So the antibodies triggered a false positive but no genotype. 

Then the PCR qualitative test is "Not detected", meaning no virus. 

Sorry for the confusion. 

I'm easily confused so no problem LOL

[FillMyArse]

Blood results today showed that the HepC was not detected so having only been on meds for 2 weeks at the time of the bloods being taken, went from nearly 1M viral load to nothing is very quick and good news.

My Ribavirin has been reduced to 2xAM and 2xPM (previously on 2xAM and 3xPM) with more bloods taken today at just shy of 4 weeks treatment. Next appointment will be in a month with the plan to further reduce the Ribavirin dosage assuming the HepC is still undetected.

[FillMyArse]

So coming up towards the halfway point of my 4 months of treatment and been getting a few side effects in the last week including nausea, insomnia and lightheadedness. Guessing this would be because of an accumulation of the drug in my system (ie, previous dose not completely out of the system by the next dose so slowly builds up over time). I was due to see my nurse in 2 weeks but now been brought forward to next week to have more bloods taken and advised in the meantime to come off the Ribavirin. This shouldn't affect my chances of a cure by much as was already undetectable, and the added ribavirin was to get me from a 90% chance to cure to a 95% chance anyway.

Edited May 5, 2017 by FillMyArse

[Read1]

FillMyArse,

What strain of HEP C do  you have? Any there different vaccines for HEP C that work each strain separately OR is there only one vaccine for all strains? Curious to know… Good luck in your treatment to rid your body of HEP C!

[Leather69]

Hi Read1

It's my understanding that there are at least 3 main types with a number of sub types of each of the main ones. If you go onto the medication.. there is only one and it covers all types.

[FillMyArse]

Read1 I have HepC genotype 1a. There are at least 4 genotypes with various subtypes (a,b,c etc I don't actually know how many subtypes there are of each). The treatments are constantly evolving and various different ones are available.. As i'm being treated via the NHS the decision is largely based on cost vs effectiveness.

 

As for vaccines... there is NO vaccine currently available for HepC.

There ARE vaccines for HepA and HepB and if you haven't already I would strongly advise you (and everyone else) to get those vaccines.