TOPIC:

First of all, I'd like to show my deepest thanks to Greg, Dr. Freeman and all kind hearted members for your valuable information !

Reading your successful SVR results every day had encouraged me for re-treatment and I'm lucky to find a local hepatologist who accepted to monitor with my own generic medications (can't afford the official meds at crazy prices !).
She was very curious about my case (gt6a-f4-relapsed after 52 + 26 weeks of Peg/Rib), so she made me re-test all types of blood analysis (results as attached), fibroscan F4 (48 kPa) ...
Verdict: 24 weeks of Ledispavir + Sofosbuvir with Ribavirin 1200mg daily dose. Then blood test after 14 days for ALT, AST, GGT + HCV RNA.
I asked her if I should buy all meds for the whole 24 weeks course of Tx, but she said "No, if later you don't use them all, I'm not responsible for these extras !" It made me wonder what she really meant ? That my Tx course might be shortened depending on the monitoring of VL ??

Could you please enlighten me on this matter as I have to travel abroad and can't go back and forth to get these meds ?

Once again thanks for all.

Hi Dac, I remember you are in Vietnam. Why can you not just ask her what she meant?

Hi Dac, Some consultants do often seem to talk in riddles don't they!
I wonder if it means she will only monitor for a certain length of time depending on your treatment response?
I would also suggest you ask, if you have that kind of communucation with her.
Best of luck with your treatment.

Hi Dac,

These new DAA medications are different from the old treatments.There are no 'stop treatment' points if your viral load hasn't dropped by a certain amount like there used to be with Peg/riba. Usually both slow and fast responders are recommended to continue treatment until completion of the full course unless there is some sort of adverse event which is rare.
Most of us get a 24 week prescription as 2 x 12 weeks but that is because the customs laws for most countries don't allow import of more than 12 weeks medications at a time but it sounds like that is not the situation for you in Vietnam? As the others say, it would be useful to understand your hepatologist's reasons for her recommendation.

I would get the full 24 weeks and take that much of two DAAs. With the RIBA the benefits are probably marginal. 24 weeks Rx in both GT1 and GT3 seems to yield similar results with or without RIBA. Treating ASAP should be your priority. Getting the meds into pretty much anywhere is possible without the need for travel. Which country?

Dear Chapel, LG, Gaj
Thanks for all your advices and sorry for my late response.

Yes, I already did when receiving the prescription for only 14 days, but my hepatologist (PhD, members of AGA, AASLD and EASL) said:
"If you want me to monitor your re-treatment course, just follow my instructions. So you think that you can buy 6 bottles and take all those pills then you will be cured ? It's not that easy, if not we doctors don't have to work any more ! Just buy 1 bottle, take the 12 days dose and come back here to make a blood test, then I'll decide what's next ! "
What can I ask more !!!

Hi Dr. Freeman,
I'm from Vietnam and I heard of your Redemption Trials, unfortunately the reasons I can't register are:
- can't afford as my budget is quite limited.
- can't make import customs clearance as I can't get import permission for personal treatment due to doctor's prescription limited for only 14 days. Incepta already offered me to ship meds CIF Hochiminh but I'll be responsible for customs release (big greedy mouth)
- can't wire money abroad due to strict bank regulations (lack of suitable prescription and import permission)
Therefore, I have go to Thailand to fetch the meds with the help from one active member of Hep C Treatment w/o Borders.

I'm feeling warmly touched by your concern and always listening to further advices.
Thanks
Dac

. So you think that you can buy 6 bottles and take all those pills then you will be cured ? It's not that easy, if not we doctors don't have to work any more !

Without Ribavirin it is that easy for almost all patients taking DAA treatment.

With Ribivirin, and with serious cirrhosis having a doctor to keep an eye on your bloods is important.

Hi Dac,

I am not a doctor, so I dont know detail.

but I saw a patient with GT6/c and cirrhosis got VL<15 within 3 wks after starting to take generic harvoni in South-Korea Hep-c community website.

You will be cured, this time.

Jay from south korea

Finally I got my 6 bottles of Hepcivir L for 24 weeks treatment !
I'd like to show my deepest gratitude for Greg, mr.G, my family, and my thanks to you all on this wonderful community for bringing me motivation and hope, I could not make it without you.
Today I will take my first pill of the 168 with 1200mg of Rib following your path to get rid of it this time.

Hi Dac,

I am just catching up on some posts and saw yours. Well done on your perseverence and getting all of the treatment that you need. Hooray for that first pill - it's pretty special - and so is the last one! Wishing you a smooth time.

Coral

Thanks Coral, hope I can get Undetected result like you

Hi Dr. Freeman and everybody,
I'm actually on Day 3, feeling great except that my bowels are working a little bit maybe due to the 1200 mg of Rib. Should I have some yogurts ? Love it.
Besides, I read in some thread that Amlodipine is not recommended for Led/Sof Tx, isn't it ? Is there a substitute for my hypertension ?
My lady doctor prescribed to me Esomeprazole (PRAMEBIG 20MG), I looked up at Liverpool Hep-chart and it comes out:
"Coadministration has not been studied, but data with omeprazole show only a small decrease in ledipasvir exposure. Proton pump inhibitor doses comparable to omeprazole 20 mg can be administered simultaneously with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir. Proton pump inhibitors should not be taken before ledipasvir/sofosbuvir." Shoud I skip it ?

Thanks.
Dac

Proton pump inhibitors should not be taken before ledipasvir/sofosbuvir." Shoud I skip it ?

Yes, if you can skip it, absorption of ledipasvir needs stomach acid. You only get about 1/2 as much in if you don't have stomach acid (at least if you were a dog taking famotidine (which is not a PPI but works like one)).

With Amlodipine:

Coadministration has not studied but may increase concentrations of amlodipine or ledipasvir due to P-gp inhibition. Although a clinically significant effect of ledipasvir is considered unlikely, monitor heart rate, blood pressure and for increased side effects of amlodipine.

So it will probably be OK. Keep an eye on your BP, and if you seem to be getting sides past the first week we should consider if you are getting higher levels of Ledipasvir (and no using a PPI to reduce them is not a good idea!)

Hi Dac,

How did you get your medications? Did they ship them to you in Vietnam or you have to travel to Thailand to pick them up?

I got problem for customs clearance as can't get import permission, so I have to go to Bangkok and brought meds back