TOPIC:

Hi Barry, I checked your medications and only 1 has potential interaction with Mavyret, it's Seroquel (Quetiapine). Potential interaction means that it will likely require additional monitoring, alteration of drug dosage or timing of administration. All the other medications have no interaction with either Mavyret or Sofosbuvir. Please see the interaction report below.

Thanks Mar!

Sorry about the delay in replying Mar. I work for a suicide prevention charity where we take people in and give them rest and respite and good food to help them to find some hope and a way through. Its free of charge and we sometimes get big spikes in applicants and the past week or two have been crazy. check us out at: www,taranakiretreat.org.nz
Thank you for looking that up for me. I will start to step down slowly off the Seroquel. Shall I talk to my GP about how far down I should step and how fast?
g

Hi Barry, no worry at all, great work you guys are doing in that charity

Yes, please talk to your GP about how far down and how fast you should step down off Seroquel. He may even switch you to an alternative medication altogether just for the duration of the Hep C treatment.

Please let us know if you need any more help and keep us updated on your progress.

Hi barry666,

Seroquel is "industrial strength" so it's definitely something you don't just stop cold turkey.

Talking to your GP is a great idea. You will be taking Maviret + Sofosbuvir so we want your medications to play well with this combination.

If you put in Maviret (Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir) + Sofosbuvir here and then Quetiapine

You will see the interaction - this basically says reduce the Quetiapine dose a bit, however there are alternatives:

www.hep-druginteractions.org/view_all_in...0174?co_drug_id=1455

Risperidone and Olanzapine are similar so you could swap to them but a simple dose reduction (when you start treatment) would probably be all that is required.

Summary:

Coadministration with quetiapine does not preclude the use of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. Quetiapine is metabolised by CYP3A4 and in vitro is a substrate of P-gp. Concentrations of quetiapine may increase as glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is a weak inhibitor of CYP3A4 and P-gp (27% increase in AUC with probe 3A4 substrate midazolam; 45% increase in AUC of tacrolimus).Whilst unlikely to be clinically significant in most patients (a recent study having looked at the efficacy and safety of G/P in patients with chronic HCV and psychiatric disorders) , caution is advised when using higher doses of quetiapine (e.g. over 400mg/day), or with liver impairment, the elderly, patients with cardiac conduction abnormalities or other drugs known to prolong QT interval. Concomitant administration of cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors, such as HIV-protease inhibitors, azole-antifungal agents, erythromycin, clarithromycin and nefazodone, is contraindicated in the European label for quetiapine.

I am visiting my doctor tomorrow to sap out the seroquel with an alternative as you suggest. I have also just had my 6 monthly ultrasound and blood test so I am going to see what he thinks of the results. Shall I add them on to this forum when I get them scanned to see what you all make of them and add them as an update for a "state of the nation" picture for a clearer idea for the doctors before the new course of meds is started?

Thanks so much for helping me out here everyone. Your opinions, advice, friendliness and experience will mean I will have a clearer picture of whats happening inside me and also to those who have worked hard to be able offer me another chance to assault the Hep C again for free. as the cost is what would have kept me locked out

With respect and humility...

g

Sorry, I realise that is probably rude to ask but is there any updated information as to when the re-treatment regime/test trial is likely to start? I ask mainly because of reasons like the change off Seroquel and the possibly delay it might cause me as i carefully step down from it after about ten years. Also to prep mentally, make sure my support network is in place and to advise my employer about the course of meds I will be taking.

Thank you again...endless questions...

g

Hi Barry, yes please post the name of the alternative medication to get reassurance that it will be OK to take with the new treatment. As far as the timing of the NZ re-treatment trial, Dr James is the one who may be able to give you a time frame.

Sorry to keep bugging you, but how do I get in touch with Dr James?
g

Hello Barry, no worry. Dr James responds to all forum posts.

I went to the doctor today to find out how my ultrasound looked from earlier in the week The doctor said no cancer but there was pressure on my Portal vein (?) and that I need to do something about it soon. Ive attached the ultrasound notes for your info.
I am going to come off the Quetiapine as it was only apparently helping me to sleep but was initially prescribed as I was having alcohol psychosis but they never got round to telling me that I didnt need it anymore. I plan to not be taking it at all by the first day of treatment. Doc will offer me Melatonin if sleep becomes an issue. Im a hard egg and have endured worse than a step down off seroquel. And one less poison to put in my body.
g

Hi barry666,

I'm pretty sure I copied you into an email to Prof Gane so you have my email address.

If you can get your specialist or GP to a) Prescribe you 16 weeks Maviret and b) Fill in a Medsafe form for 16 weeks Sofosbuvir we can (potentially) get just cracking now for you.

Hi Dr James.

That is music to tired ears! Thank you so much for this opportunity to slay the beast in my body. It means so much to me to be able to have another chance to rid myself of Hep C.
I have the email you mentioned but I didn't know if it was appropriate for me to use it. I have a few questions for you regarding treatment, support and general advice which I will direct to your email address asap.
I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone on here that has patiently answered my questions, reassured me and just taken the time out of their days to reply to me. You are all amazing people that deserve the very best that life can give you. When wrote my first entry I was resigned to a short, dark future full of increasingly unpleasant symptoms and was seriously questioning whether I wanted to endure it or simply opt out of it altogether. I now have a little hope in my life thanks to the folk on this site
I have no money and my pride will not allow me to even ask others (who don't have any money either) to contribute to a situation I inflicted upon myself. That HUGE hurdle has been eliminated and I feel humbled.

The system wouldn't fund me but Ive learned in life and from the wise advice of my late Father and the unshakeable hope and support from my elderly Mother there is no point in anger, frustration or blame. Ive learned that if I own a situation created by myself I get to piece of mind quicker and acceptance appears shortly after.

Everyday at my job, I meet people who have survived brutal suicide attempts, individuals that have been "pulled back" from the edge and are in a hell so dark our small team have to convince them to have one last go at life with us walking beside them. We have all lost a few of these people which devastates us every time, but in a couple of years we have had hundreds that leave us after close support, good food, sleep, listening and continued support for as long as they need it. What they go through makes a my Hep C and Cirrhosis look insignificant in comparison. They inspire me every day with the bravery and determination to live

However, I know that there is a reasonable chance that the treatment process may not be effective, and being a pessimist (I call it realism) I have to have that scenario in the back of my mind just in case

I will report my progress to you all along this next journey. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it!

Respect to you all

Barry (my name is actually Gordon or "G" for short)

g

Hi G,

Drop me a line by email and we'll get going.

Best Regards

James

Thanks for your great post Gordon, you're very welcome, but it's Dr James really who deserves any credit. Looking forward to hearing good news from your upcoming treatment journey.