Without wanting to second guess the Doc on this. Because of the large group of inhibitor and inducer chemicals that effect Dac, the 30mg allows doses of 30 or 90mg if you also have to take a medication that effects the efficiency of Dac. I’m pretty sure that otherwise the dose remains 60mg for a wide weight range although someone less than half the standard weight may be considered for a 30mg tab. Eg if you only weighed 30kg or so.

G

Hi MuirMackean,

I agree that you need guidance from a doctor but a couple of thoughts from my experience for what it’s worth:

– You had Peg/riba previously. How did you handle that and how does this compare? May give you a baseline of where you are at now?
– I started on the Sof/Dac which I found very speedy/adrenaline feeling for first week or so. I added Riba at two weeks (not planned just availability/logistics) so missed the combined initial effect which could be what you are experiencing.
– after 12 days on riba I have had some insomnia the last couple of nights. Skin is itching now so am using sorbolene as moisturiser. I find I am very emotional, no rage but not a lot of stress ATM, however I will be avoiding movies about small furry kittens for the immediate future…….and I’m a dog person, most definitely NOT a cat lover! hmy:

As Paul says, I want to make sure I clear this time so any advantage I can take I will. But I also have cirrhosis so that factors in.

Best wishes for clearance and let us know how you go.

G

Welcome isaing4,

As the others say, there are no issues with coffee. In my view it is an essential of life!

Great to hear that your treatment is going well and look forward to celebrating the milestones with you.

G

Hi Jaz,

The time starts from date of the first test so rolling 12 months. Below is a link to Dr James recommendations and thoughts on what the tests mean to someone on treatment but please also be guided by your clinic who you say are supportive. The VL before and again early in treatment is really about seeing if you are responding quickly which seems to be a given with these new DAAs. It is probably as much a hang over from the old interferon days as anything (and giving you confidence) unless you are checking a new medication for RVR as the Doc was pre Redemption trials. Plus, if you get an undetected at two weeks for qualitative then that is just as good as an undetected for quantitative. But as the Doc notes, he hasn’t seen anyone yet who isn’t undetected at 12 weeks.

http://fixhepc.com/forum/experts-corner/364-viral-load-quantitative-vs-qualitative.html

In my case we used a VL Qty test at the start of this year investigating the surge in activity in my liver so my Hepatologist says to just do the 2nd one at 4 weeks to ensure I am seeing a rapid drop. If this is the case I will then wait to 12 weeks even if it is still detectable at 4 weeks.. But am confident that it will be good anyway as you should be for your Tx too.

G

Thanks Vororo,

Point well made, I didn’t really think it through and will be a lesson for me for the future.

As there is some contention around my post even after modifying and it only remained due to site’s non censorship policy I have deleted all references.

Deleted by Gaj

I agree Sirchinenge. I’m not sure of the exact legal situation in the UK although likely similar to Aust as most of our laws are based on your model. I very much suspect that the NHS is playing a game of bluff here. But to some extent the argument comes down to how strong the patient is and whether they are able/willing to fight the system or have more user friendly options such as a supportive GP and access and funds for private consultant and/or testing. But supposing they choose the NHS clinic route:

– if someone is already a client of a clinic then I suspect that their consultant is not in a position to deny them access to the services of that clinic. They may rant and rave about it and advise against self treatment as a course of action. They may be able to delay testing, appointments, etc. and frustrate the patient to the point of giving up. But they can’t actually deny the patient access and if the patient presents with concerns or side effects that need checking then they have a duty of care to provide that service. It really comes down to how strongly you are able to fight back and how big a pain in the arse you can be.

– I have just read the letter from Alsdad’s consultant to his GP and that just further reinforces my views above. At no point do they deny him monitoring although they attempt to imply it. The whole letter is an attempt at instilling FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) in the GP and by association the patient. I wonder what would have happened if Alsdad had said “right, yes, I’m taking Sovaldi/Ribavarin as my generic treatment so please monitor me for side effects of that. I’m not too fussed about you doing VL tests but feel free to if you are curious” and then proceeded to take his Sof/Dac “coz I get confused by all these medication names!” They may not have liked monitoring him and I suspect any moral/emotional support may have been lacking…..but they wouldn’t have thrown him out on his ear.

I really think the biggest problem here is the stigma attached to hep c and your NHS is playing on that in an attempt to deflect any responsibility. What it probably requires is someone prepared to stand up in court and/or the media and say “This isn’t fair!” But I understand how hard that is for anyone to do particularly with the vulnerabilities that this virus causes in us.

Anyway, just a few of my thoughts and I’m not advocating lying about what meds you are on because that is a risky route to take.

G