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It does seem so far as if the Hep councils did know what they were talking about. There probably will be some glitches in the roll out but all in all it has rolled out as predicted except with a small delay in the original December announcement.
This particular patient had previous exposure to DAA meds and the treatment was unsuccessful . i would love to see the disappearance of ribavirin but even more than that i would hate treat with the new meds and not clear. i think doubting recommendations of a Professor based in a large teaching hospital who is actively involved with managing patients with complicated histories. He is also very much involved with clinical trials and has worked in the field for the twenty years I have known him is a bit ripe.
These meds are new and a lot of individuals needing them can have very complicated histories that can’t be discounted.
He is not the only specialist prescribing in the field with up to date knowledge that feels the need to add in riba in some patients.
just think it is important that people consult with a specialist if they have complicated history and in particular previous exposure to DAA meds.
Recently someone I know purchased meds from here and received information on what medication they would need. They then saw there GP and asked for a script. He looked up the guidelines wanting to re assure himself that her information was correct but suggested she should check with her specialist first before taking them. He did write the script. She ordered her meds through here and waited for her specialist appointment. Her specialist was horrified not that they were buyers club meds but that she was being grossly under treated . Her particular history required 24 weeks treatment not 12 and also ribavirin.
After that story I think I would want contact with a specialist just to make sure. Yes Gp’s have contraindications and drug interaction pop ups with medications. My Gp is an S100 provider for HIV meds and has a special interest in hep c medications but with my complicated history was reluctant to write prescriptions while i was on treatment and always consulted with the clinic first. Okay the meds I had were vikeira pac which probably has the most drug reactions.
None of the GP’s I know, and i know a lot, are very aware of HCV meds ,except for what I harass them about ,even though they are very dedicated and conscientious practitioners they have always referred patients onto clinics for treatment and would be loath to prescribe without a lot more information. I was speaking with a group of them yesterday about all of this and they wanted more information. Hopefully it will be forthcoming.
Its 24 week since I finished my last treatment and i am still clear. I didn’t use generics because due to severe liver damage I was able to have compassionate access. I feel fantastic but unfortunately not everything I had thought was due to HCV has disappeared. I still have severe joint and muscle pain. My memory is still shot and my lack of cognition dives me insane.
I can walk a lot further than i could before treatment, still not far but further. I am starting to build some muscle for the first time in such a long time. I don’t need a nana nap and I have gone bad to work part time. I didn’t think any of those things would ever happen.
I stilltest positive for cryoglobulins in the blood and I am always cold, well not always, it is bloody hot here but my feet are often cold. I do have a few mood swings still and would prefer to be up all night and sleep all day but my sleep pattern has started to improve.
Things do improve after treatment, but don’t expect miracles.
The medications are not S100 they are S80 so Gp’s are going to be able to prescribe. So what is going to happen? Are they all going to stop writing scripts when they get to a specified sum? i don’t think so.
The rate of new infections is declining and we already know that when you treat people in groups of people who inject drugs it significantly reduces new infections so with treatment that should drop even further.
If the drug companies are as greedy as everyone seems to think they will already be working out how to get these meds into pharmacies as quickly as possible. Gastros are getting there patients to return in March /April inline with this announcement. I can’t foresee huge delays.
The prescribing details have not yet been released but they have said that they are following PBAC recommendations and so far they have. The medication is to be available to everyone. Even prisons, no discrimination with prescribing. The interview this morning said 1 billion plus for this medication. No limits. If as recommended by the PBS they are to be prescribed by GP’s then there will be no restrictions in treating. As people are already able to have scripts from GP’s I see no reason why this should change once the medications are listed.
The minister clearly stated the number of people requiring treatment and said they would be treated. Not all people will want to be treated straight away. Some people don’t have it as a priority just at the moment and others are waiting for even better medications that are on the horizon and have shorter treatment times. Some with previous exposure to DAA meds are waiting for meds with a higher success rate in this population.
This great news that has come about with a huge amount of hard work and lobbying from a large amount of people other than the people running the Buyers club and I think that could be acknowledged.
The Buyers club has done a wonderful job in providing medications for people who felt they needed the medications immediacy and those that didn’t believe that they would be approved. People have been empowered by being able to take the decision into there own hands and they have been treated and cured or waiting for a cure. Job well done.
We should all be celebrating.
The cost of the medication was to decrease the more people treated. Gilead were assured of there profit and when they got it the price is reduced. So the price is on a downward scale not fixed per course of treatment. This is what I was told when they were negotiating earlier.
Just awesome news. All those gastros calling patients back in March April for treatment seem to have had a pretty good idea of the upcoming approval.
i couldn’t believe how backward thinking Geelong hospital have been. I have always found there clinic odd. Asking questions was apparently and unusual thing for patients to do there. It always seemed justified to travel to Melbourne. i’m glad you have managed to teach them a thing or two and hopefully people will have an easier time now because of you. I do know a lot of people who do the drive to Melbourne hospitals because of there attitude.
Glad you persevered and got your treatment and monitoring.
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