http://www.nature.com/eye/journal/v17/n4/full/6700391a.html
"INF-alpha therapy has been known to cause a variety of ocular lesions.1,2 Typical lesions include cottonwool spots and retinal haemorrhages at the posterior fundus, particularly around the optic disc, secondary to retinal ischaemia, which usually appear within 3 months of the onset of therapy.
A small trial failed to demonstrate that interferon alfa-2b prevented cirrhosis in HBeAg-positive patients. Another small RCT found no significant difference in histologically confirmed cirrhosis after interferon alfa-2b alone or with simultaneous prednisone. No data were available from RCTs for other antiviral drugs or longer followup.
Hepatic decompensation was not prevented by lamivudine compared to placebo or entecavir compared to lamivudine in three underpowered trials.
These include albinterferon, controlled-release recombinant interferon alfa, maxy-alfa interferon, oral interferon, and implantable mini-pump technology to deliver continuous interferon infusion.
Albinterferon* was developed by genetically fusing human albumin to interferon alfa. The concept is that this recombinant agent will have a longer sustainable half-life and thus allow a reduction in the frequency of interferon administration.
Overall, 49% of patients discontinued their medication before the end of the four-year study, with 36% due to failure to comply and 13% due to side effects. Peginterferon alfa-2b was generally well tolerated. Among patients who discontinued due to interferon side effects (17.1%, 49/286), the most common reason (45%, 22/49 patients) was general intolerance to interferon (e.g., due to flu-like symptoms, malaise, and other common interferon side effects).
I'm the opposite of Frijole. I did 2b first and failed treatment, 2a the second time. Although successful it was not due to the 2a. But, I found that the side effects were much less than 2b.
Pegylation of interferon alfa-2b produces a product (PegIntron) whose clearance is lower than that of nonpegylated interferon alfa-2b. When compared to INTRON A, PegIntron (1 mcg/kg) has approximately a 7-fold lower mean apparent clearance and a 5-fold greater mean half-life, permitting a reduced dosing frequency. At effective therapeutic doses, PegIntron has approximately 10-fold greater Cmax and 50-fold greater AUC than interferon alfa-2b.
This shows the dosing information for neupogen while on hcv tx. According to this information the neupogen should be stopped or taken less often if the anc is over 1000. Mine was at 6500 after five injections, and my doc tells me to keep taking the neupogen.
Granulocyte Stimulating Colony Factor Criteria for Use
for Hepatitis C Treatment-Related Neutropenia
VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management Strategic Healthcare Group and Medical Advisory Panel
Prepared by: K. Tortorice, PharmD BCPS , H.
Ribavirin dosage normally is weight based, with a normal maximum of 12,000 (6 pills) a day. I weigh 144 lbs, so I started out at 1,000 mg a day, 3 in the morning and 2 at night. The doctor may do a lot of adjustments during the treatment also.
Here is some info:
http://www.drugs.com/dosage/ribavirin.
I am GT 1 and my md only wants to give me 800 mg of riba because I weigh 115 lbs. Why ?!
•for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection (monoinfection) in combination with interferon alfa-2b in patients previously untreated with interferon alpha:
NOTE: Consider response prognostic factors, HCV genotype, viral load, and disease progression evidence such as hepatic inflammation and fibrosis when deciding to treat a pediatric patient.
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