Andriad: Geno 1 Hep C patients are the "hardest to cure" not the easiest. And, yes, you need to go 48 weeks because you are geno 1 and because your viral load count did not go low enough soon enough. There's really no way around the fact that you will need to go 48 weeks.

Financially wise, do you have health insurance that includes coverage for the treatment meds? Have you checked with the drug companies to see if they can give you assistance?

The following information was posted on this site about a year ago. I hope it's still current:

Patient Assistance Programs

Americas Pharmaceutical companies have a long-standing tradition of providing prescription medicines free of charge to physicians whose patients might not otherwise have access to necessary medicines. Pharmaceutical companies operate these programs, commonly referred to as patient assistance programs, voluntarily.

Many drug manufacturers offer patient assistance programs which can greatly decrease or entirely eliminate the costs of many medications. The requirements for program eligibility vary. Some programs may be applied for directly by the patient, other program applications must be intiated by the healthcare provider (phsycian, pharmacist or agency).

Below are a few telephone numbers you can call to ask questions and URLS to visit for more information:

Product
Name Hepatitis
Type Parent
Company Assistance Program
Contact Information

Infergen
(interferon alfacon-1) Hepatitis C InterMune 888-696-8036
Intron A
(interferon alfa-2b) Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C Schering Commitment to Care
800-521-7157
Rebetron
(interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin) Hepatitis C Schering Commitment to Care
800-521-7157
PEG-Intron
(peginterferon alfa-2b) Hepatitis C Schering Commitment to Care
800-521-7157
PEG-Intron / Rebetol Combination
(peginterferon alfa-2b + ribavirin) Hepatitis C Schering Commitment to Care
800-521-7157
Roferon A
(interferon alfa-2a) Hepatitis C Roche 877-757-6243, option 4
Pegasys
(peginterferon alfa-2a) Hepatitis C Roche Pegassist
877-734-2797
Pegasys / Copegus Combination
(peginterferon alfa-2a + ribavirin) Hepatitis C Roche Pegassist
877-734-2797
Epivir HBV
(lamuvidine) Hepatitis B
Hepatitis D GlaxoSmithKline Glaxo Wellcome
Patient Assistance
800-722-9294
Hepsera
(adefovir dipivoxil) Hepatitis B Gilead 800-226-2056


Medicare - Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
http://www.medicare.gov/Prescripti...

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
2001-2002 Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs
http://www.phrma.org/

NAMI-NYC METRO - Resources
http://naminyc.nami.org/pharma_nos...

NeedyMeds.com
http://needymeds.com/

Northeastern Pennsylvania Transplant Support Group Inc. (NEPATSG) list of
Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Financial Assistance Programs
http://www.nepatsg.org/finance.htm

To receive a copy of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's
Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs, contact 1-800-835-3410

Missing Out on Benefits?

BenefitsCheckUp helps thousands every day to find programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services. Please fill out our simple questionnaire to find programs that can assist you or your loved ones
http://benefitscheckup04.governmen...

Andraid: When I said in my earlier post that "you need to go 48 weeks...", I based that on what your doc has already told you. None of us here are doctors so I don't want you to think that any of us are giving medical advice. It's only our OPINIONS.

Good post Kary, hopefully that infor will be helpful to many.
Why don't doctor's offices hand this stuff out?
Andriad, it was my impression that genotype 1 was hardest to treat and geno 2 the easiest. Unless I missunderstood my doc and everything I have read.
Call

Oops, hit the button too soon.
Call the numbers provided ny Kary and also there are financial assistance programs available for HCV tx.
Good luck!

ooops-I'm sorry, I have geno 3. I always get those mixed up.

I agree with kary, genotype 1a is the hardest, not the easiet thats why genotype 1a is told to do 48weeks. I would talk to your doctor about your financial situation. If you stop at 6mnths it is very likely you will relapse.

Genotype 3 is hard to clear too. Genotype 2 is the easiest.

Hi, I was told that I have to do 48 weeks no matter how low my numbers are, I am also 1A, now at four weeks they check my viral load and if it is not much lower, I stop and go on a transplant list because I have stage four damage, I am so hoping that I am an undie in tree weeks. I just read an article that says 1As are easily treated, it is under the posting where all the photographs of the livers are. It is pretty far down on the list of photos, it has some other geno types in that small list, and lists the ones hardest to treat. It is interesing to read.

Cynthia

andri, the financial destruction is very scary for us all. try to look at it like you cant afford to do the tx again later either. now be a good girl, take your rat poison and ragetabs. im kidding, i know the shits a bitch. i nearly starved, too arrogant to ask for food stamps..

Thanks capnhardass I'm self employed too and had to lower my income substantially to get on a program. No one would insure me and the fatigue was getting too much. I'm sooo grateful to get this treatment. I have to work during this and god I thought I was tiered before. This web.sight is great and I don't feel like it's all on my back anymore. Thanks again.

You have to go the distance the disease is very tricky. Some drug companies will pay for it. There is alway's some kind of assistance I know we have it here in california.