Ding ding ding ding!!

That IMO is the *most* important question to be asked until it's no longer necessary.

Hi Brigid. :-)

Yes there will be dual treatments without Ribavirin in a year or so..
You can search on the www as I do. Takes a little time but worth it.
Here is one for you
http://www.hepatitiscnewdrugresearch.com/gs-7977-formally-psi-7977.html

Ribavirin is the "less evil" of the twins Interferon/Riba
I would take it again but no way Jose to Interferon.
Check this site too
http://www.hepatitiscnewdrugresearch.com/gs-7977-formally-psi-7977.html

and
http://hcvadvocate.blogspot.ca/p/interferon-free.html

Hi Brigid,
THAT'S the question I'd really like answered. I'd take Riba if I had to, but I worry about kidney side effects. Gilead is testing the sofosbuvir/gs-5885 combo with and without Riba, and I've read on one of the forums that some Gilead reps are saying "off the record" that ribavirin won't even be needed. On the other hand, I've read some posts by skeptics who feel that riba will be always needed for genotype 1, at least
One thing that I'm kind of fixated on, in spite of my concerns about Riba, is that Sofosbuvir and Ribavirin alone cleared 84% of treatment-naive genotype 1 in a recent trial. I'm genotype 1a, and since Sofosbuvir should be out early next year at the latest (I hope), there's part of me that would like to take the chance of trying that route with Riba and clearing the virus as soon as possible. Maybe I should wait for better odds and less side effects though, and be extra safe with my sketchy kidneys. Anyway, I totally understand where you're coming from. Let's keep an eye on the news.

Hey Brig, don't worry about the Riba. Yes, it does have it sides, what is does not have is the sides with the interferon. The sides of Riba is doable with the orals. As a matter of fact, I would rather have the riba with the orals just to give that extra punch!

riba w/out interferon doesn't have any side effects....i did an all oral trial....it's the interferon,,,not the riba................i did interferon twice.....take... my advice......experience............wooolaaaa....lol

http://www.hepatitiscnewdrugresearch.com/gs-7977-formally-psi-7977.html

I had Riba, and am now wondering if it could have been the Riba (or possibly the study drug) that caused my gastroparesis. I've also had a lot of eye pain, and my understanding is that the vagus nerve being damaged can cause both eye pain and gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying). If you have no damage, I think you should wait for milder drugs. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Dilly...I had some pretty bad side effects with Riba so it's different for everyone.

I guess it's hard to tell, especially when taking different drugs, what's causing the problems. I'm glad some of you were able to take RIba with no problems.
My issue is that I have pretty advanced fibrosis, so I can't wait too long (If one trusts the fibrosure.) but I really would like to avoid it.

I don't want to scare anyone away from treatment, but I think it's important to know the possibilities. When I asked the doctor if the gastro issue was related to tx., he said that sometimes tx. - with or without interferon - can cause a cirrhotic liver to decompensate.

I had riba with my trial.....had no side effects. All oral. Was undie day 9. Still undie a year later.

I think a lot of it depends on the condition of the liver before tx. I knew I was at higher risk b/c of the cirrhosis, but really didn't expect anything like this.