Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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a1napadude 01/17/2011

Okay, I got the dreaded Riba rash and it got REAL bad. From behind the ears all the way to the bottoms of my feet. Doc said Quit tx. We agreed to reduce the Riba to what ever works. I'm at 800mg instead of 1200mg. So far the rash has become patchy instead of completely connected. Tolerable but irritating. My question is has anyone had there Riba reduced and suffered from Viral Breakthrough. (now that I know what that is thanks to Dawter...so sorry for her)?
Other than V.B.T. what are the other risks.
Some stats show the same success rate at 800 mg after undie as 1200mg. Just worried if I'm wasting my time finishing. God knows I want S.V.R. at all costs.
Tim

karmah0209 01/17/2011

Tim, what shot are you on? why did he take you to 800? He should have only lowered you to 1000.

deleted_user 01/17/2011

I had my riba reduced at 12 weeks from 1,200 to 1,000. Sure made me feel better. I also had my intereferon reduced. I am 8 weeks post and had labs on Friday. I'll know soon.

a1napadude 01/17/2011

I'm on 13 of 24...11 more to go. Dr. said try "Whatever" works. she left it up to me. I tried 600 in the morn and 400 in the eve, rash stayed. She wants me to see her again this Fri. I will try the 600-400 once again and see what happens

deleted_user 01/17/2011

Hopefully you made it to the halfway point before reducing. I took 600mg (3 pills) in the morning and 400mg (2 pills) at night.

My geno is 2b and I was so paranoid about reducing. I would not have been able to complete tx if I didn't reduce.

a1napadude 01/17/2011

Sandey.
Yes I made it 1/2 way and hit unde at the same point. both just a week ago. Then the rash hit like the plague.

deleted_user 01/17/2011

nap,

i had riba rash so bad i was bleeding through my clothes; and i thought i would go MAD from all the itching. i could control myself and not scratch during the day but at night i would scratch. it didn't last long though. only a couple of weeks or so.

the doc gave me visteral to take by mouth that did quiet it down some. and i used aveeno nighttime extra-strength moisturizer. and benedryl by mouth too. i didn't want to lower my riba or quit treatment so i just suffered through it all.

instead of lowering your riba why don't you ask for visteril or maybe something stronger for the itching?

w

moineau 01/17/2011

I had the rash pretty bad too and I was on the 48 week program. Couple of things: The benadryl did help; I used a lot of skin cream (unscented basic stuff); and when it got really bad, a bit of off-the-shelf hydracortisone. I don't think a dose reduction of riba is going to necessarily hurt your chances. The other thing I did was always wash my skin despite the rash. If heard that the rash is due to the liver not dealing with toxins and so they get pushed out the skin causing the rash. Can't say for sure, I'm not a doctor. But if its so, it makes sense to wash and scrub gently to help the crap get out... Hang in there!

Dave11b 01/17/2011

Oatmeal bath worked for me in tepid water. I used no soap for almost 48 wks...no perfumes dyes or anything. Aveeno lotion helped also.

oOoREBoOo 01/17/2011

Well, I know some geno type 2's who only had to take 800 of riba throughout their whole tx and became undie and still are.

I think many of the type 2's take only 800 riba.
I dont' think you are wasting your time. Hope you get past this rash soon!

deleted_user 01/18/2011

Sorry to hear about your rash....sounds awful...I hope you get it under control.....

thanks mo for the little bid-tip, I didn't know thats how we get the rash.

deleted_user 01/18/2011

I got my riba reduced from 1200 to 800 due to weight loss

a1napadude 01/18/2011

Thanks Guys, I won't go any lower than 800 mg. I tried the 600 mg this morning and the rash is getting reder so I'm going back to 400/400=2 pills in the am/pm. and will ask for labs to be done in two weeks.

deleted_user 01/18/2011

I was reduced the exact same amount as you early on due to hemoglobans dropping and procrit not available at the time due to a recall. So I was on the reduced doasge about 3 weeks. My VL remained undectible during that time and at this point it still is. 4 shots left. Doc said it has been shown 800 is effective.

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