Such a conundrum. Drs & pts try to get desperately needed treatment, taking a chance...and would you take the chance?
Easy to understand why drug trials don't include cirrhotics in early trials.
The cost is human.

Yes I would take a chance, I took a chance. I think that chance should be based on as much available good information about risks and possible benefits. Then I would make an "informed" decision.

I agree. I want ALL of the info too and wish I had even more before I started despite scouring the Internet. It's overwhelming but knowledge is power and Ptriss couldn't surf on her head if she didn't do some research first. Acute tx info was not easy to find last year in March. Thanks for posting Kramer. My close friend is going through txs for metastatic melanoma and his tx plan is changing frequently. One needs to take that one by the horns and learn all that you can take in. I had the same experience with HIV and HCV or other diseases are not exempt. Medicine, while often amazing, is not a perfect science.

I am ALWAYS grateful for your OBJECTIVE sharing of knowledge. Thank you! I just read this article somewhere else this morning. Thank GOD i didn't and won't do the triple - even with Vic - nope. May God protect all those here who are doing or have done Incivek... notice it starts with "I" just like that other notorious poison, Interferon? May God protect everyone - from the evils of tx drugs that can cause major adverse events - and from this freaking virus for those of us who still have it chomping away inside us.

Again, Kramer, your giving of info. is appreciated. We can take it or leave it, and I wish everyone would do that and not punch out the messenger - you. Please keep on posting this type of information. For many of us, it's the only way we find out about things - good and bad. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, you betcha!

Here's another article - adverse effects of Incivek - let the shooters shoot at me if they wish. But it's INFORMATION. It's important! I'm the messenger only - just as you are so often, Kramer.

(Sorry if this has already been posted)

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2013/04/the-dark-side-of-telaprevir.html?eml=hepcen183&utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Hepatitis%20Cenral&utm_content=HepCen+%23183+B

Kramer - I don't who hassled you but I want to go on record commending you for being a source of excellent and important information. I love you, dude, and very much your wealth of knowledge and information sharing!!

Maybe it was Riba rage?? (I experienced it yesterday though it could have been cause i was hungry or a combo of the two + a very annoying and unhelpful concierge).

For fuck's sake IMK, don't apologize for posting information. If people choose to to remain ignorant and bury their heads in the sand so be it. I live in a country where the majority do just that.

I don't post here much........I read here sometimes.......and I been around hep since 1997...........who wouldn't want to hear the bad as well as the good??

On my own boards........I wanna know what all I can learn.......make my own choices......and if it wasn't for folks like Kramer, posting good and bad................who can really make a good decision........based on their own circumstances????????

Hell........doesn't everyone look at the possible "long term" side effects of ANY med they are on........be it for hep.....diabetics, high BP.......or whatever??????.....sometimes it ain't pretty.......but ya gotta know....

Just my .02:):)

This is seriously depressing and scarry.... these rates are the lowest svr rates i have seen for triple tx, and the rates of adverse effects is alarming.... As someone half way through triple with incivek, I will discuss this with my doctor.... thank you so much for sharing.

Barbbey as you are so far into your treatment and with no serious sides and maintaining and early SVR think you should have favourable results.
I certainly hope so!

I thought the article reinforced the importance of a good response to interferon for triple to be effective - it pointed out how previous relapsers under SOC did much better than the SOC Null Responders - a while back I read an article suggesting incivek have a 4 week lead it to evaluate interferon response and thought it seemed like a good idea - this Tx is brutal not to mention dangerous

Yes that is what I have always understood talking to my Dr.s
As I was a non responder to SOC they did not even suggest trying triple therapy. Those that did respond but relapsed seem to do well on triple.
The quandary is treatment naive may not know where they stand.
I'd say early response is a good indicator.

I'm so glad I dodged that bullet. Thanks for the info. Scary, indeed!

Thanks Kramer.
There was a day... sitting in this forum...I would have killed to have ANY opportunity for treatment. Triple or otherwise. At meld 20, my doc said I probably wouldnt survive SOC. Ha!
I feel pretty good today, and waiting just doesnt seem so bad anymore.

HI Levicah ..yea me too just waiting. At MELD 20 are you still compensating? I am more familiar with Child Pugh