Any suggestions for coping with the side affects of pegintron/ribovirin treatment for HepC?

Question

I have hepc and cirrhosis. I went on the treatment about 2 yrs ago, but was unable to tolerate it. I'm going to start treatment again, but this time I will start with only interferon and if I'm doing okay, then they will introduce a small dose of ribovirin. I am a patient of Calif Pacific Med Cntr and will probably need a transplant in about 3 yrs. Does anyone know of anything that will help with the horrible side affects? They want me to try to stay on the interferon for a year!! Also, if you have hepc and cirrhosis, do you have almost unbearable pain in muscles and joints? My pain is intense. What does your doctor prescribe for pain?

Answer 1

i have had hep c for 7 years i have tried interferon with ribovirin then pegintron with ribovirin and the side effects are very bad, my dr prescribed 800mg of ibuprofen some drs disagree with the ibuprofen but it worked for me and has not made my liver worse. one specialist told me to stay away from tylenol not that it helped me anyway, i also suffer from severe joint and muscle pain on most days it is so painful to just move, i have been to numerous drs in 2 states and i honestly believe either they do not know enough about hepc or they just do not care people are still very ignorant when it comes to hep c they think right away you used drugs,this is not always the case. i would advise you to speak with your dr about the ibuprofen it helped me with the side effects when i was on treatments and helps me now with the muscle and joint pain i have to do what works for me cause i have a 16 year old who depends on me i cannot be laid up in bed all day cause of the the pain, i wish you lots of luck and i feel for you cause i am going thru the same thing

Answer 2

why dont you post your question in the following forum?
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Hepatitis/wwwboard.html