Serious side effects to pegetron injections

[wonder65]

Are there any real bad side effects besides the norn example brain fog and the flu syptoms. Could taking pegetron injections have regretable effects, Im starting injections soon and want to know as much as possible about these injections. My doctor just gave me brochures about the injections and the info is basic at best. I want to know can the stuff kill you possibly put you in a coma things to this nature. I know the up side to taking the medication, but I would like to know if there are any down side to the injections. thank you Steve

[outofgas]

my worst sx was anger uncontrolable  always thinking of killing people first 6 or 7 months some days wife couldn't even say hi ,since then has started to leave but still pops up from time to time

[sfbaygirl]

I remember before my first shot I thought about making a will or something, I was so scared I was going to die or turn into a frog at the very least! I looked around and waited for something to happen. Nothing did until the next day when I had chills, aches etc. You never know how the shots will hit you. Everyone has different reactions to them. So while yes, there are sides (sx) with interferon, it is doable and not as scary once you get through that first shot.

[NYgirl]

you can develop autoimmune diseases while on peg - not likely but possible. for example the peg killed my thyroid off...so these things Can happen.

i wouldnot let fear keep me from treating though

[Cindy10]

I can relate to that fear as well. Well I started I thought I would do the shot and possibly die right after. I think we all think something dramatic will happen. I ask my  tx nurse and she said in 15 years she has never heard of it. You are using
Interfuron which your body makes naturally (not quite the same)
so you should not have any immediate. Again depends on the person. I found I dont feel anything from the shot, it is the next day I have muscle aches and pain. Take whatever your doc recommends, tylenol or alieve and drink as much water as you can. The more water the better, it will help with the sx.
Good luck!

[wonder65]

thank you for your comment cindy will drink plenty of water i always do any way steve

[Lady E]

The side effects are tolerable for me. Just inconvenient with the fatigue, brain fog, & some body aches from time to time. Not unbearable.
I think the stress I put myself through BEFORE starting treatment was worse for me than the treatment itself.

I also want to add that the treatment beats the alternative.
Best of luck!
-E

[rentapen]

The older you are and your basic health shape will determine during and long term sx's.
rent

[amicraxy]

Fatigue, body pains, strangeness, and brain fog I could have handled better but I went into a depression unlike anything I have ever felt. By the 5 th week my Doctor tried as hard as he should to get me to take anti depresants.  I said no mainly because I am an addict in recovery and did not want to add more drugs to my already fragil mind.  It was very difficult

[desrt]

Every dose of IFN should come with a long, skinny piece of paper that takes a magnifying glass to read . It gives you a list of all the known nasties and the probabilities you'll run into them.

[big bloc]

Dont get worked up over it. I did the same thing. now at week of40/48 never got fever or flu like. If I didnt know better I might think it was just water in the pen.

[olbaldguy]

If the effects are mild at the beginning, they may get stronger as you accumulate the chems, similar to taking mood changing or anti depressant chems. It takes a while. My main recommendation is "listen to your body" don't try to do more than you can. I missed some work 4-6 months along and was a couch due every weekend, My yard looked like hell this summer. So what....I am alive and have got this done, Feels good not drinking beer too!!!! (40 years)

[illo]

Hi Wonder,

I know 2 people that have detatched retinas from it, and my husband has 2 patients that will be on antidepressents for the rest of their lives.  The other HCV thread I'm on, the people seem to agree that if you have a weakness in your body, it will excentuate it.  So if your thyroid is low, it will most likely go lower.

BTW, on doing research, one of the ingredients is the same stuff as antifreeze, polyethylene glycol.  Eeks!  I don't know how they make it 'safe' for human consumption, but I would like to know.
______________
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17048379

R

[kari36]

just tuned in. am starting treatment in March, a bit worried but will handle whatever comes cause it is definetly better than the alternative. All of your comments really help in understanding, more than all the paperwork I have accumulated on this. Thanx . Only thing that spooked me really, was reading of the 2 people having detached retinas, since I had one in my left eye at age 5, and have next to no sight in that eye.Would be just about right for my luck to have the right eye get one!  Thanx again all.   Kari

[MrsOckert]

If, around week 8, you feel really sick - worse than what the side effects lead you to believe you should feel - I would recommend asking your doctor to do a blood test for ACE markers in your blood.  It can be an excellent indicator of autoimmune diseases due to the interferon.

[jacosa]

can u lose your hair from treatment and do you have 2 be clean from using for a certain amount of time before u can get treatment? I have been clean for a little over a year. Thank You.  Jacosa

[Soarist]

I fought the brain fog by playing online scrabble.   It was interesting to watch my score go up and down over the week.  The two days after the shot I always lost!  But it seems to have worked.   I only had to do 3 months of treatment but am still here the first Thursday without  a shot, but feeling like there ought to be something.  So  I've been reading about the withdrawal from interferon but the evidence is sketchy.   Well see what happens tomorrow.

[fretboard]

I don't know the answer to your question about whether you have to be clean from drug use for a certain amount of time.  That's a difficult and individulized answer, at least it used to be.  I'm sure there may be certain guidelines that need to be followed especially if you are considering going through a clinical trial to treat HepC.  Maybe someone else on this forum knows the answer.  Also, are we talking about IV drug use, what kind of drugs etc.  Here's a link, maybe it has an answer or like I said maybe someone knows the answer.  You said you been clean for a little bit over a year, that's good and maybe you can get treated.  later  

  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1629041

[sleepy56]

I think the benefits of this therapy, (trying to heal your liver from this hideous and socially frowned upon disease), far outweigh the side effect illness.

I am in week 17 and have done a PCR viral load check 3 weeks ago, the virus is already undetectable.   I have to finish the entire course of therapy of 48 weeks though.   I do have side effects, mostly fatigue, anemia, sore muscles.   I'm taking anti depressants which I recommend during this to try to keep your head on straight so to speak.   The risks of not trying to find a cure are well documented.   Liver cancer or cirrohsis are not pretty ways to die.  I think the medicine does have side effects, but the chance of a cure is well worth the menace of the side effects.   At least attempt it, and try to stay with it, the beginning shots are the worst, after it becomes easier, but the fatigue does stay on.  The other side of the coin might be a lot uglier if you don't try to get cured.

Worth it in my opinion!

[LUCKYLADE]

I appreciate all of your comments as I must start these shots within the week or 2. The only thing that I am reading for the first time is "brain fog." I was an addicted backgammon player on line for over 9 years and having hearing the scabble story do people recommend to get yourself involved brain wise to keep the thinking straighter? If so I will do that from day one if misery allows me to or as soon as I can. Second someone share what the first week or two will be like as this whole thing has blown my mind away. The only reason I feel sane at this time is that I have a 18 month old grand child who is the love of my life and my immediate family is doing everything possible to support me mentally right now. I am seeing a physcologist already who has me on an anti depressant which I feel is helping me deel with the trauma ahead more easy. Someone just let me know what to expect. Thanks.
Email me at ***@**** or ***@****. Thanks all and hope that all of you find the physical help you need to get well from this ugly disease.

[bsfj]

I just had my first shot this afternoon and I gotta say that rarely in my life have I been so sick. I think I could tolerate the aches and pains and the chills and fever but I have had a headache that is just a killer. It's fading a bit now after repeted doses of tylonal but I'm unable to sleep. I hope that these sx diminish in the comming weeks

[FiftyYearOld]

Drink a LOT of water and it may help with your headaches. You can become dehydrated on Peg because its a strong diuretic. Best drink 2 cups of water in the morning and another cup with each visit to the bath room. That's enough to keep you hydrated. I found you also need to drink water in the evening to keep from getting the headaches. Nothing seems to be able to prevent the hourly or 2hourly visits to the bathroom. I'd stay off the Ibuprofen because you will have withdrawal but its effective for headaches and body pain.

Mental side effects I had were foggy thinking and crankiness. I'm still cranky 2 wks post completion of 48 wk treatment. Still a little foggy but I expect that to reduce.

It takes a while to recover your red blood cell count so you still feel weak for a while after the treatment.

I had no significant depression; I took anti-depressents. You can get some without sexual side effects. Depression gets you if you dwell on things and avoid exercise. Go for a walk and you will feel better. You may have to walk a little slowly but doing anything productive will improve your self-esteem during this difficult period.

Regarding being clean: Yes. Get clean and stay clean. Quit smoking and drinking. Bathe regularly too; it will make you feel better and helps with the muscle aches.

The people who are habitual drug users seldom seem interested in getting treatment; they are committed to self-destruction.

Steve 53 years old, a little overweight but negative at week 50

[jeremiah54]

I completed 48 weeks of treatment. It failed. I attribte the failure largly to the fact that I was 100 lbs over weight and very unhealthy. The side effects were terrible. I did have a good support system in place, if not for that I would have bailed on the teatment. I suggest seeing a naturopath during the treatment, proper diet can play a vital role. Have a hobby you can do which requires little physical exertion, it really helps to keep the mind occupied.
I am now using alternative medicines which are keeping my infection in check.
I wish the best of luck to all on your journey

[mich901]

have been on pegetron since dec and went for a check up feb and said not showing a difference, have to go for another trip to hospital and bloodwork in march,
anyone know if this is common not to show after 6-8 weeks, hoping for better results after the 12 weeks

thanks

[Rockerforlife]

If this is any help...i have no side effects...just mild rashes at injection sites which i have under control....and im on triple therapy...boceprevir/peg/riba....i went UN at week 2 after taking the boceprevir...there was 4 week 'lead in" with the peg/riba..so i actually cleared at week from the start of the trial...MOST people dont get sides i have read