Peg interferon

[Joerp]

Hi all

Quick question. Those of you on peg interferon, how long and on what dose did you start to see results in platelet reduction?

Cheers

Joe

[AndyT]

Hi Joe,

I’ve been on Pegasys for just over two and a half years now. Initial dose was 45mcg, then 90mcg weekly for the first month, during which my platelets already started to reduce.

Then stretched the interval to 2, 3, then 4 weeks still on 90mcg.

Now my platelets are well within normal range (300’s) I’m on just 45mcg every 3 weeks as a maintenance dose, which seems to be working well.

Are you already on Pegasys or about to start it?

Cheers

Andy

[EleanorPV]

I’ve been on Pegasys 16 months. The highest my PLTs got was 546. It took my PLT 3 months to start to show a reduction. I was on 90mcg.

[Joerp]

Hi Andy and Eleanor

Thanks for the replies. I’ve been on Pegasys for 5 weeks now. First 2 weeks I did 45mcg (I think to see if I would tolerate it). Then two weeks of 90mcg and am now starting 180mcg a week.

My platelets have been around 1500 for a year and this is what forced the decision to start me on interferon. My haematologist admitted she had not used peg interferon before and it had been a while since she prescribed any interferon so we are both sort of finding our way. There has been no real reduction in platelets yet but from what you both say and from what we have read it can take a few months.

Is anyone else in 180mcg a week or were at any time? I’m not sure if we have gone up to quickly and maybe should have given 90mcg longer to work. I have no real side effects so injecting 180mcg or 90mcg is the same (apart from the fact that my hospital only has 90mcg syringes In so I have to do two, going to ask if they can get 180 ones in else I’ll feel I’ll run out of injection sites very quickly).

I’ll keep plodding on and thanks again for all your help.

Joe

[AndyT in reply to Joerp]

5 weeks isn’t very long so hopefully you’ll see some results soon - it does seem that some people take longer than others to respond.

No harm in staying on 180mcg if you’re not getting any side effects and then cutting back once your platelets have started to drop.

Good luck.

Andy

[JSKly]

I began on 90 mcg in May and am still on that dosage

[Cecilie]

Hi Joe,

I'm on 45 mcg every 12 days, initially once a week. It took about three months to see a significant drop in platelets. They went from around 1000 down to below 300 at the last check-up. The doctors were pleased to see good results on a low dose, I guess it varies from patient to patient although in general it seems to take a few months to see proper results. Good luck.

Best wishes, Cecilie

[Rastavapa]

Hi I started about four months ago after not tolerating hydrea I started on 90 per week then 135 then 180 only after being on the highest dose did my platelets start to drop but I cannot cope with the side effects of this high dose mainly depression and guys has halved my dose with me now in the hope that I will be accepted for a trial with ruxolinib, so my experience is not that great for me but everyone is different.... Take it easy nick