Peg interferon

[Jbut]

Hi, just looking for information.Today had my bloods done, pick meds up, been informed today that interferon 2a has been discontinued, so the consultant has put me on peg interferon, my bloods etc have been stable, worried things might change. I know peg stays in the blood stream for longer, so only have to inject every week.

[Helpatlast]

I have been on Peg the last 18 months after 13 years on Hydroxy - Peg is very effective and you should find it good to use especially if you are used to interferon - Peg has side effects but for you going from standard interferon to it should find it is easier on symptoms - all the best I am sure you will find it good

[Jbut in reply to Helpatlast]

Thanks for reply, hopefully i will be fine, i been on the regular interferon for 11 years

[teddy21]

I’ve been on peg interferon for last 18 months and it’s changed my life. My platelets are the best they’ve ever been and I get no side effects. I hope it's the same for you xx

[Jbut in reply to teddy21]

Oh thats great , hopefully for me will be the same x

[Susana7]

I have been on Peg for almost 5 years. It normalised my bloods with minimal to none side effects. I started at 90mcg per week when my platelets were 1.5 million, and now I inject only 45mcg every 3 weeks. I hope you will find it an improvement from your current standard interferon treatment. Given that your bloods are stable starting at 45mcg would seem sensible - the advice with Peg is to start on a low dose and increase if needed later. Good luck!

Susana

[Jbut in reply to Susana7]

Thanks for reply, i have to inject every sunday at present 90mcg, x

[Susana7 in reply to Jbut]

Good luck! I started at 90mcg too. You will probably be able to reduce before too long. X

[charl17]

Of course they have to monitor you during the changeover but I sure would rather go to Peg from regular than the other direction.

[Jbut in reply to charl17]

Thanks for reply, will be getting bloods done every two weeks , just for dosage x

[EleanorPV]

I've been on Pegasys over 3 years. Once you get the correct dose it's an amazing drug. Good luck.

[Jbut in reply to EleanorPV]

Aww thank you its 90mcg every sunday at present, first this sunday x

[JT_Marlin]

Ive been on peg for 2.5 months at 45mcg. Was suppose to increase eventually to 180 over time but have had such a great response at the lower dose with very minimal and only occasional light headedness and fatigue, that Ive just stayed here.

[Jbut in reply to JT_Marlin]

Started me off at 90mcg this week so hopefully they might be able to lower dose x

[Manouche in reply to Jbut]

You shouldn’t worry about the dosage, as long as your body can take it.

[JT_Marlin in reply to Jbut]

Yeah agreed w Manouche - the medicine works, so if you can tolerate it and your numbers are behaving I wouldnt think you’d lower until youre in range or dealing w a nasty side effect.

[Jbut in reply to JT_Marlin]

Thanks for reply. Had first injection , tired and a few hot flushes today but otherwise not too bad at the moment x take care

[swimswam]

I changed from regular interferon to Pegasys four months ago. Was put straight on 135mg a week as I was already injecting regular interferon 4/5 times a week to try and keep platelets below 700. Unfortunately platelets have not yet altered much, although they do seem to be going slightly downwards on last blood test so hopeful. Side effects so much better, not so irritable, and only having to inject once a week, wonderful.

[Jbut in reply to swimswam]

Thanks for reply. Am not too bad after first injection.hopefully keeps my bloods ok.myself inject every sunday . Checking my bloods in 4 weeks .take care x

[AlRow200]

A similar story to mine. I had been doing particularly well on inferon 2A and was told just before this pandemic hit that Roche was not producing it anymore.

I was a little apprehensive but my consultant and my Macmillan Nurse reassured me that I would be monitored closely over the initial period. I've now been on it over two months and have experienced no new side effects.

[Jbut in reply to AlRow200]

Thanks for reply, great you have been ok with the change , just would like to ask how often were you getting bloods done when you started peg interferon . My nurse phoned today and said after four weeks i would have bloods done. I thought it would be more regularly.

[AlRow200 in reply to Jbut]

The frequency of blood tests is dependent on how stable your results are (for instance, my results are the best they've been for 2 years so I am having them checked at 8 weeks). Therefore four weeks is acceptable.