Recommendation for Pegasys Users

[gvibes]

Hi Everyone,

On this snowy morning in New England, with a recent increase in dose to 135 mcg, I was trying to understand side effects of Pegasys. As I read about the accompanying pegasys literature to my vials, it occurred to me how loose the analysis is when a drug is "off spec" for a particular disease as the literature was for treatment of hepatitis. So it occurred to me that even if I continue to use Pegasys, the literature for Besremi seems very relevant as they studied a similar drug with patients who actually had polycythemia vera. Sure enough I typed in on my browser "besremi prescribing info" and found a document (Highlights of Prescribing Information) that seems more relevant (with some limitations I guess). The adverse reaction table seemed much more meaningful. I am sure I will be switching as some point to Besremi, but for now...

Any thoughts? Anything I missed?

Thanks, Steve

[hunter5582]

Looking at the literature for Besremi and cross walking to Pegasys is relevant; however, the thinking is that Besremi may be easier to tolerate due to its monopegylated formulation. The side effects do seem pretty much the same. If all you want to know is the basic checklist of what to watch for, there are a number of good references. Your doc should be regularly monitoring your kidney and live function, particularly with an increase in dose. Usually just with a CMP, but sometime with additional tests.

Here are a few references.

online.epocrates.com/drugs/...

drugs.com/pro/pegasys.html

nssg.oxford-haematology.org...

chemoexperts.com/peginterfe...

When reading all this over please bear in mind that just because something could happen does not mean that it will.

Hope this helps answer your question.

[gvibes in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks Hunter.

[Beup]

Hi! For my New England snow day I read the post by Mazcd from 3 months ago and watched the video MPN Voice Virtual Patients Forum he attached. Expert Dr. Pillai discussed Pegasys make up, use, side effects, outcomes. The doctors that spoke on MPNs:and other cancer risk(like skin) and Covid vaccines were informative too. It says it is 2 hours but the last 45 minutes is Q&A. May help…Good luck to you.

[gvibes]

Thanks. I will take a look. I've heard and read about how pegasys does what it does but it hasn't stuck very well. The skin thing is real for me as I had a melanoma this fall - so I will look at that presentation as well.

[Beup]

Found typo meant “she”I am sorry about melanoma and hope the presentation helps.

[EPguy]

As Hunter says, Bes is supposed to be better tolerated, as its pegylation method is better controlled. Assuming all that, the info you get for Bes may not entirely represent that for PEG. At the same time, many members here tolerate PEG very well.

I recall a couple members here had trouble with PEG and found Besremi to be better tolerated.

We should have many more stories on Bes in the coming year.

[gvibes in reply to EPguy]

Thanks for response. It would seem treatment for alot of us will be headed toward besremi.

[Joetcalr]

Thanks, useful website, looking up Pegasys, I see it says gum and tooth problems, but no mention on the official leaflet, my teeth are wobbling around more and more, The leaflet really needs to warn about that.