The differences between Boceprevir and Telaprevir

[Guest guest]

The differences between Boceprevir and Telaprevir

[basic info c/o Pam].

TelaprevirStarts as soon as you start interferon and ribavirinIs taken every 8 hours with food for the first three monthsIf you are an early responder your chances are high that length of treatmentwill be shortenedReported side effects are rash, nausea and anal/rectal problems (I heard onehepatologist refer to it as "burning butt").Good news: A man in our support group who failed treatment twice before was onthe clinical trial for this. Cleared early and only had to do 6 months insteadof a year as he had done the previous 2 times. He is more than a year clearnow and previously it always came back at 3 months. He said he actually "feltbetter" with the Telaprevir added (everyone will always be different) Norashes, nausea or "burning butt"BoceprevirStarts week 4 after starting interferon and ribavirinAlso taken every 8 hours with food but for the rest of the treatment time (whichcould

be a year for geno 1)Side effects are anemia and neutropenia Since anemia is a common side effectwith just interferon and riba I would "guess" that some might need Procrit whileon this treatment.Doesn't appear that treatment time is "shortened" for early responders from whatI have read anyway. I am sure it is done on a patient to patient basis.A lady in our support group was in this trial but had to stop at week 12 due toanemia and she didn't have a 2 log drop in viral load (again everyone isdifferent)Both have higher clearance rates than current interferon and ribavirin only. Telaprevir has a slightly higher clearance rate. Tolerance is quickly built upwith BOTH so you won't be able to try one, and if you fail then try the other sochose wisely. Read all you can and make a good decision for yourself as wellas remember that doctors tend to RX based on the last pharma rep in

theiroffices so educate yourself about them and ASK for the one that you decide on.Some will chose the risk of possible "burning butt" for only three months (thereare many anal topical creams that can help with that), slightly higherclearance rate and shorter treatment length (Telaprevir) but others might feelthat anemia is a more tolerable side effect (since there is Procrit for that butyou might have to stop if anemia is too severe) and they don't mind that theymight have to do the whole year since that is the current standard of treatmentanyway (Boceprevir).I would also suggest that you google product information on PegIntron, Pegasys,Telaprevir and Boceprevir and READ CLOSELY (yes they are long!), jot down allthe questions you might have to ask your doctor about all of them, factor inwhat the doc has to say but make a wise decision for YOU :-)BTW - Someone had asked about geno 2 and 3.

These geno types are being studiedbut the 2 newest protease inhibitors are only FDA approved for geno 1's (fromwhat I have read). There are many many MANY trials going on right now. Thosewho live close to a transplant center (where many of the clinical trials aredone) should get your names onto the clinical trial list. You can call and askfor the clinical trial nurse. In a trial all meds, docs, labs, etc are free andthey keep a really close eye on you!Both Telaprevir and Boceprevir have patient assistance programs. If anyone hasa problem getting either of these medications, PLEASE WRITE TO ME as I am intouch with the "Fair Pricing Coalition" and they want to know if anyone isexcluded from patient assistance (as that should not happen!).

Pam atfigment@...