It is basically the same drug, but have heard it has less side effects,
don't really know that it is more affective though. I did the Shering brand
3 years ago for the big 48 weeks and am still clear of the virus. I think it
to be weird that you responded and relapsed while still taking tx.

Good luck.

newbie  

Group: alt.support.hepatitis-c Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2005, 3:12am (CST-2)
From: csharonxoxo@msn.com (sharon)
Hello folks. I am new, obviously. I am 62, female, married and have 4
grown children. Got hep c in a transfusion in 1976. Thank God it moves
slowly, else I would not be here posting. I have had one round of
treatment - schering -Plough brand of drugs for 24 weeks and was clear
for 4 months then relapsed. I have now just about got financing lined up
for a 48 week round with Roche. My doc says this drug is less hard on
the body and has a better success rate. Any others had it? What results?
Sharon
///////////
Hi Sharon, and welcome to the group.   Yes, I've used Pegasys/Copegus as
well as Schering's Peg and Schering's 3Xweek interferon, both with
ribavirin.  Neither of Schering's products got me the desired SVR
(sustained viral response), although the virus went undetectable after
16 weeks of their PEG, only to relapse after the 11 month course of tx
ended.  My third attempt involved daily Infergen in the beginning, two
weeks overlap of the daily shots of Infergen with weekly Pegasys, then
just Pegasys til I finsished 11 months total.  I took 1400mg/day of
ribavirin for the first 6 months, then reduced to 1200mg for the last 5
months.  I was also taking Amantadine.  The virus went undetectable in
the 9th week and has not resurfaced.  My lack of viral load was verified
6 months post tx.  

The info I've seen about Pegasys indicates it's only slightly more
effective than Scherring's.  I attribute my success in getting an SVR to
daily Infergen, especially when it was combined with Pegasys over a
couple of week period as well as a heavy dose of ribavirin.

Looking back on the 4 different tx regimens I've experienced and their
side effects, daily Infergen was the toughest followed by the
rollercoaster ride of 3Xweek shots of Schering's non-peglyated
interferon.  Of the two peglyated interferons, Roche's was easier, for
me.  Of course, after doing daily Infergen, a ball bat would have seemed
easier.  LOL.

You gave us just enough info about your situation that if brings up more
questions.  What is your genotype?  At which week in your tx did the
virus go undetectable?  Why only 24 weeks of tx?  What shape is your
liver in?

Best of luck to you this time.  Slay the dragon!!!!

Elmo

http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/DocElmosHepFile

http://community.webtv.net/elmoemerson/TheFamilyAlbum

Hello Sharon-
Welcome to the group. I am currently on Schering's meds and so far so good.
I cleared at week 12 and I have done 35/48 weeks so far.

There are many here to help with your questions. Some are currently on tx,
some have went through tx several times to finally win, some have relapsed
like yourself and are waiting to make the next move, and still others that
are on transplant lists or even worse. So there's a vast pool of knowledge
and wisdom here to draw from. Also a few jokes to lighten up things from
time to time :-)

Life is good
Mark

Hi Sharon,
Welcome to the group. I'm doing the Pegasys, sorry I don't know info
about the Schering- Plough treatment. But I do wnat to welcome you and
am sure you will get helpful information here.
Mary Ann

I did the roche and am awaiting my results to see if it was
successful.  I found the sides to be mostly mild.  Good luck with
round 2.  How is your liver?  Not too bad?  I've heard these two
interferons are pretty much comparable with results and sides.