Peginterferon alfa-2a for Hepatitis C User Reviews

• Hea...
• August 18, 2011

Peginterferon alfa-2a "The new form of interferon in the pegylated version is very effective in cases of hepatitis C, genome type 2. I had a count of 118 million per sample when I started the treatment of both the Pegasys and Copegus. After 2 months of treatment, I was told I was RNA negative as far as blood tests went. I am in the 6th and final month of treatment, still RNA negative. The truth will be 6 months after treatment, when my doctors will take a more definitive blood test. Overall, this medicine, even though it has some manageable side effects, is in my opinion worthy of the rating I have given it."

• bar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 25, 2013

Peginterferon alfa-2a "I was on the Pegasys for 48 weeks. I used the autoinjector, and it was easy and painless. In fact, after each injection, I would look to make sure there was a spot of blood just to make sure I got it because I never felt it. It seems to have worked. I still have to do my 6-month check, but so far, so good. The only negative effect was a small open wound that had turned into a very large wound that would not heal. I didn't know which of the 3 medicines from the therapy was to blame, but the wound got larger almost overnight and would not heal. The wound care doctor seemed to think interferon was to blame, and as soon as I was finished treatment, he did a skin graft and got me on the way to healing that."

• Joe...
• January 26, 2021

Peginterferon alfa-2a "I took interferon injections 3 times a week for a year and then hepatitis C virus returned. I tried pegylated interferon with ribavirin for 2 months then quit as anemia got to me. Then I found a doctor who added Procrit to the mix. I never got anemic and was able to complete the treatment with little or no side effects. I've been virus-free for 8 years now."

• Sha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 18, 2021

Peginterferon alfa-2a "I had this treatment for almost a year. It was with Copagus also. My blood work showed no signs of hep C within months. The side effects were very debilitating. I lost a lot of weight. My wife was now buying my shorts from the boys' department. No pants were long enough. I was skin and bones. Huge sacks of fluid started forming on my elbows. I was encouraged to continue treatment even though my blood work showed no signs of hep. Now I have RA. Supposedly, it can bring out a problem they said I was going to have later in life. Now my RA is very aggressive, and I had part of a lung removed soon after RA treatment. This was 14 years ago. I wish I had stopped this treatment sooner."

• BGV...
• December 4, 2014

Peginterferon alfa-2a "I've been on the therapy 4 months now, and it does knock you about, but after 2 months, the viral load was undetectable in my blood, hurrah!! My side effects are manageable, but the reduction of red blood cell count is a bit worrying. I'm doing a blood test every 2 weeks, and at this moment, my doctor has reduced the Ribavirin intake from 5 to 4 tablets per day. All in all, I must say, I'm glad this treatment is available, and you have a very good chance of being healed. It is very important to keep busy, rest when tired, and get up and go again."

• tob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 23, 2012

Peginterferon alfa-2a "The side effects were over with 6 treatments. It was rough at first, but well worth doing the treatments. Had two doctors said treatments might not work, but the third doctor was very sure treatments would work. Glad I got the third doctor."

• Bil...
• April 14, 2015

Peginterferon alfa-2a "I was treated with this twice on its own and a 3rd time with a 3rd drug added. I have Hep C subtype 1a. None of the treatments helped me, but the side effects were devastating. I became anemic shortly after taking the treatment. I was sick, exhausted, and almost glad when the doctor told me that it wasn't working and they were taking me off it. I'm now on Harvoni. But my girlfriend had Hep C type 2, it worked for her, but she suffered bad side effects during the treatment."

• Anonymous
• September 26, 2009

"I have been taking the shot and the pills for 3 months now. It's been tough, I have been really weak and got depressed, having to take anti-depressant medicines, which help me big time. The therapy is tough, but the end result is what I am waiting for: Hep C free."

• SAC...
• May 4, 2015

"I will agree this treatment is hard, but don't be put off. The first time I did my course of 2 tablets in the morning and 2 at night, followed by a weekly injection, it was hard, but no harder than the heroin habit I had. The virus cleared up after 20 weeks, which they shouldn't have told me, as I stopped taking the treatment but didn't tell my doctor (I told you it's not easy). Sadly, the virus returned as I had not gotten rid of it, it was just undetectable in the count per milliliter of blood and came back. I am now into my 2nd treatment after a 3-year rest. This time I'm sticking it out. I am from the UK under Bradford NHS and love the staff there for all their help."

• hap...
• March 7, 2010

"My husband went through 48 weeks of this therapy. It started off good, undetectable early, then, 6 months after completion of the therapy, the HCV returned, and it did so times 2. He still has side effects from this medication. He was recently asked if he wanted to retreat."

• Liv...
• July 22, 2008

Peginterferon alfa-2a "This is the hardest drug therapy I've ever been on in my life, but the results are effective and fast. Please complete the entire therapy for amazing recovery results for Hepatitis C."

• Anonymous
• August 3, 2009

Peginterferon alfa-2a "This medicine is working really great for me. I am only on my 5th injection, and the virus is already undetectable in my blood!"

• SVR...
• June 1, 2009

Peginterferon alfa-2a "I agree, this medicine is grueling, along with the Ribavirin pills that need to be taken, but it works. I'm 6 months into treatment, and at 12 weeks, my viral load was 'undetectable.'"

• ron...
• December 10, 2009

Peginterferon alfa-2a "This medicine had very rough side effects, but at 12 weeks my viral load was undetectable. Still waiting for the 6-month after treatment test."

• wal...
• May 5, 2010

Peginterferon alfa-2a "I am taking care of my husband while he is on this treatment. Every side effect is showing up. He is on his 4th month, and I am considering stopping the medicines altogether."

• Pan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 27, 2014

Peginterferon alfa-2a "Felt horrible, very depressed, lethargic, tired all the time."

• bar...
• January 11, 2010

"This drug works. It's not fun. I have suffered all the side effects, but after 10 shots, I'm clear now, just another 38 weeks. Good luck."