Author Topic: What is a "Salvage Option"? (Read 5962 times)

Maestro · « **on:** January 18, 2007, 03:11:25 pm »

I was doing some reading on the invirase my uncles takes and the article went on to say it is one of the older meds and there are better choices. The article then stated that one of the best uses of invirase is as a salvage option....what does that mean?

The ID took my Uncle off of Viread due to severe kidney thrashing. After reading this, I am wondering if they pick invirase beause the other "beter" options could follow a similar viread course...

Thoughts?

Thanks
M

thunter34 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2007, 03:15:50 pm »

From my understanding, a 'salvage option' is a treatent that comes under consideration when other options fail. Older and/or less effective (or more side effect prone) medicines that are brought into play when first line treatments aren't tolerated or beneficial anymore.

ACinKC · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2007, 03:21:27 pm »

This is my understanding of it as well. It is a last line of defense option.

Alain · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2007, 03:41:13 pm »

right on, both of you!

newt · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2007, 05:53:19 pm »

"Salvage" refers to any combo used where standard first-line treatment doesn't work, eg for resistance, or has to be changed used problems like your uncle's kidneys. It includes second-line treatment, which is not always a the rescue

The term comes from time when resistance happened quickly and people were out of options fast. Many people prefer second (third, fourth..) line treatment to "salvage" now.

- matt

thunter34 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2007, 06:03:11 pm »

I'm not too keen on the term 'salvage therapy' myself. For one thing, it has such a tone of desperation to it. For another, it seems to imply a finality that may or may not be the case...a 'last chance' kind of thing. With the ongoing advances in medicine, there may always be a new 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th line of treatment that comes to light. I think I would be a lot more psychologically receptive to a potential treatment if it was presented to me another numbered treatment line than if I was told it was 'salvage treatment'. Having it called that would make me mentally shift into 'make out my Living Will' mode.

poet · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2007, 06:15:39 pm »

Well perhaps think about cars? You can salvage a car after a bad accident. It won't be brought back to perfect, but it will run. Or you salvage parts from a wreck because you can't find new ones to use at that moment. Again, not perfect, but better than nothing. You are right, Tim, that sometimes you use the salvage option while you are researching for something newer, better, available only through special arrangements with drug companies. You need to stall for time, so this is what you do. Win

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2007, 06:43:18 pm »

::proud beneficial of salvage therapy::

Eldon · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2007, 08:54:45 pm »

It is something that is extracted that is valuable or useful for him.

"What Can I do today to make a better Tommorrow?"

jack · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2007, 09:18:05 pm »

I have been in salvage mode for the last 7 years. Its when there is nothing left and you just throw drugs at the wall and see what sticks. I hope they keep coming up with new drugs but it is scary for a few moments when you realize you are resistant to everything. Thats when you start lying to get in trials. I had to take three drugs I was resistant to for a few months just so I could get in this trial.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2007, 09:28:33 pm »

Please. I had to take PI's for YEARS when I'm something like 90% resistant to ALL of them. The odd thing is that, though my VL was high (though at a constant range of around 30,000) my cd4s kept going up.

As of May of this year I'm no longer on "salvage." They got me on prezista while it was still in phase 4 at the tale end and paired it with fuzeon. Fab results. And really, what's life without a daily injection?

jack · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2007, 06:45:29 am »

The fuzzy bumps are a real bitch. I had an allergic reaction to fuzeon. What did you mean by "please"?

Maestro · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2007, 08:20:21 am »

OK. So Salvage Option might not be the best name...BUT, it seems like Invirase is not a preferred treatment. I don't even see many members with it mentioned in their Signatures. I wonder why the ID went straight from Viread to a Salvage Option? Nothing else was tried...tested...nothing...

Is there a correlation between Viread causing Kidney issues and other meds also causing kidney issues? I'm thinking maybe the doc went with Invirase just to not take a chance with the other meds out there...

(By the way, he is also taking Kaletra and Ziagen...)

M

poet · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2007, 08:48:47 am »

Maestro, if I may borrow your last post to make a point, if someone else reading this thread finds him or herself asking: I wonder why the ID went straight from Viread to a Salvage Option? Nothing else was tried...tested...nothing...' and, unlike the Maestro, it concerns yourself, your health, for goodness sake ask your id/hcp/pcp. And before agreeing to the decision, if it is not deemed an emergency, bring it here for those more knowledgeable than I am with such things to post comments or refer to studies. Win

Maestro · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2007, 09:02:07 am »

Quote from: poet on January 19, 2007, 08:48:47 am

Maestro, if I may borrow your last post to make a point, if someone else reading this thread finds him or herself asking: I wonder why the ID went straight from Viread to a Salvage Option? Nothing else was tried...tested...nothing...' and, unlike the Maestro, it concerns yourself, your health, for goodness sake ask your id/hcp/pcp. And before agreeing to the decision, if it is not deemed an emergency, bring it here for those more knowledgeable than I am with such things to post comments or refer to studies. Win

Ummm...huh?

poet · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2007, 09:06:51 am »

Sorry for the confusion. In your case, you are asking on behalf of your Uncle, right? So you may or may not be able to nail things down directly with his id/pcp/hcp? What I wanted to stress to people reading this thread who are dealing with their own health issues and do have legal, direct access to their hcp/pcp/id: don't walk away wondering. Ask, ask, ask until it makes sense to you. Win

newt · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2007, 09:23:25 am »

Maestro

You uncle is taking Ziagen, Invirase, and Kaletra if I remember rightly(?)

Invirase-Kaletra is a relatively well-used double PI combination, and with Ziagen, counts as the necessary 3 drugs from at least two classes that combo requires.

Now, why not another nuke like 3TC? Why Invirase?

This is a fair question, there may be other drugs you can use, but Invirase seems a reasonable choice, especially if your uncle has some nuke resistance. (ask about this.) 3TC and Ziagen share a great deal in tems of resistance (not everything though) and therefore may be really count as one drug rather than two if used together (and there are particular mutations present). You want at least two really active drugs, ideally three.

I don't consider this a "salvage" option. It looks to me like a choice based on your uncle's health condition which means Viread is off the cards. It may not be the only option. (ask about this too.)

- matt

Maestro · « **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2007, 09:31:35 am »

Thanks Newt. You are correct on the meds he is taking. I'm assuming Invirase was his only option....but, I don't know for sure. Thought maybe taking Viread off the list of possible meds also excluded others by association or similarities...

M

Christine · « **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2007, 11:39:58 am »

Has your Uncle had genotype/phenotype tests done?

I've been on salvage therapy for years also. Don't let the term bother you.

How has your Uncle been doing?

Christine

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2007, 01:20:34 pm »

Quote from: Maestro on January 19, 2007, 08:20:21 am

OK. So Salvage Option might not be the best name...BUT, it seems like Invirase is not a preferred treatment. I don't even see many members with it mentioned in their Signatures. I wonder why the ID went straight from Viread to a Salvage Option? Nothing else was tried...tested...nothing...

Is there a correlation between Viread causing Kidney issues and other meds also causing kidney issues? I'm thinking maybe the doc went with Invirase just to not take a chance with the other meds out there...

(By the way, he is also taking Kaletra and Ziagen...)

M

Before my current treatment they added Invirase to my Kaletra as a "salvage." I think I was on that for a year or two along with Truvada and something else. Do you have any idea what the genotype looks like for his PI resistance?

Maestro · « **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2007, 01:27:02 pm »

Quote from: Christine on January 19, 2007, 11:39:58 am

How has your Uncle been doing?

Christine

Crazier than a shithouse rat! But that's an whole other thread!

M

Forums Index

Welcome

Author Topic: What is a "Salvage Option"? (Read 5962 times)