Promacta treatment update

Had my four month check-up yesterday. It was about as expected: 44k.
8 years of treatment, the last 1.5 years on Promacta. Works better than anything else I've tried.
Since I know what to look out for and Promacta keeps me fairly stable, I don't have to go back for 6 months!

Here is my brief Promacta history:
01-15-10 - 4k (50mg)
01-22-10 - 14k (50mg)
*increased dosage to maximum
03-04-10 - 32k (75mg)
03-25-10 - 52k (75mg)
05-20-10 - 47k (75mg)
06-07-10 - 40k (75mg)
08-30-10 - 67k (75mg)
11-29-10 - 64k (75mg)
*reduced the dosage to 50mg/day*
12-13-10 - 45k (50mg)
01-03-11 - 56k (50mg)
02-28-11 - 49k (50mg)
06-27-11 - 44k (50mg)

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Happy it's staying consistant for you Jack. Are you getting concerned at all about long term effects of being on Promacta for such a long time? Is 1 1/2 years a long time? Promacta is keeping my counts way up. Last time was over 200, can't remember right now and don't feel like looking! They keep adjusting my from 25 to 50 every couple of weeks. It's getting soooo old! I mentioned that the manufacturer says it's only supposed to keep one around 50 or so but my doc doesn't seem interested in that. He's just happy that I'm not at risk I guess. Could there be something else going on with my immune system? I know...everyone is different, but if even the people who make it say 50 or so and it's taking me up so much higher.....why? I dunno. Probably never will!
Anyway, glad it's working well for you!

Are you getting concerned at all about long term effects of being on Promacta for such a long time?

I don't think of 1.5 years as a long time....but it's all relative I guess. Plenty of folks have been on Promacta for longer.
I suppose that at age 58, I am less concerned with 'long term' than I would be if I were 20. Not to mention that most of what we use for ITP treatment has some sort of potential for long term issues.
And, given my history with ITP treatments over the past 8 years, I figure Promacta may stop working at some point...everything else I've tried has.
But hey, if I can go until December before I have to get checked again I am a happy camper. I know my innards, know my own signs of platelet changes, and if I need to dial my hematologists pager number. I really like my Doc, but if I can go 6 months without seeing him or a needle....cool.

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Glad to hear your counts are remaining stable. Promacta is my next line of treatment. Going on 20 months of my 2nd round of Rituxin. Hoping it will give me several years of remission.

Good news! Thanks for the update. Always good to hear how it going. Stability is a good thing. Steady as she goes!

I was inspired to try Promacta by your posts. Its been going great for me too! 5 months and no side effects. Nice to be able to just relax and forget about ITP and doctors (not to mention medical bills). yah!