Please help: side effects from interferon

I am on the Crohns forum, but now I need some advice from you, helping another person with this:

A patient who took interferon with ribavarin for 6 months (for Hepatitis C) and has been depressed, paranoid, even suicidal, on lots of SSRI's plus sleeping meds for the last 6 months since he stopped it. Could you please tell if anyone has found any kind of antidote to offset the bad effects of interferon?
Thanks in advance, Bee

Hi, Bee!  Let me see if I understand this:  The patient did 6 mos. of "the combo" and it has been 6 mos. since he last did it, but he is still having depression and sleep issues.  Is that correct?  Generally, antidepressants are started at the same time as treatment, since depression is a major side effect of "the combo."

IF he has been off treatment for 6 mos. and is still depressed and on meds, I think he should see his doctor and have the meds reviewed.  Perhaps he needs a change as what he is taking doesn't seem to be working.

I'm also wondering why he only did 6 mos. of treatment.  Generally, it's taken for 48 weeks (11 mos.) to prevent relapse.

Hugs,

Connie

Thanks, HepMom!

Hugs,

Connie

Manyhead, welcome to the forum.  No, this is not a forum for health care professionals.  I suppose you were being facetious.  We do, however, have some very knowledgeable people here, some of whom have worked in health care.  Others have done immense amounts of research or have personal experience with liver disease (although everyone's case is different.)

I'm sorry you are having problems with sleep.  Have you discussed this with your doctor and suggested your med be changed?  I know that Seroquel is an antidepressant.  I had the same experience with outlandish dreams when I was on melatonin, which is a natural, over-the-counter substance for sleep.  My doctor switched me to Trazodone (an antidepressant) for sleep, which works fine.

Since health care is so different in the UK and Australia, I cannot personally speak to the ins and outs of it.  We do, however, have several people here from those countries who are currently battling their health care systems.

Lastly, congrats on your 5 years clean!  And may you have many more.

Hugs,

Connie

This is my first time on this site. I was diagnosed with Hep C genotype 1a (which is pretty rough).....3 yrs ago. Tried combo tx for about 4 mos....ended up as one of the walking dead with low hemoglobin and needed transfusions....medically terminated from the tx. Waiting for the hemomodulator by the Aethlon Co. in San Diego to start trials on humans.....insomnia is one of the symptoms of this disease amongst other things. Halcion is a good sleep agent ....been trying to get my doctor to get off some of that marinol (marijuana in a pill) which is the only cannabis product legal in my state. I think depression is pretty normal considering what a person has to face with this illness.....finances, doctors, tests, blood work, physical impairments, and trying to hold down a job at the same time. Whats fun (sarcasm) is all the endoscopes, colonoscopies, a gall bladder removal here, neuropathy there......aahhh...the list goes on! The only good thing about the tx was that I didnt have to go to the gym anymore to lose weight.....I try to look at my illness like a MAD magazine.....the lighter side of Hep C........or I could become depressed also. Sorry when people are having a tough way to go, I can empathize....my marriage has gone down the crapper due to my illness. So, hang tough!

Hi Guys,

.manyhead. here. please excuse the boorish negativity of my last post.

it's not usually my way..

the fact is I had been drinking! I HAD 5yrs clean, not I am 5 yrs clean. so much for the confessional..(the booze has always made me tell porkies(lies))

thanks mod for your measured reply. I am back to my recovery basics now, I am fortunate to have it as well as I do.

they use seroquel in australia for bipolar, mood stabilisation and schizophrenia. the first two apply in my instance. its use is not indicated for depression here. despite my earlier remark, it is an excellent sleep aid, if dosed high enough and taken at the right time.

by way of amends I wish to contribute something constructive. I refer to my interferon treatment and managing the sleep issues it presents.

for sleep I have now implemented basic 'sleep hygiene' tecniques, along with a little Yoga theory. it works and anybody can do it. my regimen is as follows.

1) in bed around the same time each night (10 pm for me) NO TV for at least half hour beforehand. TV puts the brain into alpha waves which activates the fight/flight centre (which is why all that sex and death excites the viewer so much) this effect happens independent of program content. very bad for sleeping!

2) I take a good dose of seroquel half hour before-its also used to alleviate distress and is highly effective at 'getting me across' (so to speak). Unlike benzos it works reliably long term without the addiction risks-although one still has to be very gradual if discontinuing its use. Like all of those 'non-addictive' antidepressants..

3) Upon dawn (I have already been up a few times through the night) I roll onto my gut, still in bed, and push my shoulders into the air arching my back. In this position I draw in several long deep breaths holding them for a four count. This massages the internal organs, gives the liver a stretch and gets that stagnant chi moving.

4) I try to loose the snooze and be out of bed within 10 mins, repeating the above each time I drop off again.

5) Straight into a nice hot shower where I use a pair of rough shower gloves to scrub myself with for a minute or so, head to toe giving the liver a going over. Bottoms of feet are important, be careful so you don't slip over though.

This gets the peripheral circulation happening and clears the pores so the skin can detoxify more readily. The skin is our major organ for detoxification. If its clear to do its job during the day the nights rest is SO much better.

The rest is pretty straightforward. Half hour exercise each day-brisk walk is fine. Try to eat right, but if I feel I need chocolate I have chocolate. For dinner sometimes! Drink lots of water, preferably filtered and no caffeine after 5pm. If one is spiritual, prayer can be very powerful. Invite your God into your day and ask for him to help you.

At the very least a daily practice of acceptance, surrender and positive thought construction is Key to Psychological Well-Being.

I hope this information, if applied, may be of some use to somebody.

much love,
james.

I might also add that the interfuron/ribovarin combo treatment is absolutely NOT a mix with alcohol!!! My hubby learned the hard way. If I read right, you are not on the treatment any longer, but just FYI!!!

Mer