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How are your teeth post triple tx??
Knock, knock, Penny?? Knock, knock, Penny??
Hi there everyone. Haven't been on the boards in awhile, as I have been dealing with multiple health issues since tx (which failed for me). My doc doesn't think it's due to tx, since the drugs are out of my system. I am a little past 1 year post tx w/Victrelis, Peg & Riba. Because we ALL have had some ailment in our lives before tx, and because I definitely have pre-existing stuff, I don't want to jump to blame everything on the tx meds.
That said......I just found out that I need Major dental work. Multiple cavities, holes, and missing pieces of a tooth. Granted, I have not been keeping up with regular dental visits but I certainly do not believe I have done anything that would cause something so drastic. So, for the Post Treatment folks, please share if you have experienced unusual dental changes that lead you to believe it could be Interferon related, or the other tx meds. And if you have links to any fact based articles, please include those too. Quite embarrassing to think this is my doing, so if I could provide my dentist with another valid reason.... Too sleepy to research tonight.
Thanks in advance.
Sending a big HI!!! to all my old MedHelp buddies (2011-2012).
Be Blessed,
Bee :0)
Hi there everyone. Haven't been on the boards in awhile, as I have been dealing with multiple health issues since tx (which failed for me). My doc doesn't think it's due to tx, since the drugs are out of my system. I am a little past 1 year post tx w/Victrelis, Peg & Riba. Because we ALL have had some ailment in our lives before tx, and because I definitely have pre-existing stuff, I don't want to jump to blame everything on the tx meds.
That said......I just found out that I need Major dental work. Multiple cavities, holes, and missing pieces of a tooth. Granted, I have not been keeping up with regular dental visits but I certainly do not believe I have done anything that would cause something so drastic. So, for the Post Treatment folks, please share if you have experienced unusual dental changes that lead you to believe it could be Interferon related, or the other tx meds. And if you have links to any fact based articles, please include those too. Quite embarrassing to think this is my doing, so if I could provide my dentist with another valid reason.... Too sleepy to research tonight.
Thanks in advance.
Sending a big HI!!! to all my old MedHelp buddies (2011-2012).
Be Blessed,
Bee :0)
Tx is he!! on our teeth. It took it's toll on mine as and I didn't do the triple tx. This is why it's so important to do all necessary dental work prior to tx, and take extra good care during tx including taking calcium.
I know this is moot for you bee but I write this as a warning for those who haven't begun tx yet.
I know this is moot for you bee but I write this as a warning for those who haven't begun tx yet.
i am having periodontal problems during and post tx. i will need some root planing done to get my gums to grip better. as Ohawk said, "a warning for those getting ready to treat".
barry
barry
Sorry to hear you are having these problems, Bee.
I started noticing gum problems during the last three months of treatment. My gums were red and inflamed. They were very tender and they were receding. I went to my dentist 6 weeks before Tx ended and, at that time, it was mainly 1-2 teeth involved. By the end of treatment it was a lot worse and more teeth were involved. She put me on a course of antibiotics and sent me to a gum specialist. He wanted to do a gum graft. I wanted to wait until the meds were out of my system and until my Hepa gave approval for the surgery.
In the meantime, I was trying to get my insurance to cover the surgery. I asked my gum specialist to please write to the insurance company and tell them that my gums developed gingivitis and my gums receded due to the Hep C treatment with the Interferon and Riba. Even though gingivitis is listed as a side effect, he said he would not write a letter to the ins. co. because he did not think the drugs caused it. Instead he thought I had gum recession due to brushing too hard. I told him I have never had gingivitis or any gum problem in 66 years and I never brushed too hard before, so why would I suddenly start brushing to hard and develop gingivitis. I told him it was from the Hep C Tx meds and was a side effect of Interferon. He would not write a letter because he said it was my fault (for brushing too hard). (What an idiot.)
Well, I figured, if he did not know that Interferon causes gum problems, then what else does he not know. So I dropped him and started looking for another gum specialist who would help me with the insurance co. In the meantime, I went back to my regular dentist for another cleaning and she was amazed at how much my gums had improved, just by being off the meds. So, now the gum surgery is on hold. I may not need it because my gums have improved dramatically.
I am telling you this story so you will see that others (me) had a lot of problems too, but also so that you will see that my new gum doctor also blamed me for my gum problems when he should have been smart enough and knowledgeable enough to know that the Interferon causes a lot of gum and teeth problems and that I did not cause them through faulty brushing. (My own dentist knew that I did not cause the problem because she has been my dentist for years and I get my teeth cleaned twice a year and I never have had any gum problems whatsoever. I had great teeth and gums before Tx.)
Best of luck with your teeth and any other problems you have.
I started noticing gum problems during the last three months of treatment. My gums were red and inflamed. They were very tender and they were receding. I went to my dentist 6 weeks before Tx ended and, at that time, it was mainly 1-2 teeth involved. By the end of treatment it was a lot worse and more teeth were involved. She put me on a course of antibiotics and sent me to a gum specialist. He wanted to do a gum graft. I wanted to wait until the meds were out of my system and until my Hepa gave approval for the surgery.
In the meantime, I was trying to get my insurance to cover the surgery. I asked my gum specialist to please write to the insurance company and tell them that my gums developed gingivitis and my gums receded due to the Hep C treatment with the Interferon and Riba. Even though gingivitis is listed as a side effect, he said he would not write a letter to the ins. co. because he did not think the drugs caused it. Instead he thought I had gum recession due to brushing too hard. I told him I have never had gingivitis or any gum problem in 66 years and I never brushed too hard before, so why would I suddenly start brushing to hard and develop gingivitis. I told him it was from the Hep C Tx meds and was a side effect of Interferon. He would not write a letter because he said it was my fault (for brushing too hard). (What an idiot.)
Well, I figured, if he did not know that Interferon causes gum problems, then what else does he not know. So I dropped him and started looking for another gum specialist who would help me with the insurance co. In the meantime, I went back to my regular dentist for another cleaning and she was amazed at how much my gums had improved, just by being off the meds. So, now the gum surgery is on hold. I may not need it because my gums have improved dramatically.
I am telling you this story so you will see that others (me) had a lot of problems too, but also so that you will see that my new gum doctor also blamed me for my gum problems when he should have been smart enough and knowledgeable enough to know that the Interferon causes a lot of gum and teeth problems and that I did not cause them through faulty brushing. (My own dentist knew that I did not cause the problem because she has been my dentist for years and I get my teeth cleaned twice a year and I never have had any gum problems whatsoever. I had great teeth and gums before Tx.)
Best of luck with your teeth and any other problems you have.
Yes, thank you again my friends. But does anyone have articles or stats/ links to back this up?? I need something to show my doctor, from a known/reliable source.
Thanks,
Bee
Thanks,
Bee
Thanks for this post and those links/articles!
I have always had sensitive teeth but always tried to take care of them.
I was with a great dentist during treatment and he really was taking sensitive care of my teeth but when my teeth started snapping off suddenly I was so embarrassed and so depressed I stopped going.
I had even been prescribed a special mouth rinse for dry mouth but it didnt help!
Now after "the cure" and all these years of being disabled from it all my teeth are still feeling the effects! I fear that if I go see someone they will want to pull them all out. I am probably exaggerating (maybe not)... but it seems very bad to me as a year goes by and one or two break off! It probably looks like I am some drug addict! It is really disgusting! and I am "cured" and have been off the meds for many years! What a mess!
I have always had sensitive teeth but always tried to take care of them.
I was with a great dentist during treatment and he really was taking sensitive care of my teeth but when my teeth started snapping off suddenly I was so embarrassed and so depressed I stopped going.
I had even been prescribed a special mouth rinse for dry mouth but it didnt help!
Now after "the cure" and all these years of being disabled from it all my teeth are still feeling the effects! I fear that if I go see someone they will want to pull them all out. I am probably exaggerating (maybe not)... but it seems very bad to me as a year goes by and one or two break off! It probably looks like I am some drug addict! It is really disgusting! and I am "cured" and have been off the meds for many years! What a mess!
I'm just a little disappointed about your description of '.........probably looks like I am some drug addict! It is really disgusting!.' etc
What does a drug addict look like? Like an alcoholic? A scumbag? A homeless person? A disgusting representative of the human race?
As we are all trying here to repair our bodies from contracting HCV, it is NOT important how we contracted it. We have all been non-judgemental here.
I'm sorry about your mouth problems post TX. I too am having a rough 'mouth' time during Tx, and am trying not to to pre-empt the consequences.
What does a drug addict look like? Like an alcoholic? A scumbag? A homeless person? A disgusting representative of the human race?
As we are all trying here to repair our bodies from contracting HCV, it is NOT important how we contracted it. We have all been non-judgemental here.
I'm sorry about your mouth problems post TX. I too am having a rough 'mouth' time during Tx, and am trying not to to pre-empt the consequences.
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5.7 Dental and Periodontal Disorders
Dental and periodontal disorders have been reported in patients receiving ribavirin and interferon combination therapy. In addition, dry mouth could have a damaging effect on teeth and mucous membranes of the mouth during long-term treatment with the combination of ribavirin and interferon alfa-2b.
http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=9ed7adc9-bd0c-41af-b34c-43d15a7799d1
Teeth and gum disorders, which may lead to loss of teeth, have been reported when this medicine is used in combination with interferon alfa or peginterferon alfa.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/infections/medicines/copegus.html
This medicine may cause teeth and gum problems. This medicine may cause dryness of the mouth, and a dry mouth may damage your teeth and gums if you take the medicine for a long time.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR602577/DSECTION=precautions-
Dental and periodontal disorders
: Dental and periodontal disorders, which may lead to loss of teeth,
have been reported in patients receiving ribavirin and peginterferon alfa-2b or interferon alfa-2b
combination therapy. In addition, dry mouth coul
d have a damaging effect on teeth and mucous
membranes of the mouth during long-term treatment with the combination of ribavirin and
peginterferon alfa-2b or interferon alfa-2b.
http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/001018/WC500056547.pdf
Severe Stomatitis Complicating Treatment With Pegylated-Interferon
-2a and Ribavirin in an HCV-Infected Patient
http://health.usf.edu/NR/rdonlyres/F05CA297-F2AA-4F28-8B76-5A65378B24A6/44993/IFNStomatitis.pdf
In a Japanese Phase III trial of Peg-IFN alfa-2a and ribavirin involving 199 patients with chronic hepatitis C, including 99 patients with IFN treatment-naive genotype 1 and 100 patients with patients whom had not had a SVR after IFN therapy, the oral side effects were: gingival bleeding and gingival swelling (6%), toothache (4.5%), gingivitis and periodontitis (3%), dental caries (1.5%), stomatitis and cheilitis (19.1%), disorder of taste (15.6%), dry mouth (6.5%), glossalgia and glossitis (4.5%), perioral paresthesia (2.5%), oral pain (0.5%), oral mucosal damage (0.5%), oral lichen planus (0.5%), oral hemorrhage (0.5%), dry lip (0.5%), and bulla of lip (0.5%). On the other hand, in a Japanese Phase III trial of Peg-IFN alfa-2b and ribavirin involving 332 chronic hepatitis C patients, including 269 patients for 48 weeks treatment duration with genotype 1b and high virus load, and 63 patients for 24 weeks treatment duration with others, oral side effect were: dental pulpitis, gingivitis, and periodontitis (8.9%), toothache (7.1%), dental abnormity (1.1%), stomatitis and cheilitis (26.8%), disorder of taste (26.8%), dry mouth (15.6%), glossitis (5.9%), oral discomfort feeling (2.6%), oral hemorrhage (0.4%), oral pain (0.4%), dry tongue (0.4%), decreased secretion of saliva (0.4%).
http://www.virologyj.com/content/7/1/192
Hope this helps some.