alcohol and treatment

[katla]

Hi all,

Someone I know from another forum asked me for a link to an article that shows alcohol actually interferes with treatment, ie that somehow it makes interferon less effective.

I am not looking for a discussion or lecture on the evils of alcohol. And he's obviously aware that drinking is NOT liver-friendly and can cause one to forget to take their meds, etc.

He's specifically looking for scientific evidence that shows that drinking alcohol in moderation will less one's chances of clearing the virus.

Thanks...Katla

[Lira_MHModerator]

Since the original poster has received links to the requested articles, this thread is now closed to new posts to prevent it from going further off track.

********THIS THREAD IS NOW CLOSED**********

[coraggio]

Speaking for myself, I don't how anyone could possibly drink alcohol, even one while on Incivek.  Incivek sends you the House of Nausea in Puke City and then the remainder of the treatment it leaves you so drained you can hardly get the good healthy food and drink down.  Add alcohol and I would have been hurling all over the place.

[maybe368]

And who exactly are "they"...A tad peeved are we?...

[MeWithC]

Bingo Katla....that's it...they stand on a soapbox & preach....that's what it feels like.......I'm a man that believes in science....I don't want to hear a bunch of BS rhetoric.

And to change the subject...... congratulations Orphaned Hawk....that is extra awesome.

[maybe368]

exactly

[katla]

@orphanhawk- I haven't be around lately and I'm truly delighted about your SVR- congratulations...I was so happy to read this.

I probably should stop here but not being one to leave well enough alone...
Mark worte: " If one does not want honest answers, don't ask the question". I NEVER asked a question about drinking on treatment. I think that is the worst possible thing one can do.  All I wanted was for a link to an article that stated the scientific mechanism that explains how alcohol interfered with interferon.
Instead of reading and responding to what I wrote, or better yet ignoring it you chose to post your little 'anti alcohol' diatribe which I imagined you've posted many times before.

[swhep]

I am not sure about the evidence, but I can tell you what my doc said before starting the treatment. Among many things like not having children during the treatment, eating fat, having ontime labs and doc office visits, abstaining from alcohol was top in his list.I told me that if I do not follow these items in the list I can choose to drop from the treatment. It is well known that alcohol helps the virus to spread and survive, why does anyone want that risk during the treatment.

I was told about HCV six years back, I chose not to do treatment until this year as my condition was not serious and there was only 50% chance of cure until we had incivek. During these six years I totally avoided alcohol.

[orphanedhawk]

      I know I felt like an angry rhino stomping around here some days while doing tx.
When you get screamed at it could be more about the person being on meds, than about what you asked, something important for all of us to remember here.

[MeWithC]

I understand that maybe....I've been the subject of asking innocent questions & getting the runaround, even screamed at.......here there & everywhere......trolls everywhere.....
And then I still don't get a straight answer.

I can use the internet & look up answers as well....sometimes I'm much better off.

[coraggio]

May your friend live long and prosper.  I'll toast to that.

[orphanedhawk]

BTW: I notice you focused on those not answering the question without acknowledging that I did just that.
I don't care whether you acknowledge me or not. I only mention this to encourage you to look at your own reaction.

[orphanedhawk]

Sigh. the OP did the new orals~ she was lucky but she doesn't know what it's like to be doing interferon based treatment.

I think it's important to remember that many people are on treatment and react with extreme emotion and not a whole lot of patience. It's tough being on these meds and if you haven't done them, you don't have a clue.

The other thing is that when you are faced with liver disease, it's easy to become very emotional about this topic.

It's true, I found my links by doing a couple of searches but no, not everyone is as good at this as others. We can't assume things just because we are good at one thing or another.

The links I believe were the proof the OP wanted to show her friend about alcohol.
Sadly being creatures of habit, some are hopelessly addicted.

[maybe368]

For me, the dead give away is wanting proof of something. My sister died of bleeding out from esophageal varicies after a short lifetime of drinking Her MO was to say "prove it" to any suggestion or advice given to her by people who cared about her. Life is not a courtroom and some things do not require proof and besides, nobody cared to try to prove anything to her, because that wasn't possible. I apologize to anyone offended by my bluntness, but life has beat that into me...Mark  

[BoceprevirGal]

  Yes, there IS another Hep C website where they post
these alcohol comments, and start "Flame Wars", you are correct, Mark.
  
  

[maybe368]

There is a reason that the question is posted in public forums and not answered in private, as everyone knows how to google. As far as I am concerned asking this question here is like asking if smoking is bad when treating for lung cancer  If one does not want honest answers, don't ask the question. I think political correctness hampers honesty...Mark

[MeWithC]

Every single time one of these questions come up, included in these answers is always, "what he really wants is to drink, you're just looking for an excuse to drink, why ask us you've made up your mind to drink anyway"......
How about answering the question people & stop with the unnecessary OT comments......
It's like pulling teeth around here to get a straight answer on most subjects.

[orphanedhawk]

SVR, can't be much better than that :)

[katla]

Thanks so much. I hope you are well.  ❤

[orphanedhawk]

Alcohol is known to increase replication of the virus, therefore it seems counterproductive to use it when trying to do the opposite.
Would you water and feed a plant that you're trying to kill ?

http://www.thebody.com/content/art28723.html
Alcohol Ups Hepatitis C Virus Replication
From U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

July 23, 2003
Alcohol increases the replication of hepatitis C virus and interferes with the effectiveness of interferon used to treat hepatitis C, according to a recently published study

http://experts.kumc.edu/works/12655
Alcohol metabolism increases the replication of hepatitis C virus and attenuates the antiviral action of interferon
                           *                     *                      *
I thought I saw alcohol among the very long list given to me of drug interactions.

I did a search and came up with this:

http://drugsaz.about.com/od/drugs/interferon-alfa-2a.htm

The following drugs may interact with Interferon Alfa-2a:
•alcohol
•antiviral medicines for HIV or AIDS
•theophylline


http://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/interferon-beta-1b.html

MANAGEMENT: The risk of hepatic injury should be considered when beta interferons are used in combination with other agents that are potentially hepatotoxic (e.g., acetaminophen; alcohol; androgens and anabolic steroids; antituberculous agents; azole antifungal agents; . . .

[maybe368]

I guess that I was not the only one that felt this way...

[Dannyboi7]

I don't want to seem skeptical also,but from my personal experience it is sometimes hard to reason with an alcoholics even when their lives depends on it.That said maybe your friend is not an alcoholic,From the studies I've read alcohol consumption during treatment does affect the rates of SVR.Tell the guy google is his friend and to use it wisely.

Best wishes with your situation

Dannyboi7

[Idyllic]

Since another person said this already I will go ahead and agree it sounds like your friend wants an excuse to drink. He somehow managed to put you up to the task of doing his research to keep you off his back. As someone in recovery for 15 years I couldn't have done a better job myself :)  :)

There are articles and studies all over this forum. Most of the articles I see are actually related to how alcohol interacts with Interferon. I was slogging through the Ribavirin drug monograph the other day and read something about it.

* I doubt there is much literature or studies on the all oral meds that treat without the Ribavarin (at this point).


Impact of alcohol on hepatitis C virus replication and interferon signaling
World J Gastroenteroly. 2010 March 21; 16(11): 1337–1343.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2842525/


It looks like all of us found this article!!
Alcohol increases hepatitis C virus in human cells & alcohol inhibits the anti-HCV effect of interferon-alpha (INF-alpha)therapy
http://scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/F/20034141.html

[katla]

@maybe368 - Wow. I try to be polite here but your post was ignorant and offensive beyond belief. You know NOTHING about this person and yet you state that "what he really wants is to drink" and that he's in denial. Both of those statements are patently false. Some people have an intellectual curiosity about things and are interested in the science behind. You clearly do not.

Thanks can-do and 8-nickers.

[8nickers8]

Here is an article entitled: Alcohol May Affect Progression of Hepatitis C and Interferon Efficacy.  

http://www.natap.org/2003/june/063003_6.htm
It is posted by N.I.H. (National Institute of Health)

Nuff Said