cannibis, interferon medication, liver fibrosis and hepatitis-c

i know that this is a condition which can benefit greatly from the use of medical marijuana as i am a caregiver for one such person and the following has been brought to my attention
While therapy for chronic Hepatitis C is most often based on interferon medication, its value is limited due to the uncomfortable side effects it can induce, such as flu-like symptoms, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle and joint pain, and depression. These symptoms often lead to interferon therapy’s poor adherence, which manifests either in a dose reduction or discontinuation of treatment—both of which hinder interferon’s potential effectiveness against HCV.

Published in the October 2006 European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, a Northern California study involving 71 participants demonstrated that moderate marijuana use may relieve interferon’s side effects, helping people with Hepatitis C stick with the full treatment regimen. -this is a good thing
Unfortunately for heavy users, this study did not examine a direct dose-response relationship between the amount of marijuana consumed and the likelihood of successful interferon therapy. In fact, participants who used the largest amounts of marijuana had less success with Hepatitis C interferon therapy. Because the researchers did not perform pre and post-treatment histological assessments using paired liver biopsies, and did not measure immune parameters, the claim of marijuana’s value in Hepatitis C therapy remains limited.

but i want all hep c patients to be aware of something!

Cons
Ever since the results of the 2006 California study were published, experts have been expressing concern about the health implications of Hepatitis C patients using marijuana. A French study of untreated individuals with Hepatitis C (those not taking interferon therapies) showed that, compared with occasional or non-users of the drug, people who used marijuana daily were:
· more likely to have severe liver fibrosis
· at a higher risk for rapid fibrosis progression.

At the 2007 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver in Barcelona, Spain, the same French research team reported on a study linking marijuana use and liver steatosis. These researchers noted that marijuana binds to two receptors, CB1 and CB2. Recent experimental data suggests that activation of CB1 receptors increases steatogenesis (liver fat accumulation). Stimulation of the CB1 receptor is assumed to be the reason daily marijuana smoking is associated with the development of significant hepatic fibrosis.
In addition to the discovery that smoking marijuana accelerates liver fibrosis, concerns remain about its impact on the immune system. Experts explain that the use of marijuana may suppress immune function. Cannabinoid receptors are confirmed to be present on the surface of immune cells, and when the cannabinoid molecules from marijuana bind to these receptors, the person’s resistance to disease is compromised. Therefore, various studies have concluded that using marijuana can enhance the disease process.


my point here is this: if you or someone you know is using marijuana to help allieveate symptoms due to interfureon drugs such as those used in the treatment of Hep-C; please please talk to you doctor first if you have a severly damaged liver its not a good thing to make it process more fat!!
just want you all to stay safe and healthy

maybe this post can help just one person out and that would be awsome

heres the article i copypasted from
http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/06/the_pros_and_co.html

Thanks for the info MacGyver420. I've had chronic hep c for 30+ years, did the interferon treatment and it about killed me. There are some promising treatments currently being tested, but until they get the side effects worked out, I'll pass.

I've got a buddy whose hep c turned into liver cancer. He used cannabis for relief until he went on the Liver Donor List. He had to quit smoking in order to go on the list.

A couple of years ago, a hep c patient in Washington state was denied a transplant because he used cannabis. The rationale was that cannabis carries a specific mold spore that is known to make the body reject transplanted organs. This was a load of crap! I do air sampling for mold, and that particular strain is common and found nearly everywhere

festivus said:

Thanks for the info MacGyver420. I've had chronic hep c for 30+ years, did the interferon treatment and it about killed me. There are some promising treatments currently being tested, but until they get the side effects worked out, I'll pass.

I've got a buddy whose hep c turned into liver cancer. He used cannabis for relief until he went on the Liver Donor List. He had to quit smoking in order to go on the list.

A couple of years ago, a hep c patient in Washington state was denied a transplant because he used cannabis. The rationale was that cannabis carries a specific mold spore that is known to make the body reject transplanted organs. This was a load of crap! I do air sampling for mold, and that particular strain is common and found nearly everywhere

Click to expand...

yes this is very true festivus and an important point that i forgot to say thanks for adding this

you are very right about the interferon treatment its really horrible stuff

I was in the last group when it was still in trials. There was no way I could have gotten through the first 2 months without it. In our group meeting of about 30-40 people the ones that the virus was undetectable were the people who smoked and did not work. I think stress is a major factor here. A lot of people did not get the cure. I have had 6 years or so now without any viral load. I hear Pegasus is much better for side effects then peg intron that I had to use. There have been numerous people cured after there second or third try. Suerte JK

I had a liver biopsy done about 3 years ago. Had stopped alcohol a year before, but replaced it with herb. The biopsy didn't show any fatty cells or fibrosis. I currently have a high, and slowly increasing viral load, but my liver profile enzyme levels are all normal. This is going on 9 years after my combination interferon/retin A treatment. I'm a big fan of hemp oil. It's done wonders with my colestorol levels, and I wouldn't doubt it, and the occasional puff, are keeping my liver happy.

A friend of mine was told twelve years ago that his liver was to shot to use the interferon medication.

In addition they told him that he had about ninety days left to live.

He died a couple of weeks ago .. after they took away his mmj.

When I went in my liver panel was all in the normal range,my viral load was off scale, my biopsy though showed cirrhosis was in the 3/4 stage. They told me to go home and be with my family. I talked them into taking me, I figured they needed the research on what if any good it did for a damaged liver. There was one point where I felt there was no O getting into my body for about 3 weeks. I am glad I did not report it as I was told later they would have dropped me right then and there. But my GOD I guess has other things for me. JK

jalisco thanks for your information its much apprecitiated although im having trouble understanding exactly what your saying as i myself and not a patient someone close to me is and im just trying to find out how i might be able to help them in some way

when you say theres no way to get through first 2 months without it you mean first 2 months (of treatment) without it (cannibus?)

and when you say the virus was undetectable in 30-40 who smoked and didnt work do you mean smoke cannibus?

just getting some clarification so i can pass along any info i can find!

I have a friend who uses interferon and smokes
he's did some research on it and was told by his hospital indirectly that smoking
could help with the side effects

I'll get him to post up some stuff when I see him next

For more details, you can check http://www.actions-traitements.org/spip.php?breve1865 and http://www.natap.org/2005/HCV/062705_01.htm.
Please, note that in the second link it is specified that a very, very large part of the subjects happen to be IVDU (Intravenous drug user), and some booze as well. I think it's quite an important fact, which shouldn't be put aside as this kind of hobby is rather heavy on the liver. Ideally there should be some study made on people who are plain MJ user, otherwise, even though interesting this study's conclusions should be pondered me thinks (or at least keep in mind that the study was done on people who are treating roughly their liver).
Thanks for the info MacGyver !

Irie !

festivus said:

Thanks for the info MacGyver420. I've had chronic hep c for 30+ years, did the interferon treatment and it about killed me. There are some promising treatments currently being tested, but until they get the side effects worked out, I'll pass.

I've got a buddy whose hep c turned into liver cancer. He used cannabis for relief until he went on the Liver Donor List. He had to quit smoking in order to go on the list.

A couple of years ago, a hep c patient in Washington state was denied a transplant because he used cannabis. The rationale was that cannabis carries a specific mold spore that is known to make the body reject transplanted organs. This was a load of crap! I do air sampling for mold, and that particular strain is common and found nearly everywhere

Click to expand...

Hi,
I just wonder, do you still smoke?
I might have it too. I get my results this week.
It really sucks....

Are you guys using Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) for your liver ? If not then do some research & give a try, it's good for loads of things and especially recommended for hepatitis and liver necrosis or failure. If mj brings you relief, then Reishi will bring relief to your very liver, give a try !

Irie !

Thanks for the info MacGyver, and everyoneelse..~~ Interferon~~,,,That word makes the hairs on my arms stand str8t up..Ive had hep-c (genotype 1A)for 17yrs. I had to stop treatment after 6 or 7 months..The side efects are wicked, Everyone responds different to Interf and Ribiviran,, I was never the same after treatment,,its been 4yrs now...I went through maj depression,,lost 65lbs..The pain it caused in my neck,shoulders was extremely unbearable..Its like the interferon atacked all the weak points of my body.. i lost memory,motor skills,It brought out anger like you would not belive.. i was never like that before..to this day i feel very short fused..,,i went from 220 to 156,,with out mj i wouldve fell through my own ass..and it sure helped me keep the little saneity i had left..If you know anyone going through this, give them support.You dont know how they feel behind closed doors...Knowing you may die from a deadly virus is alot weight on 0nes shoulders ecspecialy when doing Interferon.It phucks your mind!!. I still ache,abdomial pain and no energy..Ive been try this new product,,Ill let you guys know how it works,heres were you can get it. hepcherba.com Thanks again MacGyver420 you hearts in the right place..Wonder what DR.Jay would say about this topic...what a good man he was.. Stay Healthy all Jimi P.s i have a Dr appt tomorrow, I did a complete liver panel, and viral load..Im waiting for results...Keep your fingers crossed...Jimi

xxd said:

Hi,
I just wonder, do you still smoke?
I might have it too. I get my results this week.
It really sucks....

Click to expand...

I still smoke (vape mostly). Had to quit alcohol though. If you test positive, don't freak. Make some healthy life choices and keep going. Check out the benefits of hemp seed oil, be extremely careful with herbal suppliments (even those recommended for liver health).

MacGyver420- Thanks for the information.

I have a couple of questions for some of you but first I would like to say that I was tested positive for Hep-C last Tuesday. Now my question is is this new program in the EU also? And how should I prepare for this? I am waiting on the results of my second blood screening and have an appointment for the first on November. The MD said my blood work was normal and there was no hurry. What do I have to look forward to wit this?

V

festivus said:

I still smoke (vape mostly). Had to quit alcohol though. If you test positive, don't freak. Make some healthy life choices and keep going. Check out the benefits of hemp seed oil, be extremely careful with herbal suppliments (even those recommended for liver health).

Click to expand...

Hi festivus,
Thanks for your advice. I got my results yesterday and I am negative.
XXd

That's awesome xxd!! Good Shit Indeed!!

yes festivus, it is really awesome, I feel better now but I was ready as well to accept it if I would have been positive. But it´s better so .....
Now I can concentrate on my grow again, my Mandelas looking good and growing like crazy.
All the best to you!
XXd

Hello all.. This is a very interesting thread that you've got going here!
And since I also have had my life tuned upside down with the alien-virus, [Hep.C] and from all the research that I've put into working on a "cure" for this life threatening liver disease, I thought that I'd share some info. with you good guys here.. if that would be okay with you?
To start with; I believe that one should realize that "Hep.C", B,A etc. means "Inflammation of the Liver". I personally refer to hep.c as an alien-virus, due to it's nature...it's as if it has it's own intelligence, similar to humans, in the aspect that when the virus is under 'attack', by treatment, herbs, etc. it will respond by either "fleeing", [going deeper within the liver to hide], or it will fight back by mutating it's own defenses against the chemical compounds which are being used against it.. This is why so little advancement has been done in the way of modern med. to come up with a "cure" for the disease..
As for the interferon treatments, be it alpha or otherwise, does show some results with those mild to moderate acute cases, but with those over 48 yrs old, and/or at or near the chronic stage of damage, the odds of temp. results are decreased drastically, with higher odds favoring the disease returning with a vengence within 2 to 5 yrs after initial treatment, [At best, it's a temp. fix with the odds stacked against you that you might not see any results at all...with the exceptions that you might suffer increased damage from the side effects of taking the interferon treatment.]
Personally speaking, it's an individual choice, with takers-beware!
There are liver specialist that knows the in's and out's of the disease, but the only problem is that you'll be asked to go through a long line of test for evaluations, "prep-work", before you get to see the head guru in this field, the various doctors up the chain of command, and each of their tests etc. can take between one to two months normally, and at a cost of approx. $5K to $10K prior to the evaluations of liver specialist, who will want end scopes etc. before he'll feed you a line about getting you on a liver transplant list, in cases of Chronic Hep.C.
Most often a doctor will want to give you the vaccine shot for hep.B also, which is okay if you want your RNA levels to sky rocket for the next 9 to 24 months before they can become normalized again.. There's only 15 out of 100 hep.c patients who come down with the hep.B after getting the hep.C virus, so when I found out about this tid-bit info..I told em' "Thanks but NO thanks!" And there's simply no need for the hep.A vaccine shot unless you ever here of a major out break of that virus in this country.
There is a "wake~up" call, to reality with the so called 'liver-transplant' issue, the chronic hep.c patients are no longer chosen for transplants, due to the fact that the virus is blood circulated, and therefore too high of a risk that the virus would simply infect even a new liver... Though a new liver can be purchased at around 1 Ml. from the last that I've researched into this issue.
But of course, this is not told to you, the liver-transplant list is still used today for "hope", so that you won't simply walk-out on the specialist before he can finish with all of this "testings and procedures first"..
As they say, "I've been there-done that".. it's pretty much the same no matter what state you live in..
Herbal treatments are by far the best alternative, and going to see one or two different Natural Path doctors, [usually found at larger hospitals] especially if the Natural Path doc. is well experienced with this disease.
There's a lot of herbal products out there, offering treatment formula's that cost over hundreds of $$ per month. It seems the greater the cost of those monthly treatment plans, the greater the hype about their success...so take the time to do the research concerning these formula's, and are they backed with "Lab. research & tested result/case studies?" Not just one study by one doctor, but how many patients were used by certified research labatories? How many documented results from other research labs.? ...again...buyers beware... even though the high priced formula's "might prove" effective for some cases, to what cases have they proven to have been tested upon?... I've found that doing your own research and buying the bulk herbs by the pound is far less expensive than paying a 1,000% mark up just because someone puts the herbs together for you...
I read that is was mentioned about the "Reshi" mushrooms, red variety, within this thread, and with respect, this is a good mushroom to take along with hep.c treatment, but "more isn't necessarily better"... again...beware how much you take per day, [500MG. per day is normal], Reshi for the liver, {red} certainly does "amp" the bodies own interferrons, however, it also causes the liver to "Swell" [Inflammation] when taken in higher doses. Personally, I think it's a wicked herb. that's hard to take in a tea form, so I took it for awhile by putting the powder into 500MG. capsules..
Milk Thistle extracts is not only among the two top selling liver herbs. sold in the world, but it can regenerate the liver cells and reverse some of the cirrhosis damage too.. I get my supplies for this from Swanson's vitamin company, called Advantage Milk Thristle, 525MG.caps taken 3 times a day.
Dandelion Root removes toxins from blood and reduces brain fog, especially when taken along with 10 tabs. of Wheatgrass twice daily... This combo alone will bring those ALT levels back within the normal range within a few months.
Cat's claw, I can't say enough about this wonder herb.. though it's also a "wicked" herb. to try to make it into a tea...but it only takes me about 30 min. to whip out 50 of the "00" [500mg.]capsules of it with my $20. capsule making machine. The supplies for cat's claw I get from Starwest herbs. also bulpurum and a few others that I use as secondary tea mixes.
For the stomach and lower GI. problems, that are so often created after a few months on treatment herbs, one needs to brush up on how to use a blender to make a daily supply of veggie juices, to restore those needed stomach enzymes, and get on some probiotics right away straight, or start eating two eggs every day for the natural lecithin found in the whites of the eggs..also eat Yogart for the natural bacterial that the lower GI needs to accompany the digestion of the food intake.. Oats helps greatly to smooth the stomach too. Swansons sells an "Ultimate Probiotic Formula" for less than $10. for a 30 supply. Last but not least, is learn how to eat..I know this sounds corney, but it's vital to your treatment plan, simply because Hep.C has many of the same attributes as HIV does, and the auto immune functions heads south if not actively maintained... An example of learned how to eat, is never eat fruits, [acids] before having a protein type meal, as the natural fruits digestion will be halted while the digestive processed start working for the proteins digestion, resulting in bowl gas, and undigested acids which later fermint in the system and leaves the system overloaded and upset..usually painful signs will be noticed.
~Back to the herb. info..my "Primary" tea that I drink 3 times daily, is my own formula, that is more so a dose dependant tea mix, that I use to drastically reduce the RNA levels anytime they show any rise at all... also has kept my AST and ALT within normal range.. Actually this isn't hard to do, as trial and error, I've worked with a number of different herbal blends, and actually, like to do a "switch or trade-off" to another formula about every 3 months just to keep the aliens guessing! :-}
I've been doing some researching into the "Snake-bite" anti-veniens, which I believe might become a "cure" for hep.c with my most recent extract [5:1], tea formula...but time will tell about this too..:-}

WOW...guess I got a little carried away with the "info" here....[the spirit of wanting to help others kicked in I guess], will make another post of the "formula's" if anyone is interested, they certainly are cheap enough to make at home for ones own treatments if needed..
Peace...Love...and Happy trials to all! Rick