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addiction and treatment
by jennetic, Feb 01, 2004 12:00AM
Hi,
My fiance is about to undergo Peg-interferon treatment for his Hep C. His dr said he has bridging fibrosis and that he should start treatment immediately. He quit drinking last June, but has recently gone back to heroin (!!!!) which he took as a teenager but hasn't done in nearly a decade.
I've been reading the boards- if he can't tolerate the stress of upcoming treatment without going back to drugs, I don't see how he will be able to go through treatment while staying clean, but there's always hope.
He's really lucky- he's a 3a genotype. My main concern right now is for him to get through treatment. If he can, his chance of beating the disease is very good.
So I have two questions: 1. If he is unable to stay clean, will doing heroin counteract the Peg-interferon, and 2. Is there anyone who started treatment from Hep C coming off any other addiction? He is detoxing now, and is scheduled to have his first shot just as the detox should end (this is by his own scheduling- he hasn't told his dr. about his active addiction). If so, is there any advice you can offer?
Thanks!
My fiance is about to undergo Peg-interferon treatment for his Hep C. His dr said he has bridging fibrosis and that he should start treatment immediately. He quit drinking last June, but has recently gone back to heroin (!!!!) which he took as a teenager but hasn't done in nearly a decade.
I've been reading the boards- if he can't tolerate the stress of upcoming treatment without going back to drugs, I don't see how he will be able to go through treatment while staying clean, but there's always hope.
He's really lucky- he's a 3a genotype. My main concern right now is for him to get through treatment. If he can, his chance of beating the disease is very good.
So I have two questions: 1. If he is unable to stay clean, will doing heroin counteract the Peg-interferon, and 2. Is there anyone who started treatment from Hep C coming off any other addiction? He is detoxing now, and is scheduled to have his first shot just as the detox should end (this is by his own scheduling- he hasn't told his dr. about his active addiction). If so, is there any advice you can offer?
Thanks!
GT
link goes to a pdf file download.
http://www.projectsinknowledge.com/Init/G/1599/1599-TxReporter3.pdf
regards,
BobK
Bob, thanks for the .pdf file.
Steve, thanks for your thoughts. I think you're probably right.
We're going to talk with his GI tomorrow, and either my fiance or I will tell the dr. about his heroin use. I'll ask about going on methadone to get through it.
Pharoah, I think you're right on the "tough love" thing. I went to an NA-alron meeting with my finace's parents tonight. It's like a double whammy, dealing with his addiction and his Hep C.
kimberley
Having said all that, I do know people who've used herion and other narcotics through treatment. Technically speaking, as long as you don't share needles you're not going to get reinfected that way. All things being equal, if I had to pick herion or vodka sours I'd pick herion.
As far as the effects of narcotics on the liver - they're relatively minor compared to a lot more commonly prescribed medicines.
The only issue (and it's a major, heavy duty issue) is how pure the heroin is and what it was cut with. To me, this alone would be enough not to do it, but then I'm not addicted. If I were, it wouldn't matter.
Then there are the legal issues... You can get busted, and if you need money to feed your habit you're liable to do some things to get the money that might land you in a bit more trouble.
As you can see, I don't have any answers.... As a recovering addict I don't have the option of using herion - really, really bad things happen to me when I'm using. I'm not in charge of the rest of the world though and if that's what someone chooses I just hope they go into it with full awareness.
good luck sweetie...
kimberley
p.s...it is not at ALL so very unusual for someone that has a history of drug use/addiction/alcohol use etc to feel the need to 'cope' with these frightening new feelings around needing to be treated for hep....and for them to go on binges...while working out the feelings/emotions surrounding this....
There is a VERY high Hep C re-infection rate among intravenous drug users. Why go through PEG-interferon treatments, if your fiance plans to continue sharing needles? By sharing needles, he is setting himself up for almost certain re-infection.
MED HELP INTERNATIONAL
[There is a VERY high Hep C re-infection rate among intravenous drug users. Why go through PEG-interferon treatments, if your fiance plans to continue sharing needles? By sharing needles, he is setting himself up for almost certain re-infection.]
It is possible to be an IV drug user and not share needles.
Thomas
as importantly an issue is that HIS DOCTOR BE AWARE that he is having difficulty 'not' using and hopefully can be put on a meth program in conjunction with treatment. with Doctor Assisted Methodone Maitanence the issue of new syringes should not be an issue for him.
cheers!
In this case, from what I can gather from the initial post, her fiance is not at this point physically addicted to heroin and may never develop a drug habit for all we know. I can't see the logic in putting someone who isn't physically addicted to an opiate on methadone.
There are other ways not to use drugs besides taking another drug if that's what someone wants to do. Not that methadone doesn't have a place in certain instances. I just don't think it should be the first line of treatment when the word heroin is used.
Shows what I know....
In this case I definitely think the physician treating his HCV should be aware that he's working with an addict. Not to prescribe methadone but to be aware of his condition when considering potential medications to treat side effects related to HCV treatment.
I'd let the detox center handle all the methadone stuff. It still isn't a given that methadone is the answer. 12 step programs can be as effective.
It's too bad there aren't any concrete answers, isn't it? Everybody has to just figure it out on their own, more or less.
Thomas