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Avatar universal

Does anyone know if interferon causes adrenal insufficiency.

My wife just completed her 48 week treatment 3 weeks ago and feels worse.  Her gastro said that the interferon may have caused adrenal insufficiency.  She has to now go see another specialist.  I am interested in getting information on the connection between hep C medication and adrenal insufficiency.  Google brings up nothing.

Thanks for your time.
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Avatar universal
I had interferon treatment (roferon alpha) from 2006-2008 because of a malign melanoma, and I started feeling much worse afterwards. I have severe adrenal fatigue, Hashimoto, have gained 50 kilos so far (it started with the first injection and I still keep on gaining weight! It went up from size S to size XL), much of it is water retention in my tissue, and other health issues.
I recently found out that you should not do an interferon treatment at all if you have the MTHFR genetic defect (a genetic mutation). Unfortunately most doctors do not know this, and the pharma companies do not write it either, even though they know. Your wife should have it checked. I did so now, too, I have the defect. If your wife has it, too, she needs to avoid folic acid, but needs to take folate / vitamins B for the rest of her life.
It is not easy to find a doctor who knows about adrenal fatigue and takes it serious, plus it is almost impossible to find a doctor who knows about the connection interferon therapy and long-lasting adrenal fatigue plus MTHFR defect.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How is it that the majority of us come out the other end unscathed and many achieve HCV free status if interferon is so deplorable?  There is a ridiculous amount of people who have treated multiple times and no adrenal problems.  How do you explain that?

So what you're saying is folks should accept the extrahepatic manifestations associated with HCV, the diminished quality of life that can and does occur and wait until they're almost cirrhotic which lowers their chance of eradicating the virus before considering any type of treatment that involves interferon because everyone will experience thyroid dysfunction and adrenal malfunction.  Do you know how ludicrous that sounds?  
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1815939 tn?1377991799
Orphanedhawk has already had a liver transplant due to decompensated cirrhosis. If she did not treat, her new liver will also fail. She has completed Tx and is UND.
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Avatar universal

Don't take Interferon unless you are just about to Cirrhosis really.
. ------------------------------------------

This kind of blanket stament is not only a usless one ,,it may be very dangeous to many IMO

Will
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Avatar universal
Interferon stimulates your immune system and commonly causes thyroid and adrenal malfunction. The problem is that medical doctors never, ever test for adrenal malfunction only thyroid dysfunction which is really bizarre considering  the effect one has on the other. I had every symptom of adrenal insufficiency and they wouldn't even check my adrenal levels. Interferon can wreak havoc on your body for many years after stopping it. Even if you have adrenal malfunction, you will never find an endocrinologist to treat you. I recommend reading articles by William Jeffries and find a progressive doctor who can guide you on how to use both thyroid (T3) and adrenal (hydrocortisone) at the same time to bring you back to optimal health. I went to the top doc in my area for Interferon treatment and he was clueless since he knew nothing about endocrinology. Don't take Interferon unless you are just about to Cirrhosis really.
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
Three weeks is a very short time after stopping treatment.
I didn't really start feeling well, for almost 8 weeks and I only did 24 weeks of treatment.
Whether her adrenals will improve or not, is beyond my ability to say.
But she should feel better, in general, in time.
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Avatar universal
Interferon causes a multitude of auto-immune disorders that are, it seems,  insufficiently appreciated, anticipated or disclosed.  It is unfortunate.

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Avatar universal
To answer your question I'll say YES!  It gave it to me - the other name for Adrenal Insufficency is Addison's Disease. My Adrenal were destoyed and I felt like deathfor 5 years following my treatment. Those 5 years were mostly spent in bed. When they finally realised that my adrenals were malfuncioning I was put on a replacement dosage of Hydrocortesone that I will have to take the rest of my life. I've heard from hundreds of people who have experienced the same symptoms that I had after stopping treatment. I was on Intron-A back in the late 90's for 13 months. I don't think that the Interferon itself does the damage - I thin that when your body is flooded for so long with Interferon, a naturally occuring protien that excites the immune system in response to viral attacks, the ummune system attacks the adrenal glands as well. Addison's is normally an auto-immune disease.
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Avatar universal
Interferon is a very strong drug and can affect each person differently.  Type "long term effects interferon" in the search field and you'll glean much information that may help your wife.  I haven't read about interferon causing adrenal insufficiency but I wouldn't doubt it as the list of effects are long and many are unknown.

The important thing to remember is it may take many months to recover from the drugs.  I am 19 months post treatment and just now starting to feel like myself again physically and mentally.  Tell your wife to have patience, continue to drink a lot of water (it takes 6 months for riba to leave the body), and live a healthy lifestyle.

Hang in there.  She will get better.
KF
Helpful - 0
1225178 tn?1318980604
I found this article, and thought it may be helpful.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2556317/

Diane
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Avatar universal
I can't help with what you asked but can tell you that many people feel worse after treating. This usually only lasts a short time. It can take up to a year to feel better after treatment.
best of luck
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