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Hepatitis C (Expert Forum)
Hep C Side Effects
Questions posted in the Hepatitis C Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Hep C Side Effects
by Le__0__0, Jul 19, 1999 12:00AM
Posted by Lee on July 19, 1999 at 14:57:55
One of the side effects with the Interferon/Ribavirin treatment for Hep C is hair loss. How prevalent and to what extent is the hair loss?
Posted by Janet on July 22, 1999 at 11:11:21
I had some hair loss from Intron/A. Apparently it varies a lot (and most people don't have this side effect). What happened to me was: after about 3 months on Intron/A, I noticed a lot of hair on my brush. I didn't SEE the thinning on my head, but the 'shedding' was very noticeable after I washed my hair.
I ended up with a couple of quarter-size 'bald patches' on the sides of my head, easily covered with my hair style.
When I went off the Intron/A, it took about three months for the thinning to stop. And now two years later, the patches have totally regrown back.
I was only disappointed that it didn't grow back in curly as it did for one other person I know (*grin*).
Posted by Laurie on July 22, 1999 at 17:40:18
I've been on the treatment now for about 11 weeks and my hair is getting THICKER! Don't know if that'll continue, but I'm not complaining. Also have lost 10 lbs. Not complaining about that either. Colors are more vivid and I can smell better too. So, along with the bad comes a few good.
Posted by HFHSM.D.-D.M. on July 25, 1999 at 14:59:01
Dear Lee:
I appreciate your questions and the opportunity to comment on a fairly common side effect of interferon. Hair loss is common with interferon. It is difficult for me to give you a exact percentage of patients who experience this problem but it is one of the side effects that I warn patients about. You also have to appreciate that the severity of this side effect varies enormously form patient to patient.
In my experience with hair loss (we use the term alopecia) associated with interferon or combination therapy, a couple of points stand out. One is that patients tend to feel their hair loss is more noticeable than individuals around them including me, the physician. In addition, the hair typically grows back. We often will evaluate our patients on interferon who have hair loss for thyroid dysfunction because thyroid problems are seen with interferon and they can cause hair loss. Finally, if patients are very bothered by the hair loss, I sometimes suggest they consider Rogaine (topical minoxidil) though I do not have evidence that this is effective.
I appreciate Laurie’s comments. I haven’t seen anyone’s hair actually improve on treatment but I am pleased that hers did. Weight loss is common with interferon or combination therapy and we often use nutritional supplements such as ensure if the weight loss becomes an issue.
I hope this information is helpful to you. Good luck with your treatment. If you have any additional questions or concerns, you can post them through MEDHELP. The direct number to our liver clinic at Henry Ford is: (313) 916-8865. At Henry Ford, we have an active group of hepatologists with a strong interest in the care and research of hepatitis C.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question physician when you have a question pertaining to your health
Posted by Janet on July 27, 1999 at 09:09:22
I'd like to point you to one statement above: that no one else notices the hair loss/thinning ANYWHERE near as much as the patient does. Mine was ONLY noticeable by my hair 'person' when I got my hair shampooed and cut. And, even then, I could only tell because of all the hair in my brush, in my towel, in my shower drain. But no one could tell just by looking at me.
Even my husband thought I was nuts since he wasn't the one looking in my brush and he wasn't the one who had to shake out the towel after drying my hair. He just didn't see it.
I think my experience is pretty typical of those who have their hair affected by interferon (standard dose/standard timing). However, if you're on high dosage/daily dosage therapy, this experience may differ.
Posted by HFHSM.D.-D.M. on July 31, 1999 at 15:01:11
Dear Janet:
I think we are saying the same thing and that we are in complete agreement. My statment is that, " patients tend to feel their hair loss is more noticeable than individuals around them including me, the physician." I was trying to say that patients tend to feel that their hair loss is severe and noticeable but that individuals around them often don't even notice that there is hair loss in that patient. Again, I stress that the hair usually comes back.
