Hep C and methadone

My brother was diagnosed with Hepatitis C several years ago.  He is a methadone addict living in Mississippi.  He has been having episodes that my sister and I believe to be hepatic encephalothopy, which are becoming more frequent.  We are worried sick that he will drive his car when having a "spell" and kill himself or someone else or that he will go into a coma and die.  My brother was going to a treatment center, but says they told him his liver enzymes were not bad which I don't believe.

My question is can he get treatment even though he is on methadone?  I think he has been told that nothing can be done for him until he gets off methadone so he is no longer seeking any help for the hepatitis c.  My sister ordered lactulose for him from Canada and he takes it, but it may be not as effective now.

Thanks for your help.

[fretboard]

He can get treatment somewhere, from a trial or a private doctor.  I take methadone but I no longer go to a methadone clinic.  The only requirements that I've ever heard about is that he would have to be clean from all other drugs for at least 6months.  I even got accepted into a trial while on methadone.  It can and does happen, I wasn't successful, but I'll try another day.  good luck  

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[GreatBird]

Liver enzymes can be within normal range when someone has a cirrhotic liver.  

[Bill1954]

There have been quite a few studies recently that show support for the use of methadone while treating with interferon/ribavirin for HCV. Here’s an excerpt from one from hivhepatitis,com:

"Active drug users and patients on substitution maintenance treatment do not differ from past users in terms of SVR and compliance to hepatitis C treatment," they continued. "SVR in those patients is similar [to] that expected in the general chronic hepatitis C population."

“Therefore, the researchers recommended, "[IDUs] with chronic hepatitis C infection -- especially when they are on substitution treatment -- should not be excluded from treatment."

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2008icr/ddw/docs/061008_c.html

I’d be more concerned at this point whether or not he would qualify for HCV treatment based on the severity of his disease. The manufacturers state that the treatment drugs are not suitable for decompensated cirrhosis; his situation needs to be evaluated by a qualified medical professional to determine if treatment is possible, regardless of his current position with opiates.

Best of luck—

Bill

[copyman]

Great bird is right about it is possible to have liver enzymes normal and still have cirrhosis but it is very rare. All labs would not be normal if you have cirrhosis, something else like prothrombin time, platelets, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, etc would indicate cirrhosis or serious liver damage.

[portann]

Your challenge now is to persuade your brother that he CAN get treatment and still stay on methadone, despite what his doctor said.  

First step is to have his liver biopsied, so he knows the stage of his liver disease.

[nygirl7]

I don't take methadone but I take suboxone (sort of the same thing but you don't have to go to the clinic you just go to a private doc once a month for these pills).

I made it through just fine and have been cured for two years as of next month.

These drugs (both kinds) CAN and DO work.  It's not easy and you have to really committ yourself to it but it is worth it.

Sorry I didn't respond sooner I didn't see this thread but wanted to give you some encouragement for your brother.

(PS If you can get him involved in a forum such as this one it might help him to see - he's certainly NOT alone)

Debby

[Roartor]

My brother also is on methadone, it is very safe and causes no harm to the liver, he can be on this drug his entire life without to much concern, the only reason they would not give your brother treatment is if he is drinking alcohol or taking other recreational drugs, but not because he is on methadone, is he on a treatment program? you should do a search on methadone and learn about it.

They won't start treatment until he has been off drugs and alcohol for 6 to 7 months, if he starts taking drugs or drinking while on the treatment they will discontinue treatment, really no point in treatment anyway if he is drinking or taking drugs, the treatment wouldn't work and it would be a waste of time and money and he would go through hell for nothing.

I hope this helps.

Take care

Dave