Is there a connect between a Hepatitis C test and Wellbutrin?

My friend has tested positive for Hepatitis C, but his wife of 25 years tests negative. (no cheating or intravenous drug use) He recently started taking Wellbutrin.  He had a liver biopsy done when he started taking the Wellbutrin.  His liver is almost cirrosised.  I've found that if you have liver problems you shouldn't take Wellbutrin.  Could it be a reaction to Wellbutrin as to why he's testing positive for Hepatitis C? My mother had a false positive Hepatitis C test when she had a reaction to a pain med.  Also, I've heard that you should not take Wellbutrin if you have recently quit smoking, but the doctor prescribed it to him to quit smoking? Thank you for your help.

[Dale_Ray]

As far as testing false postive it is possible so you retest. The Welbutron was given to me when I started treatement in November and it wired me up where I couldn't shut my mind down to sleep. I don't think that the welbutron does anything to the liver negatively but it would sure be a good question for your friends doctor to answer. I'm not suppose to take Tylenol Extra Strength but my doctor assures me it is okay in controlled dosages. Who knows but keep the doc in the information loop at all times. Good luck and how is he doing on the smoking problem. Lungs, liver and heart go together as a set. :) Dale

[ohgreat]

I was told to get off my Welbutrin after being diagnosed with Hep c antibody

[Dale_Ray]

Kalio makes a valid point. Sometimes people take that literally to mean touching another person that has it or a variety of misconceptions about the transfer of the virus. In my case I believe it was a transfusion after an accident. There are many possiblities though through needle sharing, tattos or your barber's clippers. Anything that gets the two bloods together can be the culprit I suppose. My doctor had an explanation sheet about Hep C he gave me to give to friends that had any misconception of the virus I had (:) (cleared) Dale

[lilmoma]

wellbutrin is prescribed often to quit smoking, b/c it is covered by insurance. They wont write it up that way (in most cases) they prescribe in a way that allows you to get the coverage, ie. for depression. but most insurance companies will not pay for the patch, so docs are stuck with "creative writing" so that you are able to reap the bennies.
I tried wellbutrin to quit smoking, and I found it made me feel so weird, I had to go off it, real shaky all the time.
Now I just smoke!!
lilmoma

[NYgirl]

PS the only way to get hepatitis C IS through an infected persons blood.  It is not an airborne disease that you can get from coughing or from just touching someone. Blood to blood contact has got to be made in some manner.

In order for a medication like Wellbutrin or Tylenol to be truly toxic to a liver I think you have to take a TON of it...which is why all of our doctors advise that we are able to take antidepressants like Wellbutrin (or whatever type it is?) and tylenol without a problem.

[52TELE]

I got it from a toilet seat. I SWEAR!!!

[NYgirl]

Well you know...I wasn''t including you and IN in the general population since we ARE the exceptions to the rule! hahahahah. ;)

I got it from kissing a boy I swear!!!!!!!!!! ;)

[NYgirl]

If someone has a hepC test...they have either the antibodies (meaning they were exposed but their bodies killed it) or they have hepC.  NOTHING else would make it "appear" that they have it when they don't. No pain meds or Wellbutrin or anything would "trick" a blood test into thinking it.

HepC is not the end of the world.  Lots' of people have it who have no idea how they got it - considering the state of the persons liver it sounds like they've had it a long, long time. I have had it over 25 years, drank like a fish and am a Grade2/Stage3 - not cirhossis (although different people progress differently I stupidly drank enough to really move things along).

You can have it an entire lifetime I suppose and never know it.

The thing to do now is have more tests and determine a course of treatment. Being in denial about something like this wont help = and if they DONT have it then there is some REASON THAT THEY HAVE CIRHOSSIS to begin with!!!!!!!!!!

THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME UNDERLYING CAUSE and it sounds like it DEFINITELY IS HEP-C.

No doubt about it.

Where they got it not important WHAT they do about it now is.

[MissAntithesis]

Is there a connect between a Hepatitis C test and Wellbutrin?
NO.

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Introducing Me:
Week 9 of 24
Genotype 2
Pegasys/Ribaviran
Contracted HCV during the 70's druggy-daze
Antibodies found in '94
Viral load in 12-05: 9 mil+
Rapid Responder (big sigh)
50 yrs. old

(I agree with 99.9% of the previous posts to this thread.)  My tx is through the Liver Institute where part of the guinea-pig stuff is being conducted (an active program in clinical research).  I am on Wellbutrin and Effexor for the depression.  Last Friday I reported that I am NOT ONLY experiencing an "I could not give a rat's patooty about anyone right now," but I notice that I also seem to enjoy my "new hostility" -- My support buddy has known me 30 years and laughs at how mean I have become =)  He's says I have mastered the art of being a Class-A-B*TCH.

All that is to say that she doubled my Wellbutrin dose and the world is now a better place for those who deal with me!!  I hope I can hang on to a wee bit of my new edge though... I finally have the boundaries that I have struggled all these years to find!!  LOL.

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DOSE AVAILABILITY:
Wellbutrin a.k.a. Bupropion (generic)

75 & 100 mg. are available in the "old-fashioned-non-time-release-less-liver-effective" form.

150 mg. are only available in SR (sustained release) - more liver processing.

Higher mg. are only available in the latest XL form... like lots of the new drugs with tons of small print about the liver.