Newbie question..

Hi everyone, I am 29 years old and just found out that I was Hep C positive about 2 months ago.  I started treatment 3 weeks ago with 180 mcgs once a week and 7 ribavirin a day.  My question is, How will consuming alcohol affect the treament?  thanks

[Bill1954]

Most of the data I’ve come across suggests that alcohol has a deleterious effect on combo therapy. That, coupled with the widely accepted fact that alcohol contributes to advancement of fibrosis makes it a poor choice.  Another problem is alcohol can cause issues with compliance; people tend to forget to take their meds regularly.

Your doctor should have counseled you on this; if not, it’s best to wait until after treatment, and discuss any consumption then with your doc. People with cirrhosis will probably be advised not to drink at all.

Good luck--

Bill

[nygirl7]

Honestly do you think drinking on treatment is a good idea - even if it didn't do anything to the meds? But it does - it can cause them to be ineffective and you to fail treatment all the while developing more fibrosis than you already had.

Common sense would tell anyone not to drink on treatment, right? You have a liver disease.  Please be responsible and wait until after treatment if you have to drink at all and if you are cirrhotic - please seek professional counseling to stop altogether for good.

[Isobella]

I love my  wine, but after your blood counts start tanking in a few weeks, alcohol will probably be the farthest thing from your mind. Nothing kills a good beer buzz like anemia, dehydration and exhaustion.

Don't drink on tx.  Give your liver a break.  You want to get the maximum amount of curing from these meds....don't mess around.  Get it done right the first time. You don't want to have to possibly go thru this again.

Friends don't let friends drink and tx. Tx responsibily.

Assuming you don't have cirrhosis, you will have the rest of your (hopefully SVR) life to go back to drinking.  

[meakea]

I don't drink alcohol but, when even at that, my doc made me sign a promise not to drink alcohol while on TX or he would drop me from treatment.  I think that says it all.

[Rosebud41]

What in the world would make you even consider drinking alcohol during treatment.
It's amazing you would want to drink when you have a liver ailment.
Maybe you should discuss this with your physician.

I would think the day you got the diagnosis would be the last day you had any
alcohol.

Treatment is not easy why complicate it with with drinking.  
You're asking to be real, real, real sick!!!!!!!!
Your tx is going to be a waste of  time.

Rosebud41

[graceman]

Loved your comment on this question re: alcohol consumption. How true!

[graceman]

By the way, agree with alcohol abstention during tx for most of the above reasons. By the way, I am at 20 weeks, undetectable, Hep C 1A.

[AmeliaFufu]

Married to someone with HepC. I always think it is funny how people try and find some way around the no alcohol?  I think sometimes why even get treatment if your just going to do everything your not supose to?  What's the point?  If your doing treatment because you want to do everything in your power to get better, put your mind to thinking of the 9 million non alcoholic things you can drink.  Or even better of the millions of things that might work to make you even healthier.  You can stop drinking, you honestly can... I haven't drank in 16 years, I get by just fine.  Be REALLY honest with yourself and your Dr's.  Too much to live for, and so much more than alcahol (alcohol).