Side Effects of interferon

My husband was treated for Hep C type 2b 5 years ago. During this process he had every side effect listed. He lost over 20 lbs and looked like a skeleton. His Doctor told him to go to our GP for pills to treat his side effects. We finally went to see a liver specialist and found out he was allergic to the meds and should abort them immediately. There was a supposed 98% cure rate for this type of Hep C but it did nothing but tear down his body. On major side effect is Cluster Headaches. They are migraines that last for days and weeks and are very frequent. The only small relief is acupuncture. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know of information that may help him?

[HectorSF]

BTW: There never was a "98% cure rate for peg-interferon and ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C and there still isn't. If there was, there would be very few people chronically infected with hepatitis C instead of millions.

As far as your husband having cluster headaches. Just because a person has hepatitis C doesn't mean they aren't going to have other diseases and conditions too. Ten of thousands of people have treated with the same drugs as your husband since they became routine treatment for hepatitis C treatment about 10 years ago. They have been used by most people on this forum and many are taking the drugs now.  

Cluster headaches are a unique type of headache. All headaches are not similar in cause or treatment. Cluster Headaches are NOT related to  migraine headaches although they are often misdiagnosed as a migraine headache. Cluster headaches affect only 0.1% of the population, and middle aged men are more commonly affected than women. The pain usually happens at the same time each day for several weeks in row and then stops abruptly. It then reoccurs again after a few weeks or months.

If your husband has been correctly diagnosed as having Cluster Headaches there are a number of treatments available to make attacks shorter and less severe and there are preventive medications can help reduce the number of cluster headaches he has.
Your husband should see a Neurologist that specializes in headaches. They can help him.

Good luck.
Hector

[Tammitha1]

The 98% cure rate was for his type of Hep C. That is what the quack told him that gave him the interferon in the first place. I believe that my description of his head aches are what I see. He is not the type to complain but as I write this he is in a dark room with his hand wrapped around his head. These are the exact same headaches he had during the treatment. So there is no doubt they are caused from the meds. I can tell by your response that you are probably an M.D. Thanks for your advise but more medication is not good for the liver. Remember every med effects the liver. But we will try a Neurologist.

[mckinzie]

My husband has been diagnosed with migraines and cluster headaches for 20+ years and the cluster headaches are the worse.   He is currently on triple treatment with incivek.

His miracle drug for migraines & cluster headaches has been Relpax precsribed by his neurologist.  
During Incivek, he had to take Imitrex as relpax was contraindicated, and that helped too. For nausea he takes Phenergan.  His neurologist also recommended Magnesium and CoQ10 enzyme.  Since starting the Magnesium (500mg per day) he rarely has the cluster headaches.

His hepatologist is aware of the above meds that he takes.  

This is what works for my husband and though it may not work for yours, I just wanted to share.

I really feel for you as cluster headaches are one of the worse things to have to see your spouse go through.

Mckinzie

[Tammitha1]

Thank you so much for this information.

[Tammitha1]

I am the husband of Tammitha1, she is a gem. I will try the Magnesium & CoQ1O. A couple of more vitamins will be a drop in a bucket.We will began a search for a reliable neurologist. Does your husband take milk thistle ? 2000mg a day is what I use. Thank You & GOD BLESS !    markgwh1

[fretboard]

Did your husband ever have migraine headaches prior to his tx or are migraines in his family history?   It's very interesting that the doctor determined that he was allergic to interferon.  I wonder if it's that particular type of interferon or it doesn't matter?  good luck