Treatment and cocaine

[jayZ14]

Dear Doctor,

I am 2 and a half months on pegylated interferon and ribavarin treatment for chronic HCV(acquired about 6-7 years ago, medically in a 3rd world country). I am 26 years old and in good general health. Recently I was at a party and I snorted some cocaine. I know it was a mistake... now Im just thinking about what extent this influences the outcome of my treatment? What negative effect does it have on the treatment and my liver? The amount was not a lot and it only happened once and of course i didnt share a straw.  Thank you for your time.

[Bill1954]

Hi Jay-

I’m personally unaware of any scientific studies that have investigated the relationship between combo treatment and cocaine. I suppose that a medical doctor could hypothesize with some degree of accuracy; however, we have no doctors monitoring this board.

How is your treatment progressing? Oh, and you piqued my interest; what “medically third world” are you currently living in?

Take care,

Bill

[EspritLibre1]

"The amount was not a lot and it only happened once and of course i didnt share a straw."

Just move on and like you've already figured out and KNOW, don't imbibe again... just my opinion but I ain't no dr so can't answer how a one time situation can affect tx... run it pass your dr be well...

[BonnieRobin]

You are defintely one in a million. I got a big kick from that one.

Feel Well
Bonnie

[GoofyDad]

I have Kaiser now. Does that count?

[Proactive]

At least if you caught a different genotype of hcv from sharing a straw with someone, you would have to change drugs...always the optimist..;^)

[revenire_1]

Cocaine and treatment?  There you go. You want to live don't you. Shrug.

[susan400]

IF this post is for real and not just somebody playing a joke....

I would say to try to stay away from coke anytime w/having the Hep, not just while you're on treatment.  I'm NOT saying this from a judgmental point of view, I used to be a cocaine addict back in 1983, which was how I ended up contracting the Hep in the 1st place.  I'm saying this because of the strain to your heart is not worth the 5 min. high that it brings.  There are more things in life you can do, which are a lot more healthy and useful and still are fun, than doing drugs.  This is from someone who has been there and has found a better way in life.

Susan

[Bill1954]

Goofy- why, Kaiser sounds like a definite upgrade to my current policy with BCBS of Kabul :o).

BonnieRobin- I’m thrilled to hear you have been able to pull yourself out of the funk you were in earlier this month… I guess it’s something that we just have to work through ourselves. Now you can begin to take action and help influence your health status.
Take good care, Bill.

Scott- It’s been a while since I’ve seen your comments in here- how is life treating you lately?

[missy60051]

I really don't know what to say.  I'm amazed you even had the energy to be out and about partying.
I forget how long you've been on treatment ,but maybe you should keep yourself away from enviorments  that tempt you to do things you know will only harm you physically and emotionally.  I can tell you feel bad.  Leave the room or just go home.  It's hard to change our lifestyles sometimes but we have to find other
things in life that bring us pleasure.
Missy

[revenire_1]

Well, let's just say the sheriff tossed me out of town again.  Heh.  This last time I stayed away because well, I don't really know.  

I'm doing fine. Taking a concoction of things to help the liver and waiting, waiting, waiting.  You know how that is?

How's things with you?

[Bill1954]

Tell the sheriff to stay away until I do this line of coke, OK? Snnnnnggkk. There, that’s better. I’m doing pretty well, Scott; and thanks for asking. Yeah, the waiting game… I know it well. I’m currently on week 37/72 with PEG-Intron (squeezing the vial for ~200 mcg), and 2000 mg/day riba. Sides are still quite tolerable, mostly just nuisance stuff; slight hangover feeling in the AM, dry skin on my hands, and a couple of pesky mouth ulcers. Overall, I could probably continue for quite a while if needed for maintenance purposes. Take care of yourself, Scott—

Bill

[revenire_1]

2000 mikes and 2000 riba?  Wow.  You're a trendsetter Bill.  I used to squeeze every drop of peg out too.  Why not?  It's a fun drug.  

Hope -- pray -- you make it.  This damn disease gets in the way of things.  It's a pesky little virus.

Thanks for the well wishes and the same to you.  If the authorities don't boot me perhaps I will hang around for a time.  I feel like the glue that held Med Help together, lol ... or something.

Adios.

Scott