Hep C Side Effects

Posted by Lee on July 19, 1999 at 14:57:55
One of the side effects with the Interferon/Ribavirin treatment for Hep C is hair loss.  How prevalent and to what extent is the hair loss?

Posted by Janet on July 22, 1999 at 11:11:21
I had some hair loss from Intron/A.  Apparently it varies a lot (and most people don't have this side effect).  What happened to me was: after about 3 months on Intron/A, I noticed a lot of hair on my brush.  I didn't SEE the thinning on my head, but the 'shedding' was very noticeable after I washed my hair.
I ended up with a couple of quarter-size 'bald patches' on the sides of my head, easily covered with my hair style.
When I went off the Intron/A, it took about three months for the thinning to stop.  And now two years later, the patches have totally regrown back.
I was only disappointed that it didn't grow back in curly as it did for one other person I know (*grin*).

Posted by Laurie on July 22, 1999 at 17:40:18
I've been on the treatment now for about 11 weeks and my hair is getting THICKER!  Don't know if that'll continue, but I'm not complaining.  Also have lost 10 lbs.  Not complaining about that either.  Colors are more vivid and I can smell better too.  So, along with the bad comes a few good.  

Posted by HFHSM.D.-D.M. on July 25, 1999 at 14:59:01

Dear Lee:
I appreciate your questions and the opportunity to comment on a fairly common side effect of interferon.  Hair loss is common with interferon.  It is difficult for me to give you a exact percentage of patients who experience this problem but it is one of the side effects that I warn patients about.  You also have to appreciate that the severity of this side effect varies enormously form patient to patient.  
In my experience with hair loss (we use the term alopecia) associated with interferon or combination therapy, a couple of points stand out.  One is that patients tend to feel their hair loss is more noticeable than individuals around them including me, the physician.  In addition, the hair typically grows back.  We often will evaluate our patients on interferon who have hair loss for thyroid dysfunction because thyroid problems are seen with interferon and they can cause hair loss.  Finally, if patients are very bothered by the hair loss, I sometimes suggest they consider Rogaine (topical minoxidil) though I do not have evidence that this is effective.  
I appreciate Laurie