Re: HCV and painkillers

Posted By R.J. on November 17, 1998 at 08:44:17:

In Reply to: HCV and painkillers posted by Richard on November 16, 1998 at 17:40:42:






In reference to a recent inquiry you answered for me (test results and painkillers), you asked me where I heard that ibupropen and NSAIDS could be bad for HCV patients.  I'm enclosing the page where I learned that info along with the URL.  
Thank you for your answer to my question.   Richard
Subject:
        HEPC INFO: OTC Medications Can Cause Problems For Hepatitis C Patients
   Date:
        27 Oct 1998 13:41:33 -0000
   From:
        HEP C INFO
     To:
        List Member

HEP C INFO - http://hepatitis-central.com/vikki.html
OTC Medications Can Cause Problems For Hepatitis C Patients
HERSHEY, PA -- Sept. 16, 1998 -- Patients with chronic hepatitis C often
take the over-the-counter non-steroidal drug Ibuprofen, otherwise known as
Motrin or Advil, to combat joint pain that often accompanies the disease.
However, even a low dose could lead to unsuspecting liver damage.
"Patients frequently suffer from joint pain. Often, even physicians will
prescribe ibuprofen when they should prescribe Tylenol," explained Thomas
Riley, III, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Penn State's College
of Medicine. "The correct recommendation to help the patient is a low dose
of Tylenol, about two grams per day. That means the patient can take one
extra strength Tylenol -- 500 mg -- every six hours or take two every 12
hours."
Riley and his colleagues describe three cases in an article published in
this months issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
In each of these three cases the patients have hepatitis C and took
over-the-counter ibuprofen. After doing so they all had a flare-up of
their hepatitis.
"Many physicians don't want to prescribe Tylenol because it has a
reputation of causing liver damage. As long as it is prescribed in the low
doses we have discussed it is definitely the best treatment," explained
Riley, who is also the medical director for the liver transplant program
at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center of the Penn State Geisinger Health
System.
He said where patients with chronic hepatitis C usually have mild
elevations in their liver enzymes in the blood, after taking the
over-the-counter Ibuprofen these patients experience a 10-fold rise in
their enzymes, suggesting significant liver injury.
He added that if too much medication is taken the patient risks speeding
up the process of going from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis of the liver.
Riley said that about four million Americans are infected with hepatitis
C.
"Many patients can live with hepatitis for perhaps 50 years. However, if
too much of the wrong medication is taken or if the patient consumes a lot
of alcohol, the process from hepatitis to cirrhosis can speed up," Riley
said.
This articles focuses on three cases. Riley said further study is needed
of a large group of patients with hepatitis C to determine perhaps an even
better approach to this growing problem.




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