Sounds like the only way those of us with Hep C will get this drug is to start drinking heavily. Just kidding :)
-- Jim
It appears to be an '06 article. Here is some commentary by a fellow who does fibrosis research related to Hep C. I guess "the jury is still out" sums it up, and let's all hope that the results from the animal models translate to us humans.
http://www.nature.com/ncpgasthep/journal/v4/n5/full/ncpgasthep0813.html
Why haven't we heard of this before? Don't know but I bet it has to do with money.
I take gotu kola which is supposed to help dissolve the scar tissue from cirrhoisis.
Thanks for the post.
Thanks for posting this, Deb. I seem to remember HR discussing this at some length… but a quick internal site search didn’t show anything. Does anyone recall this as well?
Bill
Why haven't we heard of this before?
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Because we're not rats, at least I hope none of us are. No human studies to date.
HR talked about "lactulose" a lot, but I forgot in what context. Don't remember him referencing this drug but maybe someone else does.
sometimes i feel like a rat!
well, it just seems so simplistic. this drug has been around for a long time.
deb
Wow, that drug sounds great! I hope it's still be studied and hopefully moved forward so, if all goes well, it can be available for humans ASAP. It does seem amazingly simplistic, doesn't it... but sometimes the most effective solutions are not the most complicated. Let's hope that's the case here!
-Dee
I HAVE HEP C AND ALSO SIRITHIC ARTHIRITIS- I TAKE SALSAMINE ALSO- IT HAS BEEN USED FOR ARTHIRITIS FOR MANY YEARS- THE REASON I TAKE IT IS BECAUSE IT IS THE SAFEST LIVER FRIENDLY ARTHIRITIS DRUG AVAILABLE-HOWEVER I HAVE READ AN ARTICLE IN HEP MAGAZINE THAT THEY STATED THAT ITWILL HELP WITH CIRROUSIS- HOWEVER THEY SAY COFFEE IS ALSO-THIS IS NOT PROBLY EVER GOING TO BE USED FOR CIRROUSIS CURE AS IT IS PRIMARLY A ARTHIRITIS DRUG-W.S.
i would think that with all the arthritic EHM that many face that his med may be RX and considered. however sulfasalazine does present possible undesirable side effects including medication induced hepatitis. labs must be monitored for serum levels and perhaps with liver enzymes if this med would be considered by clinicians.
i believe we all should challenge our docs to consider anti fibrotic therapies besides all the usual good living practices that we have all come to know and cherish. it is definitely another goal to be won in this disease.
Hey, Yes this was disscussed several months ago. I ran across this article and raised it on this forum. HR said that it had been talked about BEFORE then. (jmjm, you were in on this if I remember correctly) His take was that the money it would take to study this existing, old and cheap drug just wasn't there. The BBC ariticle stated that these guys were planning to work on this approach (Mann and Day were thier names I think). I have searched several times but have found nothing. w.s./ So what is your story? How long have you been taking it? How long with hep c? etc.? later,jm
this is old news i remember reading about this some time ago on the UK forum. i wish we would hear more about it, sure would be great news to say the least.
there is also an interesting 2003 article: it provides a list of "candidate substances" which could have some beneficial effect on fibrosis and cirrhosis.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/327/7407/143.pdf
A cheap and readily available drug could reverse severe liver disease, even in patients who find it impossible to give up booze, research suggests.
AWESOME - JACK DANIELS HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
I HAVEBEEN TAKING IT FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS WITH NO SIDES OR OUTGOING DAMAGES-LIKE ALL DRUGS THERE COULD BE DAMAGES BUT AFTER 3 OPINIONS THIS DRUG IS SUPPOSED TO BE FAR SAFEST OF ALL ARTHIRITIS DRUGS AND YES IT IS SAID TO HALT FIBROSIS BUT I TAKE IT FOR ARTHIRIS- MY LEVELS WERE O.K. BUT NOW STOPPED TREATMENT FOR HEP BECAUSE OF AMINEA WHICH I AM TRYING TO CONTROL AND THEN BACK TO TREATMENT-W.S.
Orleans: His take was that the money it would take to study this existing, old and cheap drug just wasn't there.
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Yes, now I somewhat remember the discussion. Thanks.
HR makes a good point about who is going to foot the bill to bring a drug to market that may not have enough profit potential.
Dewar's on the rocks, please. ; ]
Hey Jim-Lactulose was given to my father, who had a stroke, for the purpose of a stool softner? It was used everday and certainly did the trick!
SJL
I emailed a researcher quoted in the article and received this response.....
The work described in the article is entirely at the experimental stage at present, no clinical trials have been done on this drug and therefore it would be entirely inappropriate for anyone to take the drug for liver disease at present. We are hoping to start trials in the next year or so with the prospect of treatment perhaps five or six years off.
Lactulose is a dissacharid (similar to lactose, the sugar from milk), which is not digestable by human enzymes. In the Large Intestine it is metabolized by the symbiotic bacteria to small acids, which react with NH4 (from proteins) to give a salt, which is excreted. Less NH4 enters the blood system and brain. NH4 is one of the important reasons for brain fog, especially in late stages.
Lactulose has no impact on fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Hmm, difficult to explain complicated facts in a foreign language.
the small organnic acids from lactulose bind water and this is the reason to use it as a stool softener. It is a very good factor to improve the quality of the intestinal flora, because Bifidobacteria and Lactobacteria are better L.-metabolizers than Gram-negative (eg. Salomonella).
IT is a great stuff, the most important sides result from the fact, that it is metabolized to gas to :-) especially during the first weeks of treatment, before the flora adapted.
Lactulose has no impact on fibrosis or cirrhosis
Supposing there was evidence that NH4 (ammonia) causes cellular swelling and oxidative damage in the liver. Would you then agree that using lactulose to bind and excrete the NH4 might lessen liver stress and aid the damaged liver in healing?
Hey, Great move e-mailing that guy! I am a little surprised he returned it. Trials in a year huh? This is something worth keeping up with. Being able to reverse damage would be HUGE!! Wish we could poll a lot of heppers that also had arthritis and take sulfasalazine to see how thier livers were responding. w.s. Have you had a bx lately? How long ago? I am sure all would be interested. jerry ps It might not be " appropriate" to take this stuff at this time but heck it also is not "appropriate" to let ones liver to go to hades in a hand basket either!
I nearly always get responses - I guess in the end it's the fart jokes that win 'em over.
You know - since the stuff definitely seems to affect a core aspect of the liver's ability to repair itself (a very integral piece of it's existence), I cn see how it's possibl trials could expose more harmm that good to those with significant damage... who's to say. Yes it seems safe for most folks, but with identified activity within the liver - I'd be inclined to take the conservative approach on that.
HR suggested I loose weight, eat like a liver evangelistt, excersise for an hour+ a day, and give that approach some time before even considering more agressive measures. He correctly points out that there's no risk, and these activities would also benefit all other aspects of my health.
Popping pills sure is easier though.