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Hep C and using marijuana?
I'm in stage 3 liver disease caused by hcv. I didn't know I had it. I'm going to start my second treatment using the newer drugs for genotype 2. This might include pegasys and copegasys. My State allows for medicinal marijuana use for hep c.
I'm really considering using it this time because of all the side effects caused by interferon. I've done research about marijuana and hcv. I know that daily smoking is not good for a decompensated liver. My question is can I use it the first few days after my injection during treatment? Thanks in advance.
John
I'm really considering using it this time because of all the side effects caused by interferon. I've done research about marijuana and hcv. I know that daily smoking is not good for a decompensated liver. My question is can I use it the first few days after my injection during treatment? Thanks in advance.
John
where did you get the vaporizer? i would like to try pot again but would want to either eat it or use a vaporizer. i believe they are very expensive though..although actually now a days i don't know a soul who even uses pot anymore... sadly..
http://hepatitiscresearchandnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2013/07/marijuana-smoking-does-not-accelerate.html#.UdYyTKxu4mw
Abstract
Background. Marijuana smoking is common and believed to relieve many symptoms, but daily use has been associated with liver fibrosis in cross-sectional studies. We aimed to estimate the effect of marijuana smoking on liver disease progression in a Canadian prospective multicenter cohort of human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV) coinfected persons.
Methods. Data were analyzed for 690 HCV polymerase chain reaction positive (PCR-positive) individuals without significant fibrosis or end-stage liver disease (ESLD) at baseline. Time-updated Cox Proportional Hazards models were used to assess the association between the average number of joints smoked/week and progression to significant liver fibrosis (APRI ≥ 1.5), cirrhosis (APRI ≥ 2) or ESLD.
Results. At baseline, 53% had smoked marijuana in the past 6 months, consuming a median of 7 joints/week (IQR, 1–21); 40% smoked daily. There was no evidence that marijuana smoking accelerates progression to significant liver fibrosis (APRI ≥ 1.5) or cirrhosis (APRI ≥ 2; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.02 [0.93–1.12] and 0.99 [0.88–1.12], respectively). Each 10 additional joints/week smoked slightly increased the risk of progression to a clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis and ESLD combined (HR, 1.13 [1.01–1.28]). However, when exposure was lagged to 6–12 months before the diagnosis, marijuana was no longer associated with clinical disease progression (HR, 1.10 [0.95–1.26]).
Conclusions. In this prospective analysis we found no evidence for an association between marijuana smoking and significant liver fibrosis progression in HIV/HCV coinfection. A slight increase in the hazard of cirrhosis and ESLD with higher intensity of marijuana smoking was attenuated after lagging marijuana exposure, suggesting that reverse causation due to self-medication could explain previous results.
Abstract
Background. Marijuana smoking is common and believed to relieve many symptoms, but daily use has been associated with liver fibrosis in cross-sectional studies. We aimed to estimate the effect of marijuana smoking on liver disease progression in a Canadian prospective multicenter cohort of human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV) coinfected persons.
Methods. Data were analyzed for 690 HCV polymerase chain reaction positive (PCR-positive) individuals without significant fibrosis or end-stage liver disease (ESLD) at baseline. Time-updated Cox Proportional Hazards models were used to assess the association between the average number of joints smoked/week and progression to significant liver fibrosis (APRI ≥ 1.5), cirrhosis (APRI ≥ 2) or ESLD.
Results. At baseline, 53% had smoked marijuana in the past 6 months, consuming a median of 7 joints/week (IQR, 1–21); 40% smoked daily. There was no evidence that marijuana smoking accelerates progression to significant liver fibrosis (APRI ≥ 1.5) or cirrhosis (APRI ≥ 2; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.02 [0.93–1.12] and 0.99 [0.88–1.12], respectively). Each 10 additional joints/week smoked slightly increased the risk of progression to a clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis and ESLD combined (HR, 1.13 [1.01–1.28]). However, when exposure was lagged to 6–12 months before the diagnosis, marijuana was no longer associated with clinical disease progression (HR, 1.10 [0.95–1.26]).
Conclusions. In this prospective analysis we found no evidence for an association between marijuana smoking and significant liver fibrosis progression in HIV/HCV coinfection. A slight increase in the hazard of cirrhosis and ESLD with higher intensity of marijuana smoking was attenuated after lagging marijuana exposure, suggesting that reverse causation due to self-medication could explain previous results.
when i went for nurses' class in april ,the nurse said not to use mari. but i think this is for BEFORE treatment not during.i also believe its just WHAT DOC you talk to some dont care where others have a problem with it.you will find all thru this forum where the mari.really helps during treatment,no dr or anthing but i was relaying what info i was told.there's too much backed-up info that says maryjane helps with anxiety and nausea thru any intense treatment.but this is info that the nurse that lectured our class was drilling into ppl.'s heads.i smoke pot if i feel anxious or nauseasated.
Thanks for your comment timothy141. Are there any Doctors, PA's, APRN's, RN's on this forum who could answer our questions? I would like to know how you feel about the subject of Marijuana and HCV with regard to the latest studies in research. I know this is a very polarizing question with regard to the federal govt. being biased against Marijuana as it is listed as a schedule 1 class banned substance.
John
John
Interesting...my research Dr. and the Hepa were both fine with me using but it never occurred to me to ask them for a script. I just took a letter stating my disease to the club doc and got my card.
I know people who will not get a card because they are afraid the Feds will have a record of it and that it may cause future problems. I wouldn't blame a Dr. for being careful One never knows...:)
I know people who will not get a card because they are afraid the Feds will have a record of it and that it may cause future problems. I wouldn't blame a Dr. for being careful One never knows...:)
I have been tiring to get my Dr.'s to write me a script. Neither will do it, and yet they both agree it would be beneficial for dealing with sx. In fact they have no problem with me using MMJ, stating I would not need so many other scripts for stomach, pain and everything else that has come my way.
The thing that I don't understand, knowing they acknowledge the benefit, why they are reluctant to do so.....
It is almost as if there is some fear to do so, which is crazy to me, the Governor here in Nevada just signed the bill making it legal, its obviously beneficial to tx so why not write the script?
The thing that I don't understand, knowing they acknowledge the benefit, why they are reluctant to do so.....
It is almost as if there is some fear to do so, which is crazy to me, the Governor here in Nevada just signed the bill making it legal, its obviously beneficial to tx so why not write the script?
Medical Cannabis rly helped me with the aches and the depression,
during my Treatment, and I did obtain SVR, with my 28 wk tx.
What I did was I quit smoking pot prior to Treating, for 6 weeks, to lower my tolerance. Then, I used a very weak strain (just the leaves) which I started, a few weeks after my Tx began. I used the weak stuff, to avoid a paranoid feeling, because it was rly scary for me to be on these strong meds.
I also have other things I do, for good health: I smoke in the morning, instead of before bed, because when we are sleeping, that's when our internal organs are regenerating.
If I wasn't so lazy, I would go to the Pot-Shop and get one of those handy-dandy vaporizers, like Rivil mentioned above. If you can get to a Pot-Club, they now have contraptions just like the E-ciggys, so you can vape your pot, and thus, you avoid "dry-lung", which would be really great, cuz these meds dry the heck out of us~
Just remember, when-ever we intoxicate, and "get high", there is then a reverse affect, where we go lower than when we started. That is why I feel it is best to take it as a med, at the minimum you will need, to feel comfy.
I used to take my shot at noon, so I would smoke the hour before, and I sometimes completely avoided the acheys, this way~ good luck
during my Treatment, and I did obtain SVR, with my 28 wk tx.
What I did was I quit smoking pot prior to Treating, for 6 weeks, to lower my tolerance. Then, I used a very weak strain (just the leaves) which I started, a few weeks after my Tx began. I used the weak stuff, to avoid a paranoid feeling, because it was rly scary for me to be on these strong meds.
I also have other things I do, for good health: I smoke in the morning, instead of before bed, because when we are sleeping, that's when our internal organs are regenerating.
If I wasn't so lazy, I would go to the Pot-Shop and get one of those handy-dandy vaporizers, like Rivil mentioned above. If you can get to a Pot-Club, they now have contraptions just like the E-ciggys, so you can vape your pot, and thus, you avoid "dry-lung", which would be really great, cuz these meds dry the heck out of us~
Just remember, when-ever we intoxicate, and "get high", there is then a reverse affect, where we go lower than when we started. That is why I feel it is best to take it as a med, at the minimum you will need, to feel comfy.
I used to take my shot at noon, so I would smoke the hour before, and I sometimes completely avoided the acheys, this way~ good luck
Thank you klonny55 :-)
Yes I read this study and it does sound promising that maybe cannabis isn't nearly as bad as the earlier research from 7 to 10 years ago. From what I've read it sure doesn't sound that smoking cannabis or any form of taking it, causes only slightly more damage then occasional use. This study sure sheds more light on the subject of cannabis and HCV.
Yes I read this study and it does sound promising that maybe cannabis isn't nearly as bad as the earlier research from 7 to 10 years ago. From what I've read it sure doesn't sound that smoking cannabis or any form of taking it, causes only slightly more damage then occasional use. This study sure sheds more light on the subject of cannabis and HCV.
I found this March 2013 Canadian study of HIV/HCV coinfected patients. If I'm reading it correctly (I may not be) they found no correlation between cannabis use and fibrosis progression. There was a mention of heavy use and ESLD but it seems they are saying that those with ESLD use heavily for symptom relief and it may not be a cause-effect relationship.
http://www.cocostudy.ca/publications/marijuana-smoking-and-progression-to-liver-fibrosis-cirrhosis-and-end-stage-liver-disease-esld-in-hivhcv-co-infected-individuals/
http://www.cocostudy.ca/publications/marijuana-smoking-and-progression-to-liver-fibrosis-cirrhosis-and-end-stage-liver-disease-esld-in-hivhcv-co-infected-individuals/
I am not sure what study you are referring to but there is one study that was flawed as it included people who also drank alcohol. I think it was a 2003 study.
I will check it out and see if I can come up with anything else.
I appreciate and respect your prudence in this matter. I am (with the exception of pot) hyper vigilante about anything that effects my liver whether it be bleach fumes or processed foods. It is such a necessary and precious organ and it is important to protect it at all costs.
I always felt it was better than taking tylenol or other otc pain relief, but still, back to the studies. I will see what I can find and if you find anything recent pls post it.
All the best, Johhny.
I will check it out and see if I can come up with anything else.
I appreciate and respect your prudence in this matter. I am (with the exception of pot) hyper vigilante about anything that effects my liver whether it be bleach fumes or processed foods. It is such a necessary and precious organ and it is important to protect it at all costs.
I always felt it was better than taking tylenol or other otc pain relief, but still, back to the studies. I will see what I can find and if you find anything recent pls post it.
All the best, Johhny.
Yes I believe light cannabis use during tx would really help thru the rough times especially the first few days after shot. But the latest research shows fibrosis scarring with cannabis use. The studies are getting dated about cannabis use with hcv. Most are mid 2000's. I can't find any new and current
studies about using cannabis and being hcv positive. Does anyone know about newer research that isn't biased for or against? The research is lacking. Thanks for all comments.
studies about using cannabis and being hcv positive. Does anyone know about newer research that isn't biased for or against? The research is lacking. Thanks for all comments.
I am cirrhotic and treated for 24 weeks (trial drugs) and reached SVR.
My Hepa was fine with using it to get through the rough times. I used a vaporizer to save my lungs and used it throughout tx.
The best pain relief available,imo.
My Hepa was fine with using it to get through the rough times. I used a vaporizer to save my lungs and used it throughout tx.
The best pain relief available,imo.
when i was going through treatment my doctor said i could use it for the aches after my shot, it got me through the whole 48 weeks of treatment and i reached SVR. good luck to you. belle
SVR is the main goal. I've read and been told SVR 24 gives a 99% of remaining SVR but still need to check at 1 year since I'm cirrhotic. If I'm still SVR then I do have a 99% chance of remaining SVR.
If your asking, will it effect my chances of becoming SVR. No it won't. Good luck with your treatment..............
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