Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

what medicines are bad for hep c patients?

I have been recently been diagnosed with hep c. I have chronic pain problems (back injury) and I take Norco (hydrocodone and Tylenol) for pain. Is this ok? What are some meds that should be avoided. Thanks!!
16 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I have severe constipation is there any thing I can use or take over the counter I've have hep c any been searching for some relief I don't see my doctor for 2 more months
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi hippiegem
I am trying to go off my antidepressant for my biopsy( they can cause bleeding I was told)
I take WELLBUTRIN for over 20 years
I think they lower atlett count
Am trying to go off because TX can lower platelet count too

You referenced antidepressant being toxic to liver is this what you meant?
Thank you !!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What about the AD's that are needed to counter the neropsychiatric effects of Peg? I go w/what rx'd by my hep doc. No vit supplements at this time however.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I'm corenthia.
I just found out i have hep c n found my liver counsre are normal.. at thi moment i want to take vitamins n tea. To keep my liver normal. . I suffer for its symtoms like being tired n sore musles but i want to feel.like i don't have this diease.I'm only 24.. wat is ok n not...
Helpful - 0
233616 tn?1312787196
nexium not helping...if it was only excess stomach acid in a few days you should see improvement.
however,many people are misdiagnosed with stomach acid who have a blockage in their liver, gall bladder, or common duct.
Busy docs just guess the cause half the time...based on what most people have...hate to say that...but it's true....often one size fits all fill their worn out diagnostic skills.

If a stone forms in a bile duct in the liver, or in the gall bladder matters not, what matters is when and where does that stone lodge. If a small stone lodge in the liver, the liver can adapt around it by forming new vessels for a long time, same with stones in the gall bladder, they can be there a long time, of come out and get stck in the bile duct, but not be immediately life threatening. Many times these will pass to the colon without issues.

However the one exception is if the stone gets caught in what is called the "common bile duct" or below it, at the sphincter of Oddi.
In this case the quarts of bile your liver makes every day cannot pass into the colon.
Instead, they back up into both the liver/gall bladder, AND into the pancrease.

The reason this matters is because the pancrease doesn't like bile, on top of which it secrets large amounts of calcium each day to aide in digestion.
When these secretions cannot come out due to a block in the common duct, you can end up with your body digesting it's own pancreas, and it doesn't take long to happen.

So ditto the above, forget the stomach acid for now, find out if there is a blockage causing the pancreatitis and make that your goal from morning until evening every day until you get an answer.
I'm just amazed how many people are told they have acute pancreatitis, and not told what may be causing it, nor given the proper testing but sent home with antacids when he may be dying..
GRR.....it irks me. What tests have they done on you?  Have they done an ultra sound or a HIDAscan. Do you still have your gall bladder?
mb
Helpful - 0
315996 tn?1429054229
smaller meals. protein embedded carbohydrates. don't overtax the liver so it can spend it's energy fighting the virus, not a crazy diet. all things in moderation. sheez, I sound like a yogi.

Signed,
Yogi Scratchinanda
Helpful - 0
408795 tn?1324935675
I forgot to leave the link that talks about hcv replication due to morphine derivitive drugs.  I would think that there's a whole bunch of drugs that replicate the virus, so as you are already having the viral load problem.  I don't think you would want to complicate it even further.  Best to check with your doctor.  good luck

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1868275
Helpful - 0
146021 tn?1237204887
I think Portann is right, look into something besides the Nexium as to why he's feeling worse. Maybe the pancreatitis just isn't being controlled by the Nexium.
Good luck,
Bug
Helpful - 0
408795 tn?1324935675
I think everything HepC or related is highly individualistic by the nature of the disease.  Most ppl can take vicodin, oxycontin etc.  I can't and I haven't even tried for years b/c I know if I do, for one thing I will get hooked to the gills and besides it makes me nauseas.  I'm not talking about dope sick, I'm talking about liver sick.  Anyways, opiates make the viral load replicate, so the thing about opiates like vicodin is if you can handle them and you don't have much liver damage, they may be ok to take.  Steroids and other types of drugs in that group are just bad period.  Of course it depends on your medical history and alot of other factors.  The last thing I will say is that some doctors believe that vicodin are ok in moderation, and some say absolutely not.  Some don't know any better, so you need to pay attention to all your symptoms if you get any when taking pain medications.  God Bless    
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
To Trm,

What needs to be done is figure out why the Nexium appears to be making him worse, if that's the case. You've linked this together as a cause and effect but perhaps something else is going on or perhaps there's an adjustment period or perhaps he's not taking it according to directions. I'm sure (or hope) the doctor can offer an alternative.

There are many everyday things that are more toxic to us than prescription medicine, if taken properly and in moderation. And this is true whether we have HCV or not. I wouldn't sweat the HCV right now - unless the doctor has sounded alarm bells - but rather focus on the acute pancreatitis.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oral antidiabetic agents (therapy for type 2 diabetes).  

Hippygem should have added that those who have insulin resistantance and do not take antidiabetic agents decrease their chances of SVR considerably in addition to jeapordizing their health due to complications from untreated type 2 diabetes.



Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The list that starts this thread is highly misleading and really doesn't further our collective health as those who have or who have had HCV.

As "HCA" said, virtually all meds have a warning for those with liver disease. As a side note, very few medications were limited by my liver specialist before I treated and really none are limited after SVR.

Back to the list. One example are "lipid lowering drugs". Not only do most liver specialists now believe they are safe to take, but in fact they may even help kill of the virus.

I hate when I see this particular list posted again and again because it's more misinformation than information.


-- Jim
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HCA
As I said to someone else here today-virtually all medications have a warning to avoid use with liver disease and if we adhered to this no one with Hep C would be able to take anything!
Nexium for acid reflux is perfectly safe.If they are not working tell the doctor.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Nexium is fine.  I was prescribed nexium for inflammation of the esophagus and a hiatal hernia by my doctor who is treating me for hepc.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi my husband has chronic Hep C and he has just been told tohat he is suffering from acute pancreatitis. He has been prescribed Nexium tablets to help with vomiting but they seem to be making him worse. I checked the internet but couldnt find any information as to whether or not Nexium was OK to be taken while having Hep C. Any ifo (no matter how small) would be a great help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi mick
Welcome to the forums.

Many people with hepatitis C also suffer from other illnesses or disorders which require them to take medications. Many medications both prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be quite toxic to the liver (see list below).
The author notes that for example; taking paracetamol (acetaminophen in the USA) on an empty stomach or with alcohol can be harmful.
Eating regularly will help avoid this as well as help you absorb any other medications or supplements you are taking. But, if you are in pain, paracetamol is the best option with a safe dosage being 500mg four times a day or 2g daily (Riley, 2001 - part 1).


List of Toxic Medications:

• Muscle relaxants.
• Psychotropics (a drug which alters the mind) e.g. antidepressants.
• Anticonvulsants (a drug or agent that prevents or reduces the severity of convulsions).
• Lipid-lowering drugs.
• Oral antidiabetic agents (therapy for type 2 diabetes).
• Estrogens are any of various steroid hormones developing and maintaining female characteristics of the body; this hormone produced artificially for use in oral contraceptives etc.
• Anabolic steroids are any of a group of synthetic steroid hormones used to increase muscle size.
• Antituberculous agents (Riley, 2001 – part 1).


Hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver) Vitamins and Supplements:
Many vitamins and supplements can cause damage to the liver depending on the dose. One study in the USA found that up to one third of the patients in a liver clinic used herbal remedies. One of the most hepatotoxic vitamins is Vitamin A and anyone taking vitamin A supplements should be aware that doses higher than 25,000 IU (international units) per day may be dangerous. Most multivitamin preparations contain 4,000 IU vitamin A, which is well within the safety range. One of the few supplements which has been shown to be beneficial to the liver but without any toxic effects is Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) and there is no evidence of toxicity related to the pure form of milk thistle. It is known to protect cells in our liver that is not damaged (Riley, 2001 – part 1).


List of Toxic Vitamins, Supplements and Herbal Remedies:

• Amanita species – wild mushrooms.
• Asafetida – plant, comes in powder, tablet or oil form.
• “Bush” Herbal teas
• Chaparral – The active ingredient of chaparral is a potent antioxidant.
• Comfrey - is an important herb in organic gardening, having many medicinal and fertiliser uses.
• Echinacea - The above ground parts of the plant and roots of echinacea are used fresh or dried to make teas squeezed (expressed) juice, extracts, or preparations for external use. There are 9 known species. Used in various herbal remedies.
• Gentian - their roots were harvested for the manufacture of tonic liquor, also used as flavouring, for example in ‘bitters’.
• Germander or Teucrium – has garlic like aroma, is a genus of perennial plants, of the family lamiageae, used as a herb.
• Iron - Patients with chronic liver disease tend to accumulate excessive iron amounts in their liver parenchyma. 30% of patients with liver disease have high serum iron levels and 10% have excessive amounts of iron in their liver tissue.
• Jin bu huan tablets - is a traditional Chinese herbal product used as a sedative and analgesic.
• Mistletoe - for treating circulatory and respiratory system problems, and cancer.
• Nicotinic acid (niacin; Nicolar) - is a form of vitamin B. Niacin is available over the counter as vitamin B3.
• Pennyroyal oil – Comes in oil form or tea. Can cause serious liver and kidney problems.
• Senna fruit extracts - is used as a laxative.
• Valerian - has uses in herbal medicine as a sedative.
• Vitamin A - Consuming less than 25,000 IU is recommended and most multivitamins contain 4,000 IU which is within safety range. If you are taking multi vitamins, vitamin A might already be included in this, make sure that you are under the recommended limit (Riley, 2001 – part 1).
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.