Re: A query from 1 of our LDN research physicians

[Guest guest]

cut down the drugs and the person might feel better one only needs one ssri- i like cymbalta i've seen some great things --what sleeping meds- try some melatonin -you feel good either if you were on all those drugscyndipsych rnOn Apr 27, 2011, at 8:41 PM, bren_ldn wrote:I have a patient who took interferon with ribavarin for 6 months (for Hepatitis C) and has been depressed, paranoid, even suicidal, on lots of SSRI's plus sleeping meds for the last 6 months since he stopped it. Could you put a query on the list for anyone who has found any kind of antidote to offset the bad effects of interferon? LDN is not helping so far; wonder if there is any known treatment for these apparently well-known side effects of interferon?Posted by for an LDN reasearch physician.

[Guest guest]

Combo treatment triggers all sorts of autoimmune disorders, including celiac/gluten intolerance. It affects the thyroid, can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, vitamin deficiencies, low red/white blood cell counts, heart problems, etc. Reasons why I never did it......

A gluten free diet can help immensely, as can supplements - the "Berkson protocol" of ALA (alpha-lipoic-acid) taken with B complex 100, selenium, and milk thistle can help boost the methylation cycle - and help remove toxins from the body. NAC is very good. Testing and treating any thyroid issues is very important.

Research has been done into the links between gluten sensitivity and Hep C, showing a strong association (especially after interferon therapy).

Conclusions: In hepatitis C patients, the activation of silent celiac disease during interferon treatment is almost universal and should be suspected, but it uncommonly requires interferon treatment discontinuation.

We recommend that all patients be screened for coeliac disease prior to anti-viral treatment. The coeliac autoantibodies should be checked and if any suggestive symptoms are present or if antibodies are positive, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with small bowel biopsies should be considered.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1445-5994.2009.02087.x/full

Nutritional support with a gluten/casein free diet, supplementation, and addressing thyroid issues will hopefully help.

Nola http://nolahepper.blogspot.com/

[low dose naltrexone] A query from 1 of our LDN research physicians

I have a patient who took interferon with ribavarin for 6 months (for Hepatitis C) and has been depressed, paranoid, even suicidal, on lots of SSRI's plus sleeping meds for the last 6 months since he stopped it. Could you put a query on the list for anyone who has found any kind of antidote to offset the bad effects of interferon? LDN is not helping so far; wonder if there is any known treatment for these apparently well-known side effects of interferon?

Posted by for an LDN reasearch physician.