This Week’s Question

Question: I am about to start interferon therapy. What can I do to help with side effects?

Answer: In my clinic and in many clinics around the United States, we are using a protocol for assisting with interferon/ribavirin therapy. There is very good success with alleviating side effects and apparently helping to improve bone marrow suppression related to both Pegasys and Peg-Intron pegylated interferon therapies.

Another goal of Chinese traditional medicine and CAM during interferon therapy is to help people to continue on as close to full dose therapy of medications as well as not have to discontinue for any time during therapy for side effect reasons. There is sufficient documentation in studies that staying on a least 80% of the interferon and ribavirin dose at least 80% of the time is crucial to sustained viral response (viral clearance at six months).

Body acupuncture and ear acupuncture, also known as auriculotherapy, is highly effective for treating side effects associated with interferon and ribavirin. It is also used when a person is trying simultaneously to reduce or eliminate drugs such as heroin, morphine, cocaine, alcohol and nicotine.

Herbal medicines may be used safely in conjunction with interferon/ribavirin therapy when one uses a qualified licensed acupuncturist and/or herbalist who is familiar with hepatitis C and any contraindications of herbs or herbal formulas.

For those of you who would like a referral to an HCV-certified acupuncture practitioner in your area please download the full list of Hepatitis C Certified Practitioners in a PDF file.