Some 33 percent of hepatitis C patients in a small study developed depression as a result of taking the drug interferon.
Depression had previously been identified as a possible side effect of the drug, which is used to treat adult leukemia, certain cancers and hepatitis B, along with liver-disease hepatitis C virus (HCV).
In the study of 39 HCV-infected patients who were treated with interferon, 13 developed depression brought on by the drug. Of those people, 11 were successfully treated with antidepressants.
Investigators found that depressive symptoms tended to develop after six to 22 weeks of interferon therapy.
Molecular Psychiatry 2002;7:942-947
No news here as I posted an article over 4.5 years ago documenting this association.
I don't recommend interferon for anyone. Yes, it is a natural substance and should be "safer" than unnatural substances, but when you force natural substances into the body that go beyond the body's ability to regulate levels through sophisticated mechanisms and interplay you can run into enormous potential complications.
I have successfully treated a number of patients with viral and non-viral hepatitis without drugs or many supplements.
Recently I learned that it is imperative to evaluate iron levels when treating just about any type of hepatitis. The best test to screen for this is a serum ferritin, but a percent transferring saturation is also useful.
If one has elevated iron levels the best way to reduce it is to donate your blood. You can read more about how to diagnose and monitor iron overload by reviewing the article I wrote last issue.
While we certainly need minerals, there are large numbers of people who would benefit from lowering their iron levels. Most of these individuals are men, or women who have stopped menstruating for some time. Children and menstruating women rarely have iron overload problems.
IP6 works to remove iron; it has worked very well for my father who I recently diagnosed with hemorchromatosis (very high iron levels).
You can also read my comments from a previous article on additional supplements that are useful in treating hepatitis C.
Optimizing the immune system by following the nutrition plan is another essential element of treatment. Additionally, energetic rebalancing techniques are profoundly helpful in restoring immune function. My favorite of these techniques is EFT. You can review my free, 25-page report on how to do EFT, however, serious emotional challenges, such as depression mentioned in the above article, are best treated with a trained EFT therapist. To find a therapist near you, review Gary Craig's EFT Practitioner Referrals. For a more in-depth look at EFT on your own, I offer my EFT Series on DVD and VHS.
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