Medical Marijuana Boosts Hepatitis C Treatment in New Study

[Cobalt Violet]

Medical Marijuana Boosts Hepatitis C Treatment in New Study

http://www.freetheplant.org/blog/medical-cannabis/medical-marijuana-boosts-hepatitis-c-treatment-in-new-study/


A new study from the University of California, San Francisco, just published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, suggests that medical marijuana boosts the success of treatment for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Untreated HCV can lead to liver failure and death, but in the new study, marijuana users being treated for HCV were three times more likely to have a "sustained virological response" — i.e. HCV could not be detected six months after they completed treatment.

While extensive research has shown that marijuana can provide symptom relief, this is believed to be the first published study linking marijuana to improved cure rates for a life-threatening illness.

<snip>

Overall, 54 percent of marijuana users had a sustained virological response, compared to only 18 percent of non-users. The study was published alongside a commentary by a separate team of Canadian researchers describing the evidence that marijuana relieves debilitating side effects of treatment for HCV, cancer and AIDS, and calling for patients to be "legally permitted" to use it.

<snip>

"This is a landmark study, showing that medical marijuana can literally save lives," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "Every day that our government continues punishing the sick for using this medicine is literally a crime against humanity."




I know this is several months old but it hasn't been posted at DU before. I think it is important. We need to get our drug policies up to this century.

Link to the abstract:http://www.eurojgh.com/pt/re/ejgh/abstract.00042737-200610000-00005.htm;jsessionid=FL9LTVyjTKSZsy5WJxLvjGPhtLn1V17sjx94DThQ1nvDlg1Kv6Yx!135410792!-949856145!8091!-1?index=1&database=ppvovft&results=1&count=10&searchid=1&nav=search

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[halobeam]

1. Wow....

I feel like an idiot. Why the hell didn't I think of this when one of the greatest people in my life went through a NIGHTMARE treatment of Ribovarin and Interferon?!!! He had to STOP the treatment because of the side effects after 18 months of torture. He's so afraid to even check his viral count because if need be, he knows (he thinks he knows) that he'd NOT take the treatment again. Are the states that allow medical marijuana specifically allowing for it only for cancer and AIDs patients being treated, and not for Hep. C patients? Or is that up to the doctor, in those states? I'd be interested to know.

[Cobalt Violet]

2. From the same article read this.

"San Francisco patient Brian Klein, 48, (not a participant in the study) credits medical marijuana for enabling him to be successfully cured of HCV in his second attempt at treatment, in 2003-4. "One of the main reasons treatment succeeded was that I was able to stay on my medications," he said. "The first time I tried treating my HCV, in 2001, the nausea was so bad I couldn’t even keep water down, and I had to stop after two months. Medical marijuana allowed me to successfully treat my hepatitis C and clear the virus."

Maybe your friend should consider that. I am look at a future that include the nightmare treatment too. His viral load may not be an indication of how damaged his liver is from my understanding.

I was researching last night about states and came up with this.
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3391

Many states are open to other conditions. I don't know what state your friend is in. I'm in Massachusetts and we have no medical marijuana but Maine does. We need a national policy.

[halobeam]

5. thanks for the info....

I'll pass it on. We are in NY, oh well. Yes, this needs to be nationwide. It's cruel by any other means not to have this avail. for people who can not tolerate their treatment and have to stop it. It ABSOLUTELY cuts down on cure rate when they prematurely stop treatment. It's a no brainer for lay-persons.. but for this country? It's just plain COLD.

[Cobalt Violet]

6. Your state may have pending legislation.

I haven't looked into it so I don't know. My state does but who knows if it will pass. If it does, I want HCV people to be included.

[madrchsod]

3. i know someone who has uses grass to alleviate

his hep c,although it does`t rid his body it does lessen the severity of the disease. it also works wonders on effects of menopause

[Cobalt Violet]

4. It's not a cure itself.

But it can make adherence to the treatment regiment more tolerable, which affects the cure rate. If it can improve the cure rate it should be allowed. Many people with Hep C use it to relieve symptoms of the disease itself too.

I don't know about menopause but if it works for even just some people it should also be allowed.

[Marrak]

7. Great Study...Bad "war"

Conclusions: Our results suggest that modest cannabis use may offer symptomatic and virological benefit to some patients undergoing HCV treatment by helping them maintain adherence to the challenging medication regimen.