My little brother took this as a 5,6,and 7 year old in 1969, 1970, 1971 for atention deficeit disorder or ADD.

 They said it acted as a calming effect on his condition. I can't comment on it's long term side effects. Next time I saw it (1980) junkies were mixing it and injecting it as a booster to coke and speed, as it had the opposite effect on adults.

I'm not trying to scare you, just telling you what I've experienced. 

P.S. Those damn 70"s, Hep c survivor.

margie wrote:

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Has anyone ever taken Ritalin for the extreme fatigue?

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 certainly it will give you energy. but a false energy. and be careful, coz next day you will be doubly fatigued coz the ritalin will give you that false buzz, and you will pay for it.

yup. its called 'poor mans speed' over here. too many people hooked on the crap.

Ritalin is not for fatigue, it's for ADD and ADHD.It's really nothing more than pharmaceutical grade speed. I've never heard of a Dr. prescribing it for a liver patient with fatigue from hep c treatment, seems kinda counterproductive to me.

Hi Lorna, just the same as with the other thread you commented on....this is still the same thread, there just haven`t been any more replies posted since I moved it here to "General Discussion" from the area where it was originally posted.  Sometimes we move threads to this area when the conversation becomes more generalised. 

Sorry for the confusion, and as I said in my earlier reply, maybe in future it would be better if we (the admin team) just moved a thread without commenting on it. 

Hope that makes sense!  Please feel free to post on here ~ Jill  xx

when someone movers stuff to general discussion how do you find it?

Moving this to "General Discussion".    Jill xx

Karen wrote:

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Little info on B-12 (Methylcobalamin  - Common form is Cyanocobalamin (yes cyanide). The body must convert the Cyanocobalamin (which cannot be used by the body) to a form of vitamin B12 that body can use which is Methylcobalamin. It is harder to convert-less is absorbed in older adults.  According to my doc and the pharmacist-if you are unable to get the Methyl form-you may be best to pass on taking B12 w/liver disease.

What is NADH?  Posted below;)

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@Karen,    I'll be forever in your debt for originally recommending me the NADH;   it did give me a pick-me-up that I thought not possible. 

 Here's what I use & an order link:

Methyl B-12, 5000 mcg

http://www.iherb.com/Jarrow-Formulas-Methyl-B-12-5000-mcg-60-Lozenges/117

NADH

http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals-ENADA-NADH-5-0-mg-30-Tablets/4855

Little info on B-12 (Methylcobalamin  - Common form is Cyanocobalamin (yes cyanide). The body must convert the Cyanocobalamin (which cannot be used by the body) to a form of vitamin B12 that body can use which is Methylcobalamin. It is harder to convert-less is absorbed in older adults.  According to my doc and the pharmacist-if you are unable to get the Methyl form-you may be best to pass on taking B12 w/liver disease.

What is NADH?  Posted below;)

What is NADH?

I take subligual B12 3000mg 2 in the am and pm.  It helps not a miracle..

Subligual B-12 3000mg you take as many as you need per my Dr anyway.

shorty213 wrote:

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Thanx mary jane and phil. I did ask my doctor to reduce and said no. she did put me on disability but it is barely going to cover rent let alone my 3 kids and wife and as sole income thats a lot on my plate. As far as sx. I could not focus, very weak and unforgiving supervisor despite knowing im om meds!. Anyways any info helps and thank for your replys

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 You're welcome.. If you look around on here some of the folks posted that their doc's did a reduced meds strategy.. You should contact your State Senator and Govenor's office and discuss ' why employer has no compassion for the next HEALTH concern to hit the baby boomers... fingers crossed you research and find some answers.. There alot of HEALTH tips like Vit.D & Vit. B1-2 .. Knowledge is power weild the sword and slay the Dragon...

Take whatever assistence you can get and get well ...your kids only have 1 DAD ..& your wife 1 husband......  I just don't get why there isn't more $ and concern for this major health issue... Brain fog , ADD, so tired I can't  get out of bed and I haven't begun treatment..

Best to you and your family stay connected ... you are not  alone..

Stephanie MJ

Hey Shorty .. IMO  I don't think it's ever a good idea to stop treatment , unless something really bad health wise is preventing you from doing so, especially if you are responding to the treatment.  Have you looked into a " Temporary Disability " option to help with your financial situation?  I do understand ..somebody's gotta pay the bills..

Hopefully some of the other Guru's on here can pitch in with some advice ..

Best of luck MJ aka Stephanie

Hey Shorty. That's a personal decision, and a tough one. I don't have any info one way or the other about SVR after 14 weeks. I am still waiting to find out after 28 weeks on vic. I guess it depends on what kind of sx's are you having and what kind of work you do. I managed to work thru it, but I also work in an office. My main sx was related to the anemia. My riba was reduced at 17 weeks, and that improved on that a lot. Is that an option for you to keep on going? Maybe peg too if necessary? What does your doctor say about it? He/she may offer some options. We may not have all the answers, but you're in the right place.

Dry mouth could be treated by Biotene products - Moisturizing mouth spray, dry mouth oral rinse and toothpaste

Karen wrote:

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Hi Tim,

(Laughing) Please, no need for an apology-no offense taken.   Wanted to make sure you felt safe feeling 20 again

 

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 LOL, I don't even feel safe feeling 40 again...but I'm willing to give it a shot!

Hi Tim,

(Laughing) Please, no need for an apology-no offense taken.   Wanted to make sure you felt safe feeling 20 again

Karen,

I apologize if my "over-the-top" metaphoric style may have offended you, I wasn't suggesting that there was anything questionable about the NADH, I just have gotten sceptical about the availability of drugs and/or remedys for treatment of pain, mood, well being etc. that actually work.    I often reflect on the folly of the FDA and efforts by the DEA, that in the end result, actually prove to be counterproductive.   

Thanks for the information, I found an NADH product on iherb.com that may be worth trying:

http://www.iherb.com/Source-Naturals-ENADA-NADH-5-0-mg-30-Tablets/4855

 Hi Karen, and everyone, I`ve suffered from C.F.S./M.E. for many years, and fatigue and low energy is something I`ve had to learn to deal with on a daily basis.   NADH is one of the things I`ve found to be useful for an occasional energy boost too. (Though while I was on tx I only took multi-vits, as advised by my Hep C nurse.)

Hi there Shorty, well done for getting your first shot done!  Sorry you had a bad night but try not to worry, your shots should be a lot easier from now on.  Best of luck!  

~  Jill xx

no idea what ndah is (haha my memory cant even remember those letters in the right order. jeez brain fog to the max)

pick me up huh. i wish. to be honest i have a puff of weed now and then, i find if im gonna be screwed over, hey, may as well be screwed over in style.... seems to help. if nothing other than distracting me for a couple of hours.

as for anything else, i used to do a lot of drugs. dont want to go down that road ever again, but oh to dabble and have a day of energy. priceless.

thats been by far the worst thing for me. no fuel in my tank. i just had to help push start a mates car, flat battery. its on a hill. no worries i thought. jeez i was lucky to push it 10 metres and im leaning over puffed out. lucky another mate happened to see us and he came by and said ''i'll do it''' yay. cheers bro.

yeh, no energy. go with it. sleep. stop fighting it. if its gonna happen, no amount of arguing in your head will make it better. its real.

thats my experience anyways. da little kiwi. x

(<sigh> What I wouldn't give for some kind of  pick-me-up .   Is there anything that is actually legal, non-addictive and won't destroy your mind or internal organs that will do a "pick-me-up"?)

NADH is legal, non-addictive and will not destroy anything I know.  I just use it when absolutely needed. Therefore, I have no real concerns. You can find it in MOST "health food" stores....

NADH stands for "nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) + hydrogen (H)." This chemical occurs naturally in the body and plays a role in the chemical process that generates energy. 

NADH is used for improving mental clarity, alertness, concentration, and memory; as well as for treating Alzheimers disease. Because of its role in energy production, NADH is also used for improving athletic endurance and treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Some people use NADH for treating jet lag, depression, boosting the immune system; opposing alcohols effects on the liver; reducing signs of aging; and protecting against the side effects of AIDs drugs.

-- Edited by Karen on Sunday 22nd of July 2012 12:53:10 PM

Karen wrote:

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@kiwi (anyone got any ideas on how to combat the tiredness...??)

I am speaking from someone NOT on treatment but w/Hep C.  When I need a pick-me-up or am dealing with brain fog I take 5 to 10 mg of NADH...works like a charm.  Be careful...I have trouble sleeping on the days I take it...Makes me feel like I am in my 20's when I could go all night long..

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<sigh> What I wouldn't give for some kind of  pick-me-up .   Is there anything that is actually legal, non-addictive and won't destroy your mind or internal organs that will do a "pick-me-up"?

@kiwi (anyone got any ideas on how to combat the tiredness...??)

I am speaking from someone NOT on treatment but w/Hep C.  When I need a pick-me-up or am dealing with brain fog I take 5 to 10 mg of NADH...works like a charm.  Be careful...I have trouble sleeping on the days I take it...Makes me feel like I am in my 20's when I could go all night long..

it shouldnt be so bad next week. the first shot can be notoriously bad for some of us. i know i had a backache from hell and just felt real bad.

it gets better tho. hang in there matey.

John William wrote:

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ITCHIES, SORES, LESIONS, RASHES

Has anybody tried Betaderm Cream  0.1% and if so how were the results?

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 Okay!! so I got the above mentioned cream the same day and have been applying 2X/day for 1 week now. I am satisfied that it works very well to relieve my "Itchies". As of today the rash is still present but less by 50% and the sores have become lessened by 40%.

I have taken before and after pictures but when I upload them they seem to take up two pages.    

thanks randy. yeh ive had 4 weeks off work over christmas/summer but i go back on monday... ive been so bloody tired, and yet not sleeping well either... yeh the ol body sure tells ya you need to rest eh... and yeh ive felt guilty too, but coming round to the fact my house might fall round around me, but i guess thats something i can deal with after i finish this treatment...  i live by myself, so sometimes i come home from work and just crash... ah well. stayin stubborn..

cheers.... :)

Hi Kiwi, I had sleep problems going into tx so I was dragging butt all the time once the meds kicked in. I had a script for 10 mg Ambien prior to tx and still use it today. I find 10 mg too strong so I break in half - saves me some money on the script this way too.
I worked during tx and did little else. I was lucky my wife was around to do most of the chores. I did some stuff of course, but for the first time in my life I never watched so much tv, took naps, and lazed around. Felt guilty about it at first but basically the body on treatment is telling you to rest. Your red blood count is down and the ol oxygen just isn't getting around like it used to.
Wish I could be more helpful.
Randy

anyone got any ideas on how to combat the tiredness...??

Subscribed- great thread, just "what the doctor ordered"!   

...I'll be starting the 3x treatment in March, hope I can keep a sense of humor about it all.

John...haven't tried that cream and now that I only have 1 shot left....but 2 weeks of riba left...my skin is terribly itchy and I have rashes all over my back.  I haven't experienced the rash until just this week! Although, my skin has been extremely dry through the whole treatment.  Maybe I will search for that cream!

ITCHIES, SORES, LESIONS, RASHES

Has anybody tried Betaderm Cream  0.1% and if so how were the results?

I probably should have clarified that better Innerview. You're correct that Tylenol is not good on your liver and the nurse and docs did tell me that. Ibuprofen, or any other drug for that matter, also has to go through the liver and should be avoided if possible. What this particular nurse told me, is if I was really miserable and felt I just had to take something, Tylenol was a bit easier on the liver than Ibuprofen. Not sure if this is true or not - just taking her word.

She also suggested that If I did feel I need to take something, to just try one pill instead of two (the ones I had were 500 mg). I actually seldom took them because of the effect it can have on the liver - I had to be pretty miserable. If I was real achy the day or two after my shot, I would try the one and that usually did the trick. Some weeks during tx I maybe did 3-5 Tylenols, but I'd say most weeks I only took 1-2 or even none towards the end.

But you are right, if at all possible, don't do any, and ask your doc just to make sure.

Thanks for pointing this out,
Randy

Starting today on Telaprivar.

5th time on interferon - 3rd with ribravirin.

Thanks for the anti-itch talk!

innerview wrote:

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Nice thread. Thanks guys for the posts.
@hep me... I've heard before of nurses recommending Tylenol but I thought that was the last thing you wanted to take, as it is toxic to the liver. Do you have any info on why they recommend it?

thanks!

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I'm no doctor but I'll share with you what my doc told me about that.   Tylenol can indeed be problematic for the Hep C liver but, depending on the state of your specific liver, small amounts of tylenol can be okay.  For example, my liver biopsy revealed that my liver is at stage 2 fibrosis and stage 2 inflamation.  Both my internist and my gastro doc (who has extensive training in hepatology as well) advised me that I could take a couple of tylenol per day if needed.  This would probably not be the same advice doc would give to stage 4 liver. The thing about tylenol is that it is not easily metabolized by the liver; it can accumulate and thus produce toxicity depending on the dose and the liver.

I cannot, however, take aspirin due to my reduced platelets.  So, I think this is a question we must pose to our own doctors who can advise us based on our individual bodies.

Thanks everyone for their helpful replies.  You never know when it will make that difference for someone else.  I've read some good ones here that sure helped me.

Great thread!!  Will make it a 'Sticky' so it stays at the top of this Forum.

Regards to all and all the best for 2012!!  

Hugs

Heather xxx

I agree, great idea for a thread Sheri and welcome to the forum. Note: I did not have side effects as bad as a lot of folks describe. I did the two drug combo in 2011.

Rash and itching - I mostly used Aveeno anti-itch body lotion. Avoided scratching the itch areas if I could and instead rubbed this cream onto the area. Rubbed it on kind of aggressively to sort of take the place of scratching without digging in with my nails. I did try the oatmeal baths a few times when it got real bad and that seemed to help too. After baths and showers I rubbed handfuls of the anti itch lotion on.

Dry eyes - I used something called Tera Tears. Seemed to work pretty good.

Injection site - Tried first shot in leg. Didn't like that as I think I got it in muscle instead of fat. Did the rest of my shots in the "love handle" area above my waistline as per forum member suggestions. Injecting the PegIntron slow (over 6-10 seconds) seemed to lessen the bruise and soreness at the injection site.

Fatty foods - I was told by the pharmacy nurse to eat something with fat content with the riba, I think it's fat soluble. I usually had one with my breakfast and the other 12 hours later with a Greek yogurt, fruit and granola bar type snack.

Water - It's mentioned in practically every other post on this forum. Helps with dry skin, eyes, flushing out the system. I carried a 20 oz water bottle everywhere I went and guess I probably drank between one and two gallons per day during tx.

Nausea - I again, was pretty lucky in this area. I avoided foods that just didn't sound or taste good, some were my favorite recipes. Ate a lot of fruit and veggies, salads.

Mood swings - I had been using meditation for a few years prior to all this and it seemed to help me in a lot of ways during tx. I didn't always sit cross-legged with my palms up on my knees - more often I just sat in a chair or laid on the sofa for a bit and thought pleasant thoughts while doing the deep breathing. Also did not drink any coffee or anything with caffeine during tx.  Probably could have used an AD during tx, found myself apologizing a lot.

Pain meds - Started out taking Ibuprofen such as Advil for muscle cramps, headaches, but the nurse said it is better to take Tylenol if possible. Both drugs worked for me so from then on I did the Tylenol if I needed it.

Randy

What a great thread Sheri!

NAUSEA- eat small amounts and eat more often, yogurt, fruits, veggies, dairy based products, Presciption Ondansetron (generic name) or Zofran (may need stool softner) take all prescriptions with lots & lots of water and just after food, ginger or pepermint tea.

IINJECTION SITE - rotate thighs, butt, tummy = 6 sites. Use non-alcohol cleanser prior to injection, keep injection sites moisterized.

DRY ITCHIES - Sponge bath with low PH soaps (Johnsons Baby Bath & Body wash), luke warm water, pat dry, Aveeno Anti Itch Moisterizer. .5% over the counter Cortisone cream for spots. Still shower just not every day right now! LOL

RIBA RAGE - (depression) Prescription - Cymbalta,

Non Prescription - HEP C DISCUSSION FORM and the awesome people that make it up!!!!

I'm into week 6 now and thought I'd share a few things that have helped me.  Sort of a "favorite things" list for side effects.  Would love to read other people's favorites too.

1)  Rash and Itching:   Aveeno oatmeal bath, benadryl topical cream (extra strength), claritin oral (for those who do not tolerate oral benadryl).  All of the above are available OTC;  Also, cut fingernails very short.  Wear lightweight gloves if necessary and rub lightly don't scratch if absolutely necessary.  My rash was over 90% of body by day 3 and now only small patches ocassionally.

2) Nausea (& Vomiting): Ondansetron (need a prescription), sugar-free popsicles, lightly carbonated beverages, and soda crackers.

3) Fat: Dove and Hagan Das Ice Cream Bars go down pretty easy, most have the full 20 grams of fat for only about 300 calories, and (surprisingly) have less sugar than a glass of most fruit juices.

4) Injection site:  The butt works best for me and doc approves.  Leg and tummy saw more irritation and even pain in area post shot.  May need another person, however, to do it.  

Hope these help some of you dragon slayers out there.  Keep on keepin on.

Sheri