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Statement About MMT from NIDDK

Time to read: 2 min

From NIDDK Fact Sheet

Chronic Hepatitis C: Current Disease Management

“Strict abstinence from alcohol is recommended during therapy with interferon. Interferon therapy can be associated with relapse in people with a previous history of drug or alcohol abuse. Therefore, alpha interferon should be given with caution to a patient who has only recently stopped alcohol or substance abuse. Typically a 6-month abstinence is recommended before starting therapy, but this should be applied only to patients with a history of alcohol abuse, not to social drinkers. Patients with continuing alcohol or substance abuse problems should only be treated in collaboration with alcohol or substance abuse specialists or counselors. Patients can be successfully treated while on methadone or in an active substance abuse program. Indeed, the rigor and regular monitoring that accompany methadone treatment provide a structured format for combination therapy. The dose of methadone may need to be modified during interferon-based therapy for hepatitis.”

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

From: NIH Publication No. 03-4230 February 2003

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