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HCV treatment while on methadone

From Treat Yourself Right • 26 June 2009

You can undertake HCVHepatitis C virus. treatment while you are taking methadone maintenance. However, you may be at heightened risk of experiencing HCV treatment-related depression, so it is worth discussing the potential benefits and risks of taking an antidepressant preventatively with your doctor.

HCV treatment while taking heroin

Some HCV advocates suggest that a heroin ‘relapse’ should not be cause to discontinue HCV treatment. Many (although not all) doctors will not see heroin ‘relapse’ as a reason to stop therapy unless you are having trouble committing to, or tolerating, the treatment. However, it is important to remember that it is possible to get reinfected with HCV either during, or following, successful treatment. The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug User’s League (AIVL) will be able to offer you support and advice on this issue. On the Internet, the Organization to Achieve Solutions in Substance-Abuse (OASIS) from the USA has some data on treatment for people on methadone and who sometimes take heroin that might be of help. Try www.hepcassoc.org, or do a Google search with the key words methadone, HCV treatment, and heroin.

Treat Yourself Right

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