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- This topic has 54 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 1 month ago by Greedfighter.
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8 May 2016 at 3:16 pm #16834
Most of the info I found talked about “chronic use” or “daily use” (once daily). But there were cases of people using it once and having serious side effects…like psychosis. Many people use it to decrease stress and anxiety and promote sleep. The literature said that in some cases MJ actually causes stress intolerance, which increases stress so it becomes a vicious cycle. It also said that it can help sleep short term but it can make it worse long term.
It also makes a difference at what age you start using it. If you start as a teenager that gives you higher risk of it causing problems than if you start as an adult.
It’s all terribly complicated and the info is pretty new. Most of the studies said, “more studies are needed”.
P.
9 May 2016 at 9:20 am #16855Don’t do it Mike. MJ is immunosuppressant and you need your immune system to be at its best to prevent relapse.
P.
13 September 2016 at 12:15 am #22905Hello. I completed tx with Harvoni about a month ago. The virus was undetected at weeks 4 and 8 of treatment and I won’t be tested again until 12 weeks post tx. I funded my own liver panel lab tests two weeks after eot and then again three days ago. My ALT and AST levels had risen on the first one but still in normal range. On the second test they had both risen more, ALT 30 which is just out of normal range.
So, my question is: Can edible cannabis taken a week prior to lab test cause elevations in liver enzymes? I had tried a commercial cannabis lemonade (I live in California) three nights in a row about a week before this last lab test. I also smoke each night for my insomnia. I have smoked nightly for about 3 years. I am very worried that the virus is not gone since my enzymes have stepped up more on each test. Also, this last test was done in late afternoon and I had fasted only for 6 hours prior.
GT 1a
Fibrosis 2
Age 55
Started Harvoni tx 6/21/2016
4 week labs Undetected
EOT 8/15/2016 Undetected13 September 2016 at 12:37 am #22906Hi sb,
Usually after generic (or branded) HCV treatment, the trend in ALT/AST levels is almost always downward, but some fluctuation is normal (I can report the same thing myself).
As for consumption of cannabinoids, my first advice would be don’t worry about it unless you are having adverse side effects.
After HCV, the next biggest daily threat to the liver is alcohol. But moderate consumption is probably perfectly OK (I have personally reported quite a bit on this here – bottom line for me: absolutely no problem).
The only way be sure about what is happening with the virus (if any), is to get another PCR RNA test to confirm its still undetected.
The odds are highly in your favour on still being UND.
If you are UND but your liver enzyme levels are fluctuating enormously, then it would be worth getting a proper medical opinion. Otherwise, don’t sweat it. Since you are “only” at about 8 weeks of TX, it will take several months for your virus-free liver to really re-build and settle down to more normal enzyme levels.
Cheers,
Oor Wullie
Diagnosed Jan 2015: GT3, A0+F0/F1. Fatigue + Brain-Fog.
Started Sof+Dac from fixHepC 10-Nov-2015. NO sides.
Pre-Tx: AST 82, ALT 133, Viral Load 1 900 000.
Week4: AST 47, ALT 58. VL < 15 (unquantifiable). Week12 (EOT): AST 30, ALT 26, VL UND Week16 (EOT+4): AST 32, ALT 28, GGT 24, VL UND Week28 (EOT+16): AST 26, ALT 22, GGT 24, VL UND Ever grateful to Dr James. Relapsed somewhere after all that... Bummer! Jan 2018: VL 63 000 (still GT3).13 September 2016 at 2:12 am #22913Hi moderators
My name has disappeared from the early post by another person the random one throwing my name into a ton of citations for no reason.
This thread reads very strangely now.Thanks for considering this issue, stress is not pleasant.
A13 September 2016 at 5:25 am #22914Hi Ariel,
It appears the member you mention has edited their posts about three months later to remove unnecessary references that dragged you into the thread. Rather than try to rewrite history why don’t you just put an edit into your original post to note that. That way future readers will understand what now seems off topic.
Gaj
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
13 September 2016 at 5:52 am #22915Hi sb409us,
I agree with Vororo. As he mentions the ALT needs to be making big jumps to be a worry. Normally it does fluctuate from day to day depending on all sorts of things like what you eat (or drink ) and things like strenuous exercise, stress, etc. Normal range is usually quoted as up to about 50-55 depending on the lab so although it sounds like your normal is quite low a result of 30 shouldn’t be an issue.
To give you some idea of what happens in a relapse look at my signature, I went from 34 and undetected at EOT to 92 a few weeks later. So almost tripled.
G3a since ’78 – Dx ’12 – F4 (2xHCC)
24wk Tx – PEG/Riba/Dac 2013 relapsed
24wk Tx – Generic Sof/Dac/Riba 2015/16 relapsed
16wk Tx – 12/01/17 -> 03/05/17 NS3/NS5a + Generic Sof
SVR7 – 22/06/17 UND
SRV12 – 27/07/17 UND
SVR24 – 26/10/17 UND
23 September 2016 at 3:47 am #23222Smoke, vape or edibles. Makes no difference. It will eventually lead to gum recession and tooth loss.
This from a former pot head (me). Just give it up!
23 September 2016 at 9:57 pm #23237“Smoke, vape or edibles. Makes no difference. It will eventually lead to gum recession and tooth loss.”
Actually, that is not supported by science and is currently considered to be an ‘Urban Myth’. Sorry if it contradicts your personal experience, but ‘because you experienced’ something does not predict others will as well.
For a more detailed explanation why many believe that regular use of cannabis is the problem (vs dietary habits influenced by cannabis use), please visit
https://dental-oral-conditions.knoji.com/marijuana-myths-does-smoking-cause-periodontal-disease-or-tooth-decay/which explains why SO many cannabis users DO develop increased dental or periodontal issues.
It seems that like so many other things in life, if one educates one’s self and takes appropriate preventive actions, problems tend to be minimal IF they develop.24 September 2016 at 3:02 am #23241Let me clarify my statement.
THC, whether smoked, vaped or ingested causes dry mouth, a lack of saliva. A lack of saliva causes gum recession. You never got cotton mouth smoking weed? Every minute you experience cotton mouth, that is damaging your gums. There are prescription drugs that cause a lack of saliva (Marinol is one) and have gum recession as a risk factor listed in their side effects. But you smoke all you want. I’m just saying. I wish it was not true, I love getting high. And I love brushing, flossing and use perio-brushes on my teeth.
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