Research Article
Complementary and Alternative Medicines for the Treatment of Hepatitis C: Perspectives of Users and CAM Practitioners
Table 2
Perception of interviewed patients and providers regarding prevailing side effects and complications from allopathic medicines.
| | Prior medicine | Patient (n = 284) | Practitioner (n = 133) | | SOF (n = 46) | PEG-INF (n = 122) | Silymarin (n = 47) | Other (n = 69) | SOF (n = 24) | PEG-INF (n = 100) | Silymarin (n = 2) | Other (n = 7) |
| | Side effects | | | | | | | | | | Nausea/Vomiting | 13 (28.3) | 43 (35.2) | 20 (42.6) | 28 (40.6) | 5 (20.8) | 34 (34.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (42.8) | | Skin allergy | 4 (8.7) | 24 (19.7) | 2 (4.3) | 11 (15.9) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.0) | 1 (50.0) | 1 (14.3) | | Persistent fever | 7 (15.2) | 13 (10.6) | 7 (14.9) | 10 (14.5) | 7 (29.2) | 11 (11.0) | 1 (50.0) | 0 (0.0) | | GIT disturbance | 1 (2.2) | 6 (4.9) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (4.3) | 2 (8.3) | 8 (8.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | | Multiple | 21 (45.6) | 36 (29.5) | 18 (38.3) | 17 (24.6) | 10 (41.7) | 45 (45.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (42.8) |
| | Complications | | | | | | | | | | Anemia | 9 (19.6) | 43 (35.2) | 11 (23.4) | 13 (18.8) | 7 (29.2) | 30 (30.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (42.8) | | Ascites | 2 (4.3) | 7 (5.7) | 1 (2.1) | 3 (4.3) | 10 (41.7) | 39 (39.0) | 1 (50.0) | 1 (14.3) | | Constipation | 11 (23.9) | 21 (17.2) | 17 (36.2) | 25 (36.2) | 2 (8.3) | 15 (15.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (28.6) | | Depression | 10 (21.7) | 14 (11.5) | 4 (8.5) | 5 (7.2) | 3 (12.5) | 9 (9.0) | 1 (50.0) | 0 (0.0) | | Kidney problem | 2 (4.4) | 5 (4.1) | 5 (10.6) | 1 (1.4) | 1 (4.2) | 6 (6.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | | Multiple | 12 (26.1) | 32 (26.2) | 9 (19.1) | 22 (31.9) | 1 (4.2) | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (14.3) |
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Abbreviations: SOF = sofosbuvir, PEG-INF = pegylated-interferon, GIT = gastrointestinal tract, and multiple = more than one symptom. |
