Bell's Palsy?

[dewey1951]

I had to go to the emergency room yesterday because I was really feeling disoriented and had some numbness in my face. My wife looks up the symptoms fearing that it is a mini stroke or worse. Long story short, no stroke but likely Bell's Palsy. Doc prescribes Medrol (a steroid). No call back from Hep C doc yet on advisability of taking it so I'm putting it out there. It'll be 2 weeks tomorrow since end of treatment - Rib/Sol/Peg, 12 wks, and this comes out of the blue. Frustrating!

[Tess1971]

Bells Palsy is sometimes a symptom of diabetes or just a blood sugar issue.  I have a friend that woke up with it one day and that is what it was.  I don't know what else causes it as I had never heard of it until that time.  I would be persistent in getting in touch with my doctor.  Interferon can mess with ones blood sugar as I have been told by people who did use it. 

[lporterrn]

Oh Dewey, what a drag. The PEG may be the problem, since there is an association between it and Bell's Palsy There are a number of case studies - here is a recent one: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21529112

I assume you were wondering about potential drug-drug interactions, and this drug looks OK, but I'd check with your pharmacist: http://www.hep-druginteractions.org/interactions.aspx

I wish you a speedy recovery on all counts. What a bummer. I guess the good news is that it wasn't a stroke.

[rainbowray]

Accupunture helped me alot when I got Bells Palsy awhile ago. Some say it is a virus, some the nerves affected by cold.
I took predesone for 6 days, and antiviral (forgot the name) and 4 treatments of accupunture. It went away in a few months.

If it is induced by the interferon, then that is another reason to stop prescribing it.

[Bill P]

Hi Dewey- I just went through a similar instance, only I was being treated with harvoni. Acupuncture has helped when the neurologist I was seeing said that a nerve graft was required. Good luck!

[AllShookUp]

I got hit with Bell's on my 64th day of treatment with Harvoni and Riba. I experienced intermittent sharp, localized  pain just below my right ear hole for two days prior to the paralysis setting in. It was a scary event.
I was told all sorts of dubious treatments. Since the main concern is the protecting the eye from damage and drying out, I opted for frequent use of eye drops through out the day and night. Used extra caution when outdoors.
It has been about 90+ days since I got hit, I estimate that I am 90% back to normal. I can now close my right eye and I don't dribble when I drink.

[lporterrn]

Bell's palsy is not an uncommon problem, but the fact that we have 3 reports in a short time, two of which occurred on Harvoni, I encourage you to report this to the FDA http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Surveillance/AdverseDrugEffects/

[AllShookUp]

I did my duty and filed a report with the FDA. I wonder if and when they will email me back.
Bill P, were you taking Ribavirin in addition to the Harvoni?
The way I am reading it, there are 3 possible culprits and 4 possible answers.
PEG, Riba, Harvoni and none of the above/things just happen.

[lporterrn]

Good for you! PEG is the most likely culprit since we already have evidence of the association. As for when or if the FDA will respond, who knows. What I do know is that they will look at the data, and the more Bell's Palsy reports they see, the more likely they will notice.

[Bill P]

I did my duty and filed a report with the FDA. I wonder if and when they will email me back.
Bill P, were you taking Ribavirin in addition to the Harvoni?
The way I am reading it, there are 3 possible culprits and 4 possible answers.
PEG, Riba, Harvoni and none of the above/things just happen.

Hi - no other medications other than Harvoni. I've been seeing an acupuncturist with good success to treat the Bells. The more layers I peel away , the more common this seems to be.