Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Hepatitis C

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Non-A hepatitis; Non-B hepatitis


Treatment

The goals of HCV treatment are to remove the virus from the blood and reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer that can result from long-term HCV infection.

Many patients with hepatitis C benefit from treatment with medications. The most common medications are a combination of pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin, an antiviral medication.

  • Most patients receive weekly injections of pegylated interferon alfa.
  • Ribavirin is a capsule taken twice daily. Ribavirin can cause birth defects. Women should avoid getting pregnant during, and for 6 months after treatment.
  • Treatment is given for 24 - 48 weeks.

These medications have a number of side effects, and patients must be watched closely. Symptoms include:

  • Anemia
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Headache
  • Irritability
  • Loss of appetite
  • Low white blood cell counts and platelets
  • Nausea
  • Thinning of hair
  • Vomiting

See: Cirrhosis for information about treating more severe liver damage caused by hepatitis C.

Patients who develop cirrhosis or liver cancer may be candidates for a liver transplant.

People with hepatitis C should also:

  • Be careful not to take vitamins, nutritional supplements, or new over-the-counter medications without first discussing it with their health care provider.
  • Avoid any substances that are toxic to the liver (hepatotoxic), including alcohol. Even moderate amounts of alcohol speed up the progression of hepatitis C, and alcohol reduces the effectiveness of treatment.
  • Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.

Support Groups
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Review Date: 11/23/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Unviersity of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)