What is the treatment?
Chronic Hepatitis C
The most effective treatment for chronic Hepatitis C is a
combination of two drugs, called Pegylated Interferon and
Ribavirin. The length of treatment can
vary depending on a number of factors.
Pegylated Interferon helps healthy cells to defend themselves
against the virus and stops the virus from multiplying. Pegylated
Interferon is given by injection once a week.
Like Pegylated Interferon, Ribavirin works by preventing the
virus from reproducing. Ribavirin is given as a pill to
swallow.
Acute Hepatitis C
The treatment for acute Hepatitis C is
Interferon therapy for 24 weeks regardless of your genotype using either pegylated or
non-pegylated Interferon.
Treatment should start between 3 and 6 months after diagnosis of
acute hepatitis C, if you have not cleared the infection by
yourself spontaneously.
There is no evidence that delaying treatment from 3 to 6 months
after diagnosis of acute Hepatitis C reduces your response to
treatment. However, there is evidence that delaying by a year does
compromise the treatment response for acute Hepatitis C.
Living with Treatment
It's worth thinking about how being on treatment might affect
your life. Plan and think about whether you'll need any help or
support when you are living with treatment.