Hepatitis C Health Center

Table of Contents

  1. Symptoms
  2. Diagnosis
  3. Treatments
  4. Causes
  5. Living With
Treatments

Currently there are only 2 types of medications used to treat gepatitis C.

1. interferons

2. ribavirin

Interferons are chemicals that boost the immune system and fight off the hepatitis C virus. Ribavirin works directly against the hepatitis C virus.

Combination therapy with a weekly injection of interferon and daily oral ribavirin is the treatment of choice resulting in sustained response rates of 40%-80%.

Up to 50% for patients infected with the most common genotype found in the U.S. [genotype 1] and up to 80% for patients infected with genotypes 2 or 3.

Treatment with interferon alone is generally reserved for patients in whom ribavirin is contraindicated. Ribavirin, when used alone, does not work. Combination therapy using interferon and ribavirin is now FDA approved for the use in children aged 3-17 years.

The combination of interferons and ribavirin has many possible side effects including:

  • headaches
  • fever
  • loss of appetite
  • fatigue
  • nausea and vomiting
  • increased susceptibility to infections
  • bleeding problems
  • birth defects
  • heart or kidney failure
  • worsening of liver function
  • rarely death
Reviewed by: 
Review Date: 
April 19, 2012
Last Updated:
July 1, 2013
Source:
dailyrx.com