Hepatitis C: Treatments

You and your doctor need to decide when and how to treat your hepatitis C.

During treatment you will need to have blood tests often to help your doctor see how well your liver is working and how well your treatment is working. Even without treatment, you may see your doctor often to check for liver damage.

Taking care of yourself is an important part of the treatment for hepatitis C. Some people with hepatitis C don't notice a change in the way they feel. Others feel tired, sick, or depressed. You may feel better if you exercise and eat healthy foods. To help prevent further liver damage, avoid alcohol, illegal drugs, and certain medicines that can be hard on your liver.

Genotypes of hepatitis C

There are six different types of hepatitis C viruses called genotypes. Genotype 1 is the most common type in the United States.

The type of treatment you will get for hepatitis C may depend on the type of genotype you have. Some new medicines that treat hepatitis C work on all genotypes.

Medicines for hepatitis C

Treatment involves a combination of medicines. The medicines work together to keep the virus from reproducing in your body. These medicines are usually together in a single pill.

Sometimes you may need to take a different set of medicines if your first round of treatment did not work very well. If it was not done before, your doctor may do a test to find out which genotype caused the infection. This may help the doctor choose a medicine that is more likely to cure the infection.

Medicine side effects

Older medicines for hepatitis C have many side effects. Some people have to stop taking them because the side effects make them too sick. But newer medicines have fewer side effects, and the side effects are less serious. Common side effects of these newer medicines include:

  • Headache.
  • Fatigue.
  • Nausea, loss of appetite, or weight loss.
  • Insomnia.
  • Itchy skin or rash.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take.

Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine. Call 911 right away if you think you are having a serious reaction, such as trouble breathing.

These medicines may not be recommended if:

  • You drink alcohol or use illegal drugs.
  • You are pregnant or might become pregnant.
  • You have other medical conditions.

Liver transplant

If your hepatitis C keeps getting worse, it can cause your liver to stop working. This is called end-stage liver failure. When this happens, you may need a liver transplant to keep you alive.

During a liver transplant, a surgeon removes the diseased liver and replaces it with a healthy one. After a transplant, you will need to take certain medicines for the rest of your life. They help keep your body from rejecting your new liver.

You may not be able to have a liver transplant if you:

  • Are using alcohol or sharing needles to inject illegal drugs.
  • Have cardiac or lung-related problems.
  • Have other medical problems such as cancer.
  • Have severe depression or other serious psychological problems.

Do you have any questions or concerns after reading this information? It's a good idea to write them down and take them to your next doctor visit.