Treatment for Hepatitis C

The most common treatment for
 hepatitis C is called combination therapy. This type of treatment uses two different drugs: peginterferon and ribavirin. Peginterferon, which is sold under the brand names of PEGASYS® or Peg-Intron®, can be used by itself or with ribavirin (COPEGUS®, Rebetol®). Peginterferon is given by self-injection once a week; ribavirin is a pill taken twice daily.
 
Studies have shown that when taking combination therapy, between 40 and 80 percent of patients have a sustained virological response (SVR) to this treatment for hepatitis C. A sustained response means that no hepatitis C virus RNA can be detected in the person's blood six months after finishing the treatment.
 
A few different factors can affect the success of treatment for hepatitis C. These factors include:
 
  • The genotype of the hepatitis C virus (i.e., the specific arrangement of genetic material)
  • The amount of virus present in the body
  • How long the person has had the hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • The amount of damage already done to the liver.
     
(Click Hepatitis C Treatment for more detailed information about the treatments available for hepatitis C and suggestions for staying healthy during and after treatment.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD