Treatments to help with the hepatitis C (Hep C) virus will depend on the genotype of hep C that you have. There are six different genotypes of hep C, from one to six. Currently, chronic hep C treatment is usually made from direct-acting antiviral drugs, which can either be taken on their own or in combination with another drug. These can be found in the form of pills or injections.
Chronic Hep C Treatment
These drugs tend to have fewer side effects than other methods. Additionally, treatment length is usually shorter, with fewer pills that need to be taken. Treatments can last between 8, 12 and 16 weeks in length, but will depend on the genotype and severity of your case of hep C.
Glecaprevir and pibrentasvir is a combination of direct-acting antiviral drugs that can be used in a minimum of eight weeks, depending on your case of hep C. This treatment method is recommended for patients who do not have cirrhosis and those who have not been previously treated.
Other pill combinations include Elbasvir-grazoprevir (Zepatier), ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (Harvoni), and sofosbuvir-velpatasvir (Epclusa), which can take 8 to 12 weeks to treat your condition depending on the genotype that you have.
Before the introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs, chronic hep C treatment included an injection of interferon or peginterferon in combination with ribavirin, which has been known to cause severe side effects.
Be sure to talk with your doctor or a healthcare professional before you decide on a treatment for your case of hep C. Together, you will be able to determine which treatment will provide the best results. Talk with your health insurance provider to determine if some of these medications can be covered, as they can get quite costly.
Always remember to take any medication as directed by your doctor or a pharmacist.
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