Medication
Treatment Antiviral medications. Hepatitis C infection is treated with antiviral medications intended to clear the virus from your body. The goal of treatment is to have no hepatitis C virus detected in your body at least 12 weeks after you complete treatment.
Procedures
Most of the time, these meds remove all traces of the virus from your blood within 12 weeks. This is called sustained virologic response (SVR), and it’s what doctors look for to tell if you’re cured. How long you'll need treatment can vary. It may range from 8 to 24 weeks. Research is moving rapidly on treatments for hep C.
Self-care
They work in a medical care team, and can provide a wide range of health care services, including the diagnosis and management of common, as well as complex medial conditions. What are my options for treatment? A majority of people with an acute Hepatitis C infection often do not know they have the virus and therefore do not get treated.
Nutrition
Chronic Hepatitis C is defined by the presence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) for 6 months or longer. Many people already have chronic Hepatitis C when they’re first diagnosed because they were unknowingly infected with the virus many years ago.
What is the best treatment for hepatitis C?
How long does hepatitis C treatment take to work?
What can a hepatitis C specialist do for me?
What is chronic hepatitis C?
How long does hep C medicine take to work?
Treatment is usually 8-12 weeks long but can be as much as 16 weeks long in certain situations. Some patients with more damage to their liver may require 24 weeks of treatment, but this is uncommon. The duration depends on the medication, and specific HCV factors in particular patients.
Can hep C be cured with treatment?
Hep C can be cured Years ago, hep C treatments took a long time and required injections. Today's treatments are pills that can often be taken for 8-12 weeks and have high cure rates of 95% or greater.
What is the success rate of hep C treatment?
Hepatitis C treatment can cure more than 90 percent of hepatitis C cases, but testing is a critical first step. It's estimated 40 percent of people with hepatitis C in the U.S. from 2015-2018 were unaware of their infection.
How does hep C medication work?
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are the most common treatment for hepatitis C. They're usually taken as pills. These medications can cure Hepatitis C in up to 90 to 97 percent of cases. They work by helping to stop the hepatitis C virus from multiplying.
Does hep C shorten your life?
Complications from untreated hepatitis C, including cirrhosis (liver scarring) and liver cancer, can be fatal, though HCV itself is rarely fatal.
What happens after hep C is cured?
After you clear your hep C (being cured) you won't have any immunity to protect you from catching it again. You can lower your risk of catching hep C again by avoiding blood-to-blood contact with other people.
Is hep C still contagious after treatment?
Summary: Patients with chronic hepatitis C that has been resolved through therapy or immune response may still be able to infect others with the virus. Patients with chronic hepatitis C that has been resolved through therapy or immune response may still be able to infect others with the virus.
How long does it take to recover from hep C treatment?
Most hep C patients report seeing treatment side effects subsiding within a few months or longer. Often it takes six months to a year to regain full energy and feel well. Some patients have reported side effects lingering for longer periods of time.
What is the 8 week treatment for hep C?
The FDA expanded approval of a hepatitis C drug that shortens treatment time to eight weeks. AbbVie's Mavyret tablets treat compensated cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C who weigh at least 99 pounds. Before approval of this drug, the standard treatment time was at least 12 weeks.
How do direct-acting antivirals work?
Direct-acting antivirals work by blocking the action of proteins which are essential for making new hepatitis C viruses.
How long does hep C take to damage liver?
On average it takes about twenty years for significant liver scarring to develop. The symptoms experienced and the damage done to the liver vary dramatically from person to person. Some people will have few, if any, symptoms for many years.
How long does it take to cure hepatitis C?
As a result, people experience better outcomes, fewer side effects and shorter treatment times — some as short as eight weeks.
How long does it take for hepatitis C to clear?
The goal of treatment is to have no hepatitis C virus detected in your body at least 12 weeks after you complete treatment.
What is MRE in hepatitis?
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). A noninvasive alternative to a liver biopsy (see below), MRE combines magnetic resonance imaging technology with patterns formed by sound waves bouncing off the liver to create a visual map showing gradients of stiffness throughout the liver. Stiff liver tissue indicates the presence of scarring of the liver (fibrosis) as a result of chronic hepatitis C.
How old do you have to be to get tested for hepatitis C?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all adults ages 18 to 79 years be screened for hepatitis C, even those without symptoms or known liver disease. Screening for HCV is especially important if you're at high risk of exposure, including: Anyone who has ever injected or inhaled illicit drugs.
How to prevent liver damage?
Avoid medications that may cause liver damage. Review your medications with your doctor, including over-the-counter medications you take as well as herbal preparations and dietary supplements. Your doctor may recommend avoiding certain medications. Help prevent others from coming in contact with your blood.
How to prepare for a liver appointment?
Because appointments can be brief and because there's often a lot to discuss, it's a good idea to be well prepared. To prepare, try to: Review your medical record. This is particularly important if you are seeing a liver specialist (hepatologist) for the first time after finding out you have hepatitis C.
What to do if you have hepatitis C?
If you receive a diagnosis of hepatitis C, your doctor will likely recommend certain lifestyle changes. These measures will help keep you healthy longer and protect the health of others as well:
What is the most common form of hepatitis C?
Genotype 1 is the most common form of hepatitis C in the United States, and patients are often treated with a combination of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir or other regimens. Roughly 95 percent of patients treated with these drugs can be cured. However, each patient is unique: Noncompliance, cirrhosis of the liver, genotype of the virus and prior treatment failures can affect how well these treatments work.
How many genotypes are there in Hepatitis C?
The hepatitis C virus is classified by its unique genetic makeup (genotype). There are six different genotypes, and your doctor will recommend a combination of two or more antiviral drugs depending on which type you have.
Is blood transfusion a cause of hepatitis C?
In the past, blood transfusions were a major cause of hepatitis C transmission. Now, blood donors are routinely screened for hepatitis C, and the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis is significantly lower. Helping injection drug users modify their behavior has also reduced the prevalence of the disease.
Can hepatitis C cause liver cancer?
When left untreated, hepatitis C causes liver scarring, and this can lead to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis . Those with liver scarring are at greater risk of liver cancer. Your health care team will work together to monitor your liver health.
How HepCMyWay Works
A lack of accessibility, knowledge, and compassionate, competent care has left many people in the lurch when it comes to Hep C treatment. But when medication can mean the difference between a shorter life and a long one, we know that those living with Hep C deserve much better.
Breaking Barriers to Hep C Care
HepCMyWay is powered by Central Outreach Wellness Center (opens in a new tab) , an organization focused on providing compassionate, judgment-free, community-based care in the state of Pennsylvania.
Accessible Treatment for Hep C
Of all the obstacles that can prevent a person from receiving the Hep C treatment they need, the most common and difficult one tends to be cost. But the difference between leaving Hep C untreated and taking a simple round of medication is massive in terms of quality of life -- so why should money be a deciding factor in whether you get care or not?
Do you have to have a known diagnosis of Hep C?
Yes, HepCMyWay offers Hep C treatment services to residents in Pennsylvania and Ohio that have a known diagnosis of Hepatitis C.
I tested positive, and I got my medicine from HepCMyWay. What next?
HepCMyWay will provide you with a predetermined dose of your medication. Then, once you’ve completed your medicine, we’ll perform another test to ensure that the infection is no longer present in your body.
Where do you provide care for Hepatitis C?
Currently, HepCMyWay services are only available in the state of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Residents in PA and OH that are in need of Hep C testing and wish to not have at home service, we recommend reaching out to your primary care provider or local health department as soon as you can.
How does hepatitis C therapy help?
Proper adherence to Hepatitis C therapy will increase your chance of being cured and decrease the long-term complications of Hepatitis C. Adhering to other aspects of your treatment plan is also important.
How long does it take for hepatitis C to clear?
Your doctor may recommend one medication or a combination of two to three medications to be taken for 12 – 24 weeks or longer. Blood tests and doctor visits are necessary during this time so that your response to treatment can be carefully monitored and evaluated.
How long does it take to get cured of hepatitis C?
Sustained virologic response (SVR): You are considered cured if the Hepatitis C virus is not detected when measured with a blood test three months after you’ve completed treatment. This is called a sustained virologic response and data suggest that you will stay virus free indefinitely.
What to do if you think you have hepatitis C?
If you think you are at risk of having Hepatitis C, talk to your current healthcare provider about getting tested. Once you’ve been diagnosed with Hepatitis C infection, you may want to see a specialist. Specialists who work with people with Hepatitis C include the following healthcare providers:
How to monitor response to treatment?
In order to adequately monitor your response to treatment, you’ll need to visit your healthcare provider so he or she can examine you in person and discuss how you’re feeling. The level of Hepatitis C virus in your bloodstream will be checked to monitor your response to treatment. The potential outcomes of treatment are the following:
What is CAM in hepatitis?
Some people seek out complementary or alternative ways to treat their Hepatitis C. Complementary and alternative medicine, known as CAM, includes a variety of interventions. Some common complementary therapies include the following:
Is it important to know about hepatitis C?
Many hepatitis C medications have important considerations that you should be aware of before starting a course of treatment for your HCV infection. Some considerations are specific to a particular drug, while others are more general in nature.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Specialist to consult
Preparing For Your Appointment