Is Hepatitis C treatable?
The standard treatment for Hepatitis C is a combination of two drugs: pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Treatment is recommended to last between 24 and 48 weeks, depending on the specific strain of virus. Treatment may be stopped early if blood tests show it is not effective, or if the patient cannot tolerate the side-effects of treatment. These side effects include flu-like symptoms, low blood counts, and fatigue. Approximately 80 percent of patients will have some of these side effects. While 70 percent of patients will show improvement with combined therapy, cure rates are around 40 percent. Not everyone with Chronic Hepatitis C should have treatment. Patients with little or no liver damage may be advised to continue close monitoring until the time that treatment becomes necessary. Hepatitis C F.A.Q.
