What are my treatment options for Hep C?
Your doctor will see how healthy your liver is by doing blood tests and other procedures such as an ultrasound or biopsy of your liver. You will then discuss Hep C treatment options based on the health of your liver, immune system and other factors. Together you will decide if treatment for Hep C is right for you at this time. In co-infection, Hep C treatment is a combination of two antiviral drugs: ribavirin (Pegetron capsules or Copegus) and a long-lasting form of interferon called pegylated interferon (Pegetron or Pegasys). Both are taken for about one year. Once you start taking these medications, your doctor will monitor your blood regularly to see whether the drugs are working. If the level of Hep C virus in your blood has not fallen significantly after three months, your doctor will likely stop therapy. How well you respond to treatment depends on many factors. Among the most important are the strain of Hep C you have and the extent of liver damage. Some strains are harder to tr
