What does conventional treatment for chronic hepatitis C consist of?
People who have a mild case of hepatitis C may only need to manage it by visiting their doctor regularly and following their doctor’s recommendations–such as eating a nutritious diet, avoiding alcohol (because of its impact on the liver), and getting regular exercise. For people with more severe hepatitis C, however, drug therapy may be needed. A drug called interferon is the mainstay of conventional treatment. Interferon is often combined with an antiviral (virus-fighting) drug called ribavirin. Such combination therapies are usually taken for 6 months to 1 year. Approximately 55 percent of patients treated with the combination of interferon and ribavirin for 1 year will achieve a sustained response (that is, a sustained benefit from treatment).1 If a patient does not achieve a sustained response, his doctor may decide whether another course of treatment (re-treatment) is appropriate. Combination regimens benefit many patients. However, their side effects can be difficult for some pa
