It’s estimated that almost five million Americans may be dealing with Hepatitis C. While some of them may not know it, those who are diagnosed with a chronic form of the disease will be prescribed an appropriate treatment regimen. These medications, however, usually come with side effects that many people find to be difficult to handle. If you’ve been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, it’s good to know what to expect from the treatment and how you can cope with the effects.
Typical Medications Used To Treat Hepatitis C
The first thing you need to know is that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for Hepatitis C. Your doctor will need to assess your overall health, your liver, and your blood to decide which medications will work best.
Your treatment can be a single drug or a combination of drugs that have been shown to be most effective when taken together. Depending on what you’re given, you may need to take the drugs for up to 24 weeks.
Some of the options include:
- Daclatasvir
- Elbasvir and grazoprevir – Typically given to those with other chronic conditions
- Glecaprevir and pibrentasvir
- Ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, with dasabuvir – Typically useful for people whose livers have started to scar
- Simeprevir and sofosbuvir
- Sofosbuvir and velpatasvi
- Sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir – Typically prescribed when other treatments have failed and you have no cirrhosis of the liver
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The Hep C Medication Side Effects You Might Experience
As you might expect, different drugs have different side effects. Common side effects of Hepatitis C drugs are headache, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, itchy skin, weakness, confusion, rashes, trouble sleeping, depression, joint pain, hair loss, and flu-like symptoms.
In some cases, existing conditions may flare up, you may have severe shortness of breath and your blood count may fall. The drugs can lower and affect your heart to the point where you need a pacemaker. Certain drugs can also affect the effectiveness of birth control.
When you’re discussing treatment with your doctor, make sure the side effects are clear. You should discuss any other medications you’re taking as well because there might be harmful interactions.
How To Cope With Hep C Medication Side Effects
Many of the side effects can be handled through over-the-counter medications and changes to your routine. People who are experiencing flu-like symptoms can get relief from taking cold and flu medicines.
If fatigue is the issue, it might be easier to take some time to rest directly after