Hep C Treatment

In the UK, the licensed treatment for hepatitis C involves a combination of two anti-viral drugs and is therefore referred to as 'Combination Therapy'. The drugs are taken together and are called interferon and ribavirin. Please refer to what is involved in treatment for further details.

Interferon alpha

Interferon is a natural chemical made by your body as part of its immune response to a virus infection.
The interferon alpha used for treatment, is a man made drug that has been produced to mimic the natural version made by the body.

There are now two forms of interferon alpha - pegylated and non-pegylated. The newer 'pegylated' interferon has additional sugar groups which enhance its retention in the body and its effectiveness in treatment. It is the pegylated form that is currently recommended in national guidelines.

Ribavirin

This is also man made and is used in combination with interferon alpha to treat hepatitis C.

Treatment while pregnant

Treatment is not advised while pregnant. In fact both men and women are advised to use two methods of birth control to avoid pregnancy while either the man or women is receiving anti-viral treatment. This is the case for combination therapy because ribavirin is known to cause severe birth defects.