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Combination Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C
How It Works
Combination antiviral therapy helps prevent the virus that causes Reference hepatitis C Opens New Window from reproducing in the body. Peginterferon and ribavirin are combined to give the best response to treatment. A protease inhibitor (such as boceprevir or telaprevir) also may be given along with peginterferon and ribavirin.
Peginterferon is given as a shot once a week. Ribavirin is taken as a pill 2 times a day. During the course of your treatment, your doctor frequently may adjust the amount of medicine you are taking.
The length of your treatment depends on what hepatitis C genotype you have. Genotype 1 generally is treated for 1 year and genotypes 2 and 3 generally are treated for 6 months. If you have genotype 1 and your viral load does not improve after 3 months of treatment, your treatment may be stopped.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 14, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference W. Thomas London, MD - Hepatology |
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