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Hepatitis C is a serious liver disease that can lead to liver cancer, liver failure, or even death. But luckily, not only is hepatitis C treatable, it can be cured.
These days, people with hepatitis C have options when it comes to their treatment, including pills that are easier to take and much more effective than injections of the past.
The number of drugs that treat hepatitis C have increased in recent years.
Today's medications have fewer side effects and are better at combating the virus. Before deciding on a treatment, your doctor will take into account the genotype (strain) of your hepatitis C.
Treatment for hepatitis C now relies on medicines called direct acting antivirals (DAAs), which stop the virus from reproducing.
Examples of DAAs, which come in pill form, are Olysio (simeprevir); Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), which is used in combination with Olysio; Daklinza (daclatasvir); and Harvoni (a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir).
In 2016, the FDA approved Epclusa, a combination of sofosbuvir and another drug, velpatasvir, to treat all hepatitis C genotypes.
What's more, the newer treatments can usually clear the virus in a matter of weeks. The earlier they're started, the better, although even those who already have liver damage can benefit.
"It won't fix their liver, [but] it'll cure them of the virus that is doing ongoing liver damage," says Dr. Westergaard. "It's dousing the fire even though the house is still burning."
Lifestyle strategies are also important, especially in advanced stages of liver disease. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercising, and avoiding alcohol and illicit drugs which can further damage the liver.
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