What is the treatment for chronic hepatitis?

What is the treatment for chronic hepatitis? Drug treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin What is the treatment for chronic hepatitis? The treatment programme outlined below is specific to the Princess Grace Hospital in London. Treatment in your local hospital may differ, but not significantly. Depending on the findings at liver biopsy it may be possible to reverse the inflammation and eradicate the virus using agents such as Interferon. The test results should be available within a week and their significance for the treatment and prognosis should be explained in detail by medical and nursing staff.
The treatment programme is tailored to the individual so that patients living abroad can have their drugs supplied together with instructions on administration and response monitoring which can be done locally. Treatment commonly consists of a course of anti viral treatment lasting from 6-12 months depending on type of hepatitis infection with assessments by regular blood tests and where necessary a repeat of the liver biopsy. General advice concerning viral transmission, avoidance of alcohol, drugs likely to be toxic to the liver and diet will also be given. A written summary of the findings and treatment will be given for reference. Drug treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin You may need to undergo a course of treatment which includes two drugs - Interferon and Ribavirin. Interferon You will need to learn how to give yourself Interferon. The clinical nurse specialist will show you how to do it. The drug needs to be injected three times a week, late in the evening just before you go to bed. You will need to take this drug for 6 months (to start with) for it to be effective. Side effects You may or may not experience some of the following early side effects while taking Interferon. You can prevent these side effects by taking two Paracetamol before your injection in the evening. slight fever headache muscle pains Later side effects may include: weight loss tiredness mild depression irritability loss of appetite If any of these side effects continue for more than a few weeks you will need to see your GP or contact the Nurse Specialist at the hospital. Ribavirin You need to take Ribavirin tablets three times a day with food, for a period of six months. Side effects Anaemia is a possible side effect of taking Ribavirin. Anaemia shows up as a reduction in your levels of haemoglobin. You will have regular blood tests to keep a check on this. If necessary we will review your dose of Ribavirin. Blood Tests While you are on Interferon and Ribavirin you will need monthly blood tests at the clinic to keep a check on your blood count and liver function. How long is the treatment ? Usually, the combined treatment of Interferon and Ribavirin is continued for six months. At this point your progress will be reviewed to check what response there has been to the treatment. If there has been a biochemical and/or virological response, then the treatment is continued for a further six months. It has been shown that treatment with these drugs over the period of a year offers a better chance of achieving a prolonged remission or even a cure after the treatment has finished. In other words, with a longer treatment period there is less chance of a relapse. Any further questions ? Please feel free to phone the Clinical Nurse Specialist on 0171 486 1234 Ext: 4641 (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm)

What is the treatment for chronic hepatitis? Drug treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin What is the treatment for chronic hepatitis? The treatment programme outlined below is specific to the Princess Grace Hospital in London. Treatment in your local hospital may differ, but not significantly. Depending on the findings at liver biopsy it may be possible to reverse the inflammation and eradicate the virus using agents such as Interferon. The test results should be available within a week and their significance for the treatment and prognosis should be explained in detail by medical and nursing staff.

What is the treatment for chronic hepatitis?

The treatment programme outlined below is specific to the Princess Grace Hospital in London. Treatment in your local hospital may differ, but not significantly.

Depending on the findings at liver biopsy it may be possible to reverse the inflammation and eradicate the virus using agents such as Interferon. The test results should be available within a week and their significance for the treatment and prognosis should be explained in detail by medical and nursing staff.

The treatment programme is tailored to the individual so that patients living abroad can have their drugs supplied together with instructions on administration and response monitoring which can be done locally. Treatment commonly consists of a course of anti viral treatment lasting from 6-12 months depending on type of hepatitis infection with assessments by regular blood tests and where necessary a repeat of the liver biopsy. General advice concerning viral transmission, avoidance of alcohol, drugs likely to be toxic to the liver and diet will also be given. A written summary of the findings and treatment will be given for reference.

Drug treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin

You may need to undergo a course of treatment which includes two drugs - Interferon and Ribavirin.

Interferon

You will need to learn how to give yourself Interferon. The clinical nurse specialist will show you how to do it. The drug needs to be injected three times a week, late in the evening just before you go to bed. You will need to take this drug for 6 months (to start with) for it to be effective.

Side effects
You may or may not experience some of the following early side effects while taking Interferon. You can prevent these side effects by taking two Paracetamol before your injection in the evening.

  • slight fever
  • headache
  • muscle pains

Later side effects may include:

  • weight loss
  • tiredness
  • mild depression
  • irritability
  • loss of appetite

If any of these side effects continue for more than a few weeks you will need to see your GP or contact the Nurse Specialist at the hospital.

Ribavirin

You need to take Ribavirin tablets three times a day with food, for a period of six months.

Side effects
Anaemia is a possible side effect of taking Ribavirin. Anaemia shows up as a reduction in your levels of haemoglobin. You will have regular blood tests to keep a check on this. If necessary we will review your dose of Ribavirin.

Blood Tests
While you are on Interferon and Ribavirin you will need monthly blood tests at the clinic to keep a check on your blood count and liver function.

How long is the treatment ?

  • Usually, the combined treatment of Interferon and Ribavirin is continued for six months. At this point your progress will be reviewed to check what response there has been to the treatment. If there has been a biochemical and/or virological response, then the treatment is continued for a further six months.
  • It has been shown that treatment with these drugs over the period of a year offers a better chance of achieving a prolonged remission or even a cure after the treatment has finished. In other words, with a longer treatment period there is less chance of a relapse.

Any further questions ?
Please feel free to phone the Clinical Nurse Specialist on 0171 486 1234 Ext: 4641 (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm)

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