Hepatitis C

Ravinder Singh Chawla

What Is Hepatitis c Hepatitis c is a disease caused by a virus that attacks in liver. The virus, called the hepatitis c virus or hcv for short, is just one of the hepatitis c viruses. According to the centers for disease control, an estimated 2.7 million people in the united states have chronic hepatitis c infection. Until recently, hepatitis c treatment required weekly injections and oral medications that many hcv-infected people couldn’t take because of other health problems or unacceptable side effects.

Today, chronic hepatitis c is usually curable with oral medications taken every day for two to six months. About 80% of

those exposed to the virus develop a chronic infection. This is defined as the presence of detectable viral replication for at least six months. Most experience minimal or no symptoms during the initial few decades of the infection. Chronic hepatitis C can be associated with fatigue and mild cognitive problems. Chronic infection after several years may cause cirrhosis or liver cancer. The liver enzymes are normal in 7– 53%. Late relapses after apparent cure have been reported, but these can be difficult to distinguish from reinfection.

Medication of hepatitis C Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi): Sofosbuvir can be used to treat hcv genotypes 1,2,3,4. It’s used in combination with other drugs. It may also be used to treat people with both hepatitis c and hiv. Sofosbuvir, sold under the brand name Sovaldi among others, is a medications used for the treatment of hepatitis c. it is only recommended with some combination of ribavirin, simeprevir, ledipasvir, daclatasvir.

Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir (Harvoni): Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (harvoni) is used to treat chronic infection with hcv genotype 1 in adults.

Ledipasvir blocks the formation of a protein that helps the virus copy itself. After completing phase III clinical trials, on February 10, 2014 Gilead filed for U.S. approval of a ledipasvir/sofosbuvir fixed-dose combination tablet for genotype 1 hepatitis C. On 10 October 2014 the FDA approved the combination product ledipasvir/sofosbuvir called Harvoni.

Daclatavir Dihyrochloride: Daclatasvir (Daklinza) – part of the class of drugs called direct acting anitvirals or DAAs – was approved for use with sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) to treat HCV genotype 3 infections. Daklinza is the first drug that demonstrated safety and efficacy in treating HCV genotype 3 without the need for coadministration of interferon or ribavirin.

In clinical trials, 152 treatment-naïve (people who haven’t previously received HCV treatment) and treatment-experienced (people who have previously received HCV treatment) adults received Daklinza 60 mg plus sofosbuvir 400 mg once daily for 12 weeks.

Ribavirin: This drug works by stopping viruses from replicating and spreading.

Ribavirin is used in combination with an interferon to treat infection with HCV genotype 1, 2 or 3. In some cases, it may be used with an interferon and a protease inhibitor.

This is called triple therapy. Ribavirin is an oral drug. It comes as a capsule, tablet, or solution and is available in several strengths.

Brand names of ribavirin include: 

Copegus

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Moderiba

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Rebetol

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Ribasphere

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