Hepatitis C is a nasty liver virus.

It is estimated that 170 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis C virus.

March 2021 was the five-year anniversary of the introduction of curative drug treatments for the hepatitis C virus. These drugs known as direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), have changed the course of history for hepatitis C sufferers bringing tremendous physical and emotional relief. We have come a long way with these drugs providing a 90% cure rate, but we cannot afford to get complacent.

It is vital that people are aware of the way hepatitis C can be transmitted, how easy it is to be tested for infection, and the importance to get early treatment.

Reduce the risk of hepatitis C transmission

  • Never share or re-use injecting equipment such as needles, tourniquets, spoons, swabs, water, or any other equipment. Ninety percent of new infections occur this way.
  • Wash your hands in hot soapy water before and straight after injecting or use new alcohol swabs if you cannot do this.
  • Dispose of sharps and injecting equipment in an approved disposal container (this is supplied by your needle and syringe program).
  • Extra care should be taken when injecting occurs in groups, or when people are being assisted to inject by others.
  • Label your syringe.

Treatment with direct-acting antiviral drugs is effective and safe and results in viral clearance from the body (known as a sustained virological response [SVR]) in the vast majority of patients. A SVR usually lasts a lifetime and produces a reduction of hepatitis C related liver diseases and risk of death. However, it is good not to get complacent, as after treatment with these drugs some patients may still have a major risk of progressive liver damage; this can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver (hepatocellular) cancer. This is the result of ongoing chronic inflammation in the liver.

Modern Antiviral Drugs to Treat Hep C in 2023

 

 

Direct-Acting Antiviral Hepatitis C Medications

Many studies have shown that direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs can effectively remove the hepatitis C virus (HCV) from your body more than 90% of the time. This high success rate makes DAAs one of the first treatment choices.

Direct-acting antivirals are medications that act to stop the hepatitis C virus replicating. The duration of treatment with DAA medicines varies in length from 8 to 24 weeks. These drugs are taken orally.
Taking two different DAA drugs at the same time may be required to resolve a hepatitis C infection.

First-line direct-acting antiviral medications that offer a combination approach to treatment include:

  • ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (Harvoni)
  • elbasvir-grazoprevir (Zepatier)
  • sofosbuvir-velpatasvir (Epclusa)
  • sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir (Vosevi)
  • glecaprevir-pibrentasvir (Mavyret)

Interferon-Based Hepatitis C Therapies

Another medication option for treating hepatitis C is interferon (IFN) which is given via a weekly injection versus taking a pill daily.

Interferon treatment is given for around 48 weeks and can cause more adverse side effects than those experienced with DAA drugs. Many patients quit treatment early because of side effects.

Despite this, there may be times when interferon therapy is recommended. Studies have found that IFN-based therapy is less likely to reactivate the hepatitis B virus in patients who also have hepatitis C when compared to those receiving a DAA-based treatment, at 11.9% versus 21.1% respectively.

Nutritional medicine

The DAA drugs and Interferon are designed to eradicate the virus but they do not directly repair liver damage caused by the hepatitis C or B viruses.

Being overweight and having a fatty liver will help the hepatitis C virus to damage your liver more. A low carbohydrate diet high in protein, fat and vegetables is beneficial. To see details of the best diet for a fatty liver watch my video series on the liver HERE on YouTube.

 

 To reduce liver inflammation and the development of such severe liver diseases we recommend the following:

  • Keep your weight in the healthy range
  • Avoid excess alcohol
  • Avoid getting a fatty liver
  • Avoid overuse of acetaminophen and other potentially liver toxic drugs

Supplements to help liver repair are:

Livatone Plus which contains the clinically proven dose of milk thistle combined with selenium, antioxidants, activated B vitamins, NAC and glutathione. Livatone Plus is the most comprehensive liver formula available and has been tested in a clinical study of patients with liver inflammation caused by fatty liver – read the clinical trial HERE.

Extra NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) may be beneficial to boost glutathione levels. Glutathione cleanses the liver and reduces liver inflammation. “The addition of NAC to 14 patients with chronic hepatitis C and high ALT levels caused a decrease of ALT in all patients and after a combined treatment it helped 41 percent of the cases to heal completely after 5 to 6 months.

Selenomune capsules can be taken in a dose of 2 capsules once a week to strengthen the immune system. Selenomune contains three types of organic selenium plus other immune boosting factors. Selenium has proven anti-viral and anti-cancer effects and reduces viral replication.

It is important to keep looking after your liver even if the DAA drugs have eradicated the virus as this can reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

 

 

References

Dennis, B., et al, (2021, August 07). New Hope for Hepatitis C Virus: Summary of Global Epidemiologic Changes and Novel Innovations Over 20 Years. World Journal of Gastroenterology. doi:10.37489wjg.v27.i29.4818

Baumert, T., et al. (2019, January). Status of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Remaining Challenges. Gastroenterology. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2018.10.024

Geddawy, A., et al. (2017, March). Direct Acting Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Drugs: Clinical Pharmacology and Future Direction. Journal of Translational Internal Medicine. doi:10.1515/jtim-2017-0007

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2019, October 03). Classification of Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents in HCV Treatment Regimens. Retrieved January 09, 2023, from https://www.hepatitis.va.gov/hcv/treatment/hcv-daa-class.asp

Pockros, P. (2013, October). Interferon-Free Regimens and Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Retrieved January 09, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992059/

Jian, X., Ye, J., Li, Y., Li, L. (2018, July 28). Hepatitis B Reactivation in Patients Receiving Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy or Interferon-Based Therapy for Hepatitis C: A systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. World Journal of Gastroenterology. doi:10.3748/wjg.v24.i28.3181

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4612035/#:~:text=Addition%20of%20NAC%20which%20is,completely%20after%205%2D%206%20months.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.