2006-09-04 20:29:46 · 5 answers · asked by dettie 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Hep C has only been treated really successfully in the last few years and many people are still unaware of that. The medicine used is Interferon-alpha plus Rivavirin. The medicine Interferon used to have a lot of side effects but has been refined a lot and significantly improved recently. The treatment used to last much longer - now it varies from six months to a year, although sometimes it has to be repeated. The viral load significantly decreases - down to undetectable in many cases. Not everybody responds in the same way to the treatment with Interferon, however - it depends on your genotype mainly. The latter can be identified after a test.
If not treated, it takes some 20 years before chronic Hep C does its deadly liver changes. If treated, life expectancy increases with tens of years more and as I mentioned already in many cases the viral load is reduced to zero, which means that the person will live their life till the natural end, if I may put it that way.
Medicine keeps developing, so you may feel optimistic about the outcome. Don't trust 'natural herbs' or other unreliable stuff. Consult a specialist and start your treatment.
p.s.Unlike other types of Hep, Hep C is actually not a sexually transmitted disease, contrary to what many people (and even doctors) think. While on treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin you shouldn't try to have kids.
2006-09-05 23:09:43 · answer #1 · answered by nelabis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My husband died of hep-C 12 years ago. He took interferon, but the doctors said it only helped 40% of the time. It did not help him. Most people take herbs and vitamins. Milk thistle is supposed to be good for cleansing the liver.
2006-09-07 17:57:08 · answer #2 · answered by pixles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No cure. There is no set time on life span. Some people live a long time.
2006-09-04 20:32:43 · answer #3 · answered by â?¥ Pawya! 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
methadone treatment can help if taken correctly and not abused. It can usually be expected at least 10 years once full outbreak occurs.
2006-09-04 20:33:27 · answer #4 · answered by marilee w 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Read up on glyconutrients. start with this site.
glycoresource.com and read the info on my page.
2006-09-05 15:38:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋