Stable will help in the treatment of hepatitis C. Treatment of hepatitis C: modern methods and drugs

Hepatitis C is asymptomatic in 80 out of 100 infected people. This is the danger of illness. Patients are often diagnosed already in the later stages, when cirrhosis or liver cancer has developed. Everyone is at risk of getting sick, but there is no vaccine yet. Antiviral drugs are the mainstay of hepatitis C therapy. The latest generation of medicines have made a complete cure possible. Folk remedies for the liver with hepatitis C can contribute to it.

The virus enters the body through the blood, gets to the liver cells, where it begins to reproduce. The substances produced by the pathogen provoke an immune response and the development of inflammation of the liver parenchyma. With hepatitis C, this organ enlarges early, but practically does not hurt, which causes a long asymptomatic course of the pathology. How much tissue is destroyed is found out during ultrasound (ultrasound), CT (computed tomography) or biopsy.

To suggest how far the inflammatory process has gone, allows a change in indicators in the biochemical blood test.

For example:

• increased content of total bilirubin;
• increased activity of liver enzymes, mainly ALT (alanine aminotransferase);
• decrease in albumin levels.

20 out of 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C develop fibrosis, which progresses and can lead to cirrhosis, a carcinoma.

As connective tissue accumulates at the site of dead hepatocytes, liver functions begin to weaken, and with cirrhosis they are completely lost. That is why it is so important to decide on therapy. It will help to restore the affected liver.

Comprehensive treatment of liver inflammation includes:

1. Drugs to eliminate the causes of the disease. These are Interferons, as well as new drugs that have a direct effect on the virus - Sofosbuvir and its analogues. They are often used in combination with each other. Special schemes have been developed for different genotypes of HCV (hepatitis C virus) and stages of liver damage.
2. Preparations for restoring the structure and functions of hepatocytes. This is an extensive group of hepatoprotectors of synthetic and natural origin. The first includes Essentiale N, Heptral, Phosphogliv, Ursosan. Gepabene, Karsil, Hofitol, Sirepar, Progepar are made on a natural basis. They are made from plant or animal raw materials.
3. Vitamin complexes and biologically active additives (BAA). They are a source of vitamins, microelements and active substances necessary for liver restoration. Dietary supplements most often have a vegetable composition. Examples are Gepar Active, Gepagard Active, Legalon.
4. Folk recipes. A variety of herbal teas, herbal teas, bee products in the form of mixtures, infusions and tinctures - all this helps to maintain liver function, improve immunity, and suppress viral activity.
5. Diet therapy and proper lifestyle. They are designed to relieve the affected organ as much as possible, help get rid of the virus faster, and reduce the side effects of drugs.

In addition to the fight against the pathogen, official medicine insists on the use of hepatoprotectors, which can improve the condition of the cells of the inflamed organ.

Patients, depending on the severity of the course of the disease, may be prescribed various drugs that help restore the functionality of hepatocytes. Some drugs are synthetic.

• essential phospholipids;
• detoxification drugs;
• products based on amino acids;
• antioxidants;
• lipotropic substances;
• ursodeoxycholic acid derivatives;
• drugs with cysteine ​​and ornithine.

The most popular group is the essential phospholipids.

They are represented by:

1. Essentiale N.
2. Essliver forte.
3. Rezalut.
4. Phosphogliv.

Phospholipids are the main building blocks of the liver cell walls. To achieve the effect, it is necessary to take drugs from 3 months to six months. With a severe degree of liver damage, the drugs are administered intravenously.

It has been proven that category drugs improve the outcome of Interferon therapy and reduce the number of relapses.

Detoxifiers include substances such as:

1. Magnesium sulfate.
2. sodium bicarbonate.
3. Vitamin C
4. Reamberin.

Amino acids include:

1. L-methionine.
2. Ademetionine.
3. Acetylcysteine.
4. Heptral.

The last drug is the most famous. Its domestic counterpart is Heptor. The active substance of both drugs is called ademetionine.

In addition to hepatotropic, drugs with amino acids have an antidepressant effect. With mild degrees of severity of hepatitis C, tablets are used, with an acute process, intravenous drip administration is practiced.

Antioxidants inactivate free radical molecules in liver cells.

1. Vitamins C, A, E.
2. Lipoic acid.
3. Ubiquinone.
4. Mexidol.
5. Berlition.

Lipotropic drugs include preventing fatty liver.

Recommended:

1. Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Ursodeoxycholic acid preparations bind to cholesterol molecules, dissolve soft stones in the gallbladder.

Usually prescribed:

1. Ursosan.
2. Urdox.

Ursodeoxycholic acid is used to restore the functioning of the entire biliary system.

Cysteines are made on the basis of N-acetylcysteine, which promotes the synthesis of the antioxidant substance glutathione.

Hepa-Merz belongs to preparations containing ornithine.

Other medicines:

• vegetable;
• animal origin.

Preparations on a natural basis of an animal type contain liver cells of pigs or cows. The first category includes Hepatosan.

Bovine cells are present in:

1. Hepatamine.
2. Progepare.
3. Sirepare. It also contains cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).

Means remove toxic metabolites from the body, restore damaged liver cells. Additionally, drugs improve liver function indicators, therefore they are prescribed as part of the complex therapy of the chronic form of hepatitis C. In the acute stage, it is impossible to use the means of the category, since the pathological process may worsen.

Herbal hepatoprotectors are made from extracts of medicinal herbs:

• milk thistle;
• artichoke;
• prickly capers.

Many preparations include the active substance silymarin. It is extracted from the thistle. This plant is rich in flavonoids. They improve blood circulation in hepatocytes, stimulate regeneration processes and quickly remove toxins from the body. In addition, flavonoids effectively slow down the rate of fibrous degeneration of liver tissues.

Group drugs:

1. Karsil.
2. Gepabene.
3. Silimar.
4. Legalon.
5. Milk thistle meal.
6. Cynarix.
7. Hofitol.

The last 2 drugs are made from artichoke.

Hepatoprotectors should be used in the complex therapy of hepatitis C along with antiviral agents. Without them, drugs will not lead to recovery, since they do not act on the pathogen.

Folk recipes

Alternative therapy is used as an addition to the main treatment, designed to support both the liver in hepatitis C and the body's defenses. The recipes use various medicinal herbs, bee products, fruits and berries, vegetables, juices.

For the treatment of hepatitis C are suitable:

1. Tea from a tablespoon of rowan leaves and 0.5 liters of boiling water. Drink after insisting 1 glass a day. The rest can be kept in the refrigerator.
2. Tea from the collection of St. John's wort, mint leaves, pharmaceutical chamomile flowers, rose hips, wormwood herb. Herbs are taken in equal proportions.
3. A decoction of unpeeled oats.
4. Juice of carrots, beets or white cabbage.
5. Propolis tincture. The latter is taken 20 g for 2 shots of vodka. Drink 20 drops in half a cup of milk before meals.

When choosing a prescription for traditional medicine, it is worth enlisting the support of a doctor. Self-medication can worsen the state of health.

Nutritional supplements based on milk thistle (dry thistle), oats and rose hips have proven their effectiveness in hepatitis C. These plants quickly remove harmful metabolic products from the liver.

Dietary supplements start the process of natural regeneration of damaged tissues. For this, Ovesol, Hepatrin, LIV-52 can be used. With viral damage to the liver, it is important to increase the effectiveness of all parts of the immune system. For this purpose, you can use Uncaria.

To maintain liver cells in working condition, we can recommend:

1. Hepatocholan plus. Contains silymarin, beetroot volodushka, saltwort, dandelion, wax bark. The drug has a positive effect on all digestive organs, promotes the regeneration of damaged hepatocytes and restores them after hepatitis C.
2. Indole Active. Contains chemicals as well as artichoke, broccoli powder. The drug increases immune capabilities, restores the functional abilities of the liver and the structure of its cells, removes unnecessary substances from the body.

With the help of dietary supplements, you can increase immunity in order to effectively cope with the virus, while simultaneously restoring impaired functions of the liver parenchyma.

Does the liver hurt with hepatitis, a question that interests many who are faced with the disease. Doctors say that the body does not ache until the changes go too far. This is due to the absence of nerve endings in the liver. The rate of destruction of the organ depends not only on the genotype of the virus, but also on the food load. The gland processes toxins and provides the intestines with bile that breaks down fats.

Accordingly, in order to unload the liver and slow down the development of hepatitis C, it is necessary to exclude from the diet:

• fats of animal origin - due to the complex formula, they are difficult to digest, which creates an extra load on the liver and pancreas;
• simple carbohydrates - they increase the possibility of developing obesity and the addition of type 2 diabetes;
• some trace elements, in particular, iron, the level of which in hepatitis must be controlled;
• vegetable fiber in excess, it should be consumed little by little;
• animal proteins from fatty meat - leave only rabbit meat, turkey, fish and lean beef in the diet.

Part of the meat can be compensated with nuts. But tobacco, alcohol and drugs do not imply replacement, they are clearly excluded.

A balanced diet prescribed by a doctor speeds up recovery. At the end of therapy, a return to the usual diet is allowed. If eating healthy becomes a good habit, you can keep it.

Among the drugs and dietary supplements that have a hepatoprotective effect, the most popular among doctors and patients are:

1. Medicines with milk thistle - Silymarin, Silibinin, Karsil, Legalon.
2. Products with artichoke extract - Hofitol, Cholebil.
3. Combined herbal preparations. Gepabene, Sibektan, Gepafor, Liv-52 are distinguished here.
4. Essential phospholipids - Essentiale N, Rezalut Pro, Essliver forte, Phosfonciale, Phosphogliv.
5. Heptral (Heptor, Ademetinin).
6. Hepa-Merz.
7. Ursofalk, Ursosan.
8. Ovesol.
9. Berlition.
10. LIV-52.

The choice of the drug should be made by the doctor, taking into account the age, severity of the disease, the presence of concomitant pathologies and the individual characteristics of the patient's body.

There are many recipes that help maintain the functioning of liver cells in hepatitis C. Drugs help relieve the burden on the organ, including in case of concomitant diseases, when the body is simultaneously destroyed by several ailments.

The most popular folk recipes:

1. Mumiyo is diluted with water (15 grams per half liter). Course 3 weeks. Start with 25 drops, go up to 60 drops in a week. Then drink a small spoon in the morning and evening before meals.
2. Crush mumiyo and stir with aloe juice (7 g per 0.5 liter). Drink 2 weeks in the morning and in the evening, a teaspoon, then take a break for 2 weeks and repeat.
3. Milk thistle seeds. Grind three large spoons of raw materials with a coffee grinder, pour half a liter of hot water, keep in a water bath for 15 minutes. After cooling and straining, drink after meals a tablespoon three times a day.
4. Milk thistle seeds insist 2 weeks in vodka (50 g per half liter). Dilute a small spoonful of tincture in a glass of water before use. Take half of this glass 3-4 times a day.
5. Brew immortelle inflorescences with boiling water (a teaspoon per glass of water), let it stand for an hour, then drink half a cup three times a day before the main meals.
6. Crushed corn stigmas are poured with boiling water (a large spoon per glass), incubated for 2 hours. You need to drink 2 tablespoons before meals.
7. Soak oat grains with cold water (a glass of raw materials per liter of water), boil for 20 minutes in a water bath, then insist in a thermos for 12 hours. Drink half a glass before meals.
8. Mix beet juice and carrot juice in a glass in a ratio of 1: 3, take a glass twice a day.
9. Juice from white cabbage. To drink, as well as a combination of pomace of carrots with beets.
10. Honey (half a liter) with cinnamon (2 large spoons of chopped), take a tablespoon up to 5 times a day.

Before taking folk remedies, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to avoid side effects and deterioration of the condition.

Nutrition for hepatitis C should unload the liver and related organs. The patient should not starve.

The following dietary dishes will help brighten up the patient's life during hepatitis treatment:

1. Milk soup with pumpkin pulp (200 gr.), prunes (20 pieces). Soak washed dried fruits for 7-8 minutes in 200 milliliters of water and cook for 3 minutes. Then strain, remove the seeds from the prunes and put it back. Add sugar to taste, cinnamon or vanilla on the tip of a knife, pumpkin cut into strips, pour in a liter of milk, mix everything and bring to a boil.
2. Turkey cutlets. Ingredients: 300 gr. minced meat, a slice of white bread, 1 egg white, 1 raw potato, salt. Twist bread and potatoes with a meat grinder, add minced meat, protein and salt, mix. Form meatballs and send to a double boiler for 45 minutes.
3. Curd balls with filling. Mix a pack of cottage cheese, 5 large spoons of flour, egg white. Add a tablespoon of sugar, half a teaspoon of baking powder and salt on the tip of a knife. Peel the apple, chop on a coarse grater. Mix with sugar. Divide the dough into small pieces, make a hole in the center, put the filling there and make balls. Stew them in water and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

There are many recipes. If desired, everyone will find according to their preferences and health.

Medicines used to treat the liver in hepatitis C are absorbed primarily in the small intestine.

Therefore, funds are most often issued in the form of:

• enteric capsules;
• enteric tablets;
• ampoules for injection.

The highest concentration of drugs in the blood is reached 6-12 hours after ingestion. The minimum period applies to injections. Tablet preparations are absorbed for the maximum period.

Medicines for hepatitis C do not accumulate in body tissues. Excretion of metabolites occurs with bile through the intestines or through the kidneys with urine.

Hepatoprotectors in most cases are well tolerated. However, there are individual reactions.

The list of side effects for each drug is different.

• dyspeptic disorders - nausea, dry mouth, rarely vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea;
• allergic reactions - skin itching, urticaria;
• headache, sleep disturbance, dizziness;
• fever, chills.

If adverse reactions occur, you should notify the doctor as soon as possible to decide whether to cancel or replace the drug with another drug.

Duration of treatment with certain means

The duration of the course of treatment is determined by the doctor specifically for each patient. Not only the state of the liver is taken into account, but also the characteristics of drugs.

Usually, within a year after recovery or remission, it is recommended:

1. Sparing mode.
2. Diet food.
3. Taking vitamins and means to restore the functions of hepatocytes.

With severe fibrosis, the recovery period is longer than with its absence or mild degree.

During the recovery period, you must be under the supervision of your doctor. Since there is no vaccination against hepatitis C, the maximum restoration of the body and immunity is important. Otherwise, the risk of re-susceptibility to the virus increases.

Medical approaches to the treatment of hepatitis C are changing as new drugs are invented that can help the patient more effectively and in a short time. Habitual interferon therapy with its side effects, complications and efficiency below 60% is already receding. Now patients who need drug therapy have the opportunity to use the latest drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Modern and effective treatment regimen!

For a long time, interferon and ribavirin were drugs for hepatitis C - it was the combination of these two drugs in various ratios and according to various schemes that were used in the treatment of patients with this disease. During the year, patients had to take these drugs, but positive results were achieved only in half of the cases.

The pharmaceutical industry has come a long way and today patients can use a new hepatitis C drug that has a stronger effect in treating the disease. In addition, new drugs have other positive qualities that interferon therapy did not give, namely:

1. have a small list of side effects;
2. well tolerated by patients, so they are prescribed even to older people;
3. increase the effectiveness of disease therapy, which allows to reduce the duration of treatment by several times;
4. can be used for treatment in patients suffering from human immunodeficiency virus;
5. give the opportunity to refuse therapy with interferon.

The main means of treating the disease

Among the best drugs for the treatment of the disease are Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir and Ledipasvir. Each of these medicines has its own characteristics, so most often doctors do not prescribe monotherapy, but draw up a treatment regimen with these drugs. Combinations are individual in each case, since medicines can act on.

Sofosbuvir is a new effective drug that was tested in the United States in 2013 and approved for the treatment of patients with this disease, after which the results were confirmed by several European health organizations.

The essence of new drugs is that they suppress the virus copying its own ribonucleic acids, as a result of which the virus becomes unviable and ceases to multiply and develop. Studies have shown that Sofosbuvir combined with Daclatasvir and Ledipasvir cured 98 percent of patients who were tested. This is a giant leap forward in the treatment of hepatitis C, which was previously cured in only half of patients.

To navigate the whole variety of drugs and their therapeutic combinations, you can familiarize yourself with their list. Here is the approximate cost of the drug, both original and generic and their combinations. Some drugs in Russia are not yet certified, so the price will be indicated in foreign currency, and drugs that can be purchased in Russia are presented in rubles.

It should be noted right away that drugs produced in the USA and India do not differ in effectiveness, and the difference in price is very significant.

The name of the drug or their combinations	Producing country	Package or course cost
Daclatasvir	USA	$63,000 per course
Sofosbuvir	USA	$84,000 per course
Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir	USA	$90,000 per course
Simeprevir	USA	$70,500 per course
Sofosbuvir	India	$360 per course
Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir	India	$555 per course
Sofosbuvir + Veltapasvir	India	$850 per course
Sofosbuvir + Veltapasvir	Bangladesh	$840 per course
Daclatasvir	India	$195 per course
Hepcinat (sofosbuvir + ledipasvir)	India	18,000 - 20,000 rubles. for 28 tab.
Sofab (sofosbuvir + ledipasvir)	India	$565 per course
Sofokem	India	14,000 - 18,000 rubles. per pack
Gratisovir	Egypt	$150 for 28 tab.
Ducklinza	USA	RUB 390,000 per course
Daclavirocyrl (daclatasvir)	Egypt	$50 for 28 tab.
Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir	Egypt	$500 per course
Heterosophire Plus (sofosbuvir + ledipasvir)	Egypt	$180 for 28 tab.
Gratesiano	Egypt	$150 for 28 tab.
	Egypt	$180 for 28 tab.

The data above allows the patient to navigate the price, and together with the doctor to choose a treatment regimen by one means or another.

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Treatment regimens and their effectiveness

Treatment of hepatitis C virus long-term hepatitis drugs are recommended to be taken for at least three months. The following table can be used to illustrate the existing combinations and approximate costs for hepatitis treatment.

Name of the drug and active substance, country of manufacture	Application features (if any)	Activity against hepatitis virus genotype	Treatment regimen	Cost per course
Daklinza+Sofokem	without adding ribavirin to the regimen		12 weeks of therapy with compensated liver disease allowed to give positive results in 90% of cases, in the presence of cirrhosis of the liver in 63% of cases	approx 450 000 rub.
Viropak (sofosbuvir + ledipasvir)	with cirrhosis of the liver, the course of treatment is doubled, does not require the appointment of ribavirin and interferon	1, 4th genotype, with 2nd and 2nd genotype, a combination with ribavirin is recommended	efficiency with a standard course was proven in 96%, with a complicated course of the disease, the efficiency was 63%	$540/$1080 (at double rate)
Daklinza + Sovaldi (daclatasvir + sofosbuvir) (US production)	with compensated cirrhosis	1.4th genotype	duration of therapy 12 weeks, positive effect in 95%	$19,500 per course
Harvoni (sofosbuvir + ledipasvir), made in the USA	Can be used in HIV-infected people	all genotypes	100% effect in most uncomplicated hepatitis, about 90-94% in hepatitis with cirrhosis and 86% in the presence of HIV infection	$25,700 for 28 tab.
Copegus (ribavirin) (Switzerland)	possible as a component in a complicated course of the disease	all genotypes	efficiency depends on additional components, mainly ranges from 90% and above	$500 for 168 tab.
Victrelis (boceprevir), manufacturer Switzerland	recommended for hepatitis with cirrhosis of the liver	all genotypes	used three times a day for three months, the drug enhances the effect of other drugs against hepatitis with cirrhosis of the liver	$4,000 for 336 capsules (whole course)
Daklinza (daclatasvir), USA	monotherapy	all genotypes	efficiency with monotherapy is about 90%	$28,000 for treatment
Vikirakis (USA)	possible combination with ribavirin, no side effects with monotherapy		efficacy in uncomplicated hepatitis 98%	$19,000 for 14 tab.
Olisio (simeprevir), Belgium	prescribed for chronic hepatitis, if the liver is affected by cirrhosis	1st genotype	course of treatment for three months, after which it is necessary to take the same amount of peginterferon and ribavirin	$39,000 for a course of treatment.
Sunvepra (asunaprevir) (USA)	possible appointment with daclatasvir, ribavirin and peginterferon	1-a, 1-b genotype	take three months twice a day	$12,000 per course
Gratesiano (sofosbuvir), Egypt	successful in the treatment of coinfections and in HIV-infected patients, well combined with daclatasvir	all hepatitis C genotypes	course of treatment for three months, high efficiency - 100% can be cured in hepatitis with cirrhosis, and type 3 hepatitis, 94% in type 1 hepatitis	$450 per course

Patients treated with new drugs for hepatitis C note the absence of severe side effects. The result was just as good when treated with ribavirin - the drug gives high efficiency and less negative impact. If the liver is affected by cirrhosis, the effectiveness of therapy in many cases does not decrease, but remains at the level of 95-98%. This is a good indicator for such a serious complication, since the treatment of hepatitis could not previously have such high results.

Direct acting drugs

The pharmaceutical market has recently been enriched by another group of drugs - direct-acting drugs. These drugs include:

1. Vikeyra Pak;
2. Ducklins;
3. Dasabuvir;
4. Ombitasvir;
5. Ritonavir;
6. Simeprevir;
7. Sunvepra.

These antiviral drugs act directly on the sites of the hepatitis C virus, which makes it possible to achieve high efficiency in the treatment of the disease. After the virus stops multiplying and growing, it weakens and is completely eliminated from the body.

The action of representatives of this group is complicated by the fact that they must be applied in a complex, following a clear scheme developed by the doctor. The reaction of each organism to a combination of drugs is also very individual - they can cause serious adverse reactions, from which patients may not get rid of for the rest of their lives. Therefore, doctors take a very responsible approach to the choice of drugs and the preparation of a treatment regimen for them. The nutrition scheme during therapy is clearly prescribed, factors dangerous for the patient are eliminated, etc.

The scheme of the most successful treatment depends not only on the efforts of doctors and the patient, the genotype of the hepatitis C virus plays a huge role in this matter, therefore, before starting therapy, patients need to undergo a series of tests to specify the causative agent of the disease.

As mentioned earlier, modern hepatitis drugs are quite expensive. When taking into account all the necessary drugs that the patient needs to take during the course, the amount is quite high. Naturally, the pharmaceutical industry began to look for ways to reduce the cost of drugs, so analogues of direct-acting drugs appeared on the market, the so-called. generics. Their cost is much lower, so most patients can be covered by such therapy. Indian pharmaceutical companies have mastered the production of generics. Generics are similar in their medicinal properties to the original drugs, but they are produced under a special license, which reduces the cost of their production.

There is no need to think that the generic is a fake. Generics undergo strict certification, they comply with the main ratio of the components of the drug, the production of drugs complies with international standards, and absorption rates do not differ from "native" drugs. The average price of a full course of generics is about $ 1,000, the most famous names of generics are:

• Ladyphos;
• Harvoni;
• Hepsinat;
• mihep;
• Ducklins;
• Lipasvir;
• Lezovir.

Interferons

Interferon therapy is used to treat predominantly chronic forms of the disease, since long-term use of antiviral drugs causes serious side effects - reduced immunity, allergies, and accumulation of toxins in liver cells. This not only lengthens the patient's recovery process, but also jeopardizes the achieved effect, because when monotherapy with antiviral agents is stopped, the pathogen reappears in the blood after three months. To improve the results of treatment, interferon was also added to antiviral drugs. Preparations for the liver in hepatitis C based on ribavirin and interferon prevent the reproduction of the virus, which allows you to stop the pathological process and save hepatocytes from the development of carcinoma. The goal of interferon therapy is to:

1. cessation of pathogen replication;
2. normalization of serum blood parameters;
3. reduction of the inflammatory process in the liver parenchyma;
4. slowing the progression of the disease.

Treatment with interferon therapy can lead to the following outcome options:

• stable result of the absence of the virus for six months;
• a transient response, in which the virus ceases to be detected, but when therapy is discontinued, the symptoms return;
• complete lack of response to treatment with interferon therapy.

Interferon therapy is not prescribed for severe lesions of the heart and blood vessels, autoimmune hepatitis, decompensated cirrhosis, thyroiditis. When choosing a dose of a drug, there is always a question of its tolerability, so the treatment regimen is drawn up very correctly, after a complete picture of all diagnostic measures. Among the interferons used in the treatment of the disease, doctors prescribe Laferon, Reaferon, Laifferon, Interal, Realdiron, Roferon, Alvir and other drugs. They are produced both in Russia (Reaferon-ES, Altevir, Interal, Laifferon), and in Israel, Switzerland, USA, Ukraine, Lithuania.

In some patients, hepatitis C medicine may cause fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. In this case, simple interferons can be replaced with pegylated ones, which act more strongly. Depression, hair loss, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia have also been reported among the side effects.

Ribavirins

In order to suppress the virus, the active substance ribavirin is used. It was synthesized in the 70s of the last century and was actively used to treat viral diseases, including hepatitis C. Ribavirin can reduce the number of hepatitis viruses in the blood, the effectiveness of treatment with ribavirin preparations is about 85 percent. The disadvantage of the drug is that the effect is observed only while taking the drug. After the abolition of ribavirin, the increase in the amount of viral elements in the blood increases after six months spent without medication. Hepatitis C pills with ribavirin have long been the main cure for the disease. In combination with interferon, they were prescribed for all hepatitis virus genotypes. Due to the fact that hepatitis C drugs are being treated now, ribavirin is fading into the background. Tablets are prescribed only as an additional drug, to maintain the therapeutic effect of other drugs. The drug itself has a number of contraindications, so it cannot be used in every patient with hepatitis C - this is the main inconvenience of this remedy. Since new drugs are not always available to patients, ribavirin has not yet disappeared from the prescriptions of the attending physician, and patients have to deal not only with hepatitis C, but also with the side effects of drugs. Among the drugs based on ribavirin, which are used for treatment, we can mention such names as Rebetol, Trivorin, Ribavirin, Arviron, Ribapeg and others. Ribavirins are produced both by domestic firms and foreign companies (USA, Mexico, India, Germany).

Other drugs

Since hepatitis C itself is a serious illness, and therapy for hepatitis does not have the best effect on the patient's health, therefore, people taking drugs for hepatitis C also undergo rehabilitation therapy. There are a number of drugs that are recommended for taking - these are Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Rutin, Gerimaks. In most cases, these are vitamins that support the body during recovery.

Mandatory to use are hepatoprotectors that restore liver cells affected by the virus. Among these drugs, doctors recommend taking Heptral, Phosphogliv and Ursofalk. These drugs have a detoxifying effect and regenerating properties. With their use, metabolic processes in the liver parenchyma improve, the elasticity of hepatocytes increases, and bile acids are detoxified. The drug Phosphogliv has an antiviral effect, it is also able to prevent cirrhotic changes in the liver. Ursofalk is famous for its immunomodulatory effect, which facilitates the work of the liver by normalizing the composition of bile. Also, to reduce side effects, patients are prescribed intramuscular injections of Derinat, Neupogen and Recormon, Revolade tablets are recommended.

Contraindications

Hepatitis C is treated mainly for all patients, except for those who have contraindications. They are approved by the American Hepatology Association based on observations of patients who take the latest drugs. These contraindications include:

1. severe depressive states;
2. autoimmune hepatitis;
3. the presence of transplant organs;
4. thyrotoxicosis, not amenable to therapy;
5. allergic reactions to the components of the product;
6. pregnancy;
7. ischemic heart disease in a severe stage;
8. diabetes.

In the treatment of hepatitis C, patients have the opportunity to try an effective course of treatment that gives hope for recovery in almost all patients. The choice of drugs that will best affect a given genotype of the virus is carried out by a doctor, who also prescribes a treatment regimen.

The liver is a filter of the human body, an important organ of the digestive system, when it is damaged by viruses, a serious inflammatory process develops. How to treat hepatitis C, why you need to start treatment immediately, what drugs will help get rid of the disease, and how much it will cost - the answers to these questions will help you choose the best therapy.

With the right treatment, hepatitis C can be cured

Which doctor treats hepatitis C?

Several subspecialists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis C. Hepatologist - deals with the treatment of various pathologies of the liver, an infectious disease specialist specializes in infectious diseases, the causative agents of which are opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms.

Hepatitis C can go on without any symptoms for a long time, the acute form is often similar in clinical presentation to a respiratory infection, and jaundice occurs in a very small number of patients. All these factors make it difficult to diagnose, and regular preventive examinations will help to identify a dangerous virus in a timely manner.

How is the disease treated: outpatient or inpatient?

Treatment for viral liver disease can be done in a hospital or at home.

Hospitalization of patients with complications and concomitant liver diseases

Patients with advanced forms of the disease are placed in the hospital, in whom cirrhosis began to develop against the background of hepatitis, hospitalization is necessary to identify the degree of damage to the organ, the presence of other complications. In the hospital, under the constant supervision of a doctor, acute hepatitis is being treated, an exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease, since it is necessary to constantly monitor the patient's condition, the effectiveness of therapy.

The acute form of hepatitis C sometimes provokes the activation of the immune system, which causes self-healing, but such cases are recorded in about 1-2% of patients.

Treatment effectiveness

You can completely get rid of hepatitis C, but for this you need to see a doctor in a timely manner, undergo a full course of treatment, give up bad habits, carefully monitor your own health, and lead an active lifestyle. One of the main conditions for successful recovery is diet.

Approved Products

Prohibited Products

low-fat meat, minced meat dishes in boiled, baked form; lean fish - should be present in the diet more often than meat; sauces based on sour cream, yogurt, milk; soups with light vegetable broth; bread can be any, but only dried; raw or stewed vegetables; ripe berries and fruits; sweets in a small amount - meringue, marmalade, marshmallows, caramel, honey, jam; boiled eggs, scrambled eggs; butter - 20-30 g / day; all cereals; low-fat dairy products; still water, herbal and green tea, natural juices, decoction of rose hips.

radish, radish, mushrooms, garlic, onion, white cabbage; pickled, pickled vegetables, legumes; fried foods, rich broths; food with any chemical additives; fatty meat, fish, cooking oils, sausages; smoked products, lard, canned food, fatty dairy products; fresh bread, pastries from yeast, puff pastry, confectionery with cream, chocolate; foods with oxalic acid, high cholesterol; kvass; spicy sauces; black coffee, cocoa, spirits.

Patients with hepatitis need to eat more protein foods - 1 g of protein / kg, the amount of fat per day - 80 g, complex carbohydrates should leave half of the total energy value, the amount of salt should be reduced to 2-8 g.

With timely treatment, proper treatment, diet and the recommendations of the attending physician, about 90% of patients succeed in treating hepatitis forever.

Medical treatment

The basis of therapy for hepatitis C is interferon preparations, doctors recommend using several drugs from this group at once, the dosage, the duration of treatment depends on the virus genotype, the concentration of viral RNA, and the level of reduced immunity.

The basic scheme of treatment with injectable interferons:

• virus genotype II, type III - Ribavirin 800 mg / day for six months;
• virus genotype I, IV - after a biopsy, Ribavirin is prescribed at 1000-1200 mg / day for 48 weeks;
• with any type of virus - Altevir three times a week.

Modern drugs based on sofosbuvir and daclatasvir are produced in the form of tablets, they have a detrimental effect directly on the virus that provokes the development of hepatitis. The original drugs Sovaldi, Daklinza are produced in Europe and America, but there are also Indian generics that are in no way inferior to the originals in terms of therapeutic effect.

Take Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir at the same time - 1 tablet per day of each drug. The duration of treatment is 12-24 weeks, with severe forms, the presence of HIV and cirrhosis, Ribavirin is additionally prescribed.

With the IV genotype of the virus, only Daclatasvir in combination with Interferon and Ribavirin can be used in therapy; in the presence of HIV and drug intolerance, taking drugs based on daclatasvir and sofosbuvir is contraindicated.

In addition to antiviral drugs, hepatoprotectors are prescribed - Phosphogliv, Silimar, Essentiale. Be sure to take B vitamins, ascorbic, folic acid, immunomodulators.

When Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir are taken together, a positive result of therapy is observed in 50-100% of cases, depending on the characteristics of the pathology, the presence of concomitant diseases.

Contraindications to drug treatment

Drug treatment is contraindicated in patients under 3 and adults over 60 years of age, combined antiviral therapy is not carried out in the presence of certain chronic diseases.

Main contraindications:

• diabetes;
• heart failure, ischemia;
• severe form of hypertension;
• bronchial asthma;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• pregnancy, breastfeeding period;
• more severe mental disorders.

Pregnancy is a serious contraindication to medical treatment of hepatitis C.

Drug treatment of hepatitis should not be carried out in patients who have undergone organ transplantation, have a pronounced allergy to drugs.

Treatment of hepatitis C folk remedies

It is impossible to cure hepatitis C with folk remedies, with non-traditional methods help strengthen the immune system, restore, improve liver function.

How to treat hepatitis C with home remedies:

1. Brew 220 ml of boiling water 10 g of crushed corn stigmas, leave in a sealed container for 2 hours. Drink 25 ml 4 times a day a quarter of an hour before meals. The drink has a pronounced choleretic effect.
2. Grind to powder 3 tbsp. l. milk thistle seeds, pour 500 ml of boiling water, simmer in a steam bath for half an hour, strain. Take 15 ml three times a day after meals.
3. Grate 3 tbsp. l. fresh horseradish root, pour 250 ml of homemade milk, heat over low heat, but do not boil. Drink the entire portion of the medicine in small sips throughout the day.
4. To strengthen the immune system, drink honey water in the morning on an empty stomach - 5–10 g of the product per 200 ml of warm water. Aloe also helps well - take 10 ml of fresh plant juice three times a day before meals. Before going to bed, you can drink a glass of natural grapefruit juice.
5. Mumiyo will help restore liver cells - pour 15 g of raw materials into 500 ml of hot water, but not with boiling water, stir. Start taking 25 drops, gradually increase the dose to 5 ml, you need to drink the medicine in the morning and evening half an hour before meals.

Taking shilajit will help restore liver cells

Traditional healers recommend that patients with hepatitis every morning half an hour before breakfast eat 1 raw homemade egg yolk, drink 250 ml of a mixture of equal parts of fresh parsley, carrot, celery and pumpkin juice twice a day.

How much does it cost to treat hepatitis C?

Treatment of hepatitis C with modern drugs will cost about 1 million rubles. per course, since most drugs have not yet been certified in the Russian Federation, they will have to be ordered via the Internet in Europe, America, India, interferon preparations are also high in cost.

What to do if there is no money? There are quotas, benefits for receiving free therapy, but since there is no single federal program for the treatment of this disease, people with hepatitis will have to make a lot of effort to be able to be treated for free.

Participation in clinical trials is one way to get free treatment

Options for free hepatitis C treatment:

• public funds for the treatment of viral hepatitis - the quota applies to patients with grade III, IV fibrosis, elevated liver values;
• preferential therapy for citizens of certain categories;
• participation in clinical trials of antiviral drugs conducted by pharmacological companies;
• medical insurance.

If it is not possible to get rid of acute hepatitis within a year, the disease will turn into a chronic form, and it may take decades to recover.

If hepatitis C is not treated, how long can you live?

Without proper treatment of viral hepatitis, a person will sooner or later develop cirrhosis, liver cancer, life expectancy depends only on the degree of reduced immunity, the age of the patient, the presence of chronic diseases, and lifestyle. Asymptomatic disease can develop 15-25 years.

Prevention of viral disease

To avoid infection with hepatitis C, it is necessary to avoid contact with someone else's blood, do not forget about condoms, you can not use other people's razors, toothbrushes.

To avoid contracting hepatitis C, use only personal hygiene products

When visiting a dentist, nail and tattoo parlors, you need to insist on the use of disposable instruments, or ask to sterilize again, control the process personally.

There is no vaccination against hepatitis C yet.

Viral hepatitis C- a dangerous disease in which there is a violation of liver function, in the absence of proper treatment, cancer and cirrhosis develop. Therapy of pathology is long, expensive, so it is better to follow the rules of prevention, try in every possible way to avoid infection.

Medicines for hepatitis C are divided into several groups depending on the mechanism of action and the severity of the disease. Therapy is aimed at inhibiting the development and spread of the virus. Before starting treatment, it is important to correctly draw up a treatment regimen, familiarize yourself with the effect of medications, possible side effects and contraindications.

The choice of the drug for hepatitis C depends on the severity of the disease and the characteristics of the patient.

How to choose a medicine for viral hepatitis

To choose the most effective treatment, you should pass all the necessary tests to determine the type of virus.

The scheme, duration of therapy and dosage of medications is selected by a qualified specialist - the independent use of folk remedies will not have a positive effect.

The choice of treatment regimen directly depends on the following factors:

• gender and age category of the patient;
• the degree of damage to the liver tissues;
• hereditary predisposition to the development of cirrhosis of the liver;
• the duration of the disease.

The chance of a positive result of treatment increases if:

• the patient's genotype is not 1;
• there is no cirrhosis and fibrosis of the liver;
• the patient's weight is less than 75 kilograms, and the age is under 40 years.

Prolonged lack of treatment increases the risk of benign and malignant neoplasms in the liver. The choice of medications and the duration of the treatment course will depend on the type of virus.

The best drugs for hepatitis C

Medications used to eliminate viral hepatitis are divided into several main groups

Interferons

Medicines in this group have antitumor, immunostimulatory and antiviral effects, and also prevent the spread of infected cells.

Name	Contraindications	Side effects	Amount	Price
Viferon-Feron	Hypersensitivity to components	Itching, redness on the skin	10 candles	378
	Hepatitis autoimmune type, liver cirrhosis, diseases of the kidneys, heart and blood vessels	Liver neoplasms, anemia, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, stroke, migraine	1 syringe - tube	6765
Intron-A	Chronic hepatitis, epilepsy, disorders of the nervous system, thyroid disease	Increased irritability, insomnia, headache, weakness, myalgia	6 doses	7282
Reaferon-ES	Allergic type diseases	Fever, chills	5 ampoules	930
Interferon	Psychiatric disorders, kidney pathologies, epilepsy	Nausea, anorexia, dry mouth, arterial hypotension, tachycardia		From 96 to 13500
Roferon	Heart disease, disorders of the nervous system	Diarrhea, abdominal pain, low hemoglobin, drowsiness, dizziness		820

Pegasys helps prevent the spread of infected cells

For the treatment of hepatitis C, the regular use of drugs in this group is at least 3 months. None of the above medicines is recommended for use during the period of bearing and feeding a child.

Reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Block the production of viral cells and prevent their further reproduction. List of effective inhibitors:

Name	Contraindications	Side effects	Amount	Cost, rubles
	Chronic heart failure, liver and kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, cirrhosis of the liver,	Rash, urticaria, bradycardia, rhinitis, fungus	30 capsules	182
Lamivudine	Intolerance to drug components	Respiratory tract infections, migraines, excessive fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation	60 tablets	2320
Acyclovir	Intolerance to valaciclovir, renal failure	Fever, abdominal pain, hallucinations, leukopenia	20 tablets	160

Ribavirin blocks the production of viral cells

The listed drugs are used in combination with drugs based on interferon - monotherapy does not have a positive effect.

Protease inhibitors

This group includes new generation medical devices, the action of which is based on blocking the spread of the virus. List of the most effective ones:

The action of Daclatasfir is based on blocking the spread of the virus

The newest drugs are used if the standard treatment regimen with Interferon and Ribavirin has caused serious side effects in a person.

Inducers of interferonogenesis

They are used in modern treatment for exacerbation of hepatitis C in patients who previously used drugs based on interferon and ribavirin. These include:

PK-Merz is an alternative to Ribavirin

Contribute to the achievement of a better result in combination with drugs based on interferon, increase the effectiveness of the body's fight against the virus.

Hepatoprotectors

Medications of this group are prescribed for treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin, are characterized by a number of positive effects:

• contribute to the restoration of hepatocytes;
• stabilize the liver, reduce the risk of further damage;
• have a regenerating effect.

Hepatoprotectors include:

Medicines in this group are most often of plant origin and are made from herbs immortelle, milk thistle and artichoke. The average duration of regular intake is 1 year, if necessary, the doctor can extend the course.

Standard treatment regimen for hepatitis C

Therapy, based on the simultaneous use of the antiviral drugs Interferon and Ribavirin, is used to treat hepatitis C of all types, but it is best to cure the 2nd and 3rd type of the virus.

Interferon has an active effect on the virus, and Ribavirin enhances the effect obtained and prevents the spread of the virus. There are 2 methods of treatment with these drugs:

• Scheme 1 consists in the daily use of short-acting Interferon and Ribavirin;
• Scheme 2 is based on the introduction of short-acting Interferon once every 3 days and the use of a pegelated type preparation once a week. Ribavirin must be taken every day.

The described therapy improves the quality of blood and the cellular structure of tissues, however, side effects may also occur:

• decrease in the level of iron in the blood;
• increased hair loss;
• failure of menstruation, decrease in sexual desire;
• anemia;
• psychological disorders;
• migraine, fever or fever;
• deterioration of the endocrine system.

The described treatment regimen is contraindicated in a number of cases:

• pregnancy;
• the presence of transplanted internal organs;
• cardiac pathologies;
• lung diseases;
• diabetes;
• disorders of the thyroid gland;
• age up to 3 years.

The latest treatment for hepatitis C

A new method for the treatment of viral hepatitis is used in patients with genotype 1 of the virus and involves the inclusion of protease inhibitors in therapy, which include Telaprevir and Boceprevir.

Boceprevir is a drug for the treatment of patients with the 1st virus genotype

One of the new drugs that cure hepatitis C is supplementing the treatment regimen with Interferon and Ribavirin.

Boceprevir should be started at the 2nd month of treatment, and Telaprevir is included in the therapy at the 12th week. The dosage is calculated by the doctor, based on the individual characteristics of the organism and the severity of the disease in the patient. The duration of the course ranges from 6 to 18 months.

Such treatment is contraindicated in case of intolerance to the components of Ribavirin and Interferon, as well as in patients under 18 years of age.

The following side effects may occur:

• development of anemia;
• skin irritation;
• insomnia, sudden mood changes;
• nausea, vomiting, increased weakness, lack of appetite.

In this case, Telaprevir and Boceprevir are allowed to be used in self-treatment.