When your doctor decides you are a candidate for treatment and you are ready to proceed a combination therapy of Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin is used. The duration of therapy depends on your genotype and response to treatment.

Important

• Do not use alcohol.
• HARM TO UNBORN CHILDREN. Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy during treatment and for 6 months after completing treatment. Two forms of effective birth control must be used. Male patients on treatment need to make sure their partner doesn™t get pregnant during this time.
• Make sure your doctor knows your full medical history.

Pegylated Interferon

Our bodies produce interferon. When our body is fighting a virus it produces even more interferon to defeat the virus. While it helps fighting off infections it can also cause symptoms like fever, muscle pain and fatigue.

Pegylated Interferon is given by injection because stomach enzymes would destroy before it could do its work it if it were in pill form.

Pegylated Interferon is injected subcutaneously once a week and the body absorbs it very slowly. Your treatment nurse will teach you how.

Pegylated Interferon helps the body fight Hepatitis C in the following ways:

• Interferon attaches to he healthy cells and helps them defend themselves against the virus.
• Interferon helps focus the immune system on the invading virus. This stops the virus from multiplying.
• Interferon also helps the body get rid of cells infected by the Hepatitis C virus, while preventing healthy cells from becoming infected.

Pegylated Interferon should be stored in the fridge between 2-8 degrees Celcius. Do not freeze.

Ribavirin

Ribavirin is an antiviral that fights infection. It cannot be used on its own but works well in combination therapy.

It is taken twice a day with food. Ribavirin does not need to be refrigerated.