Partners in Treatment

Beginning therapy for hepatitis C is a partnership between you and your clinicians at UNC. Both of you have a role in making sure you complete the treatment in order to maximize your chance for cure. The length of treatment (6 months or 12 months) is determined by the type of hepatitis C (genotype) and by the changes in the hepatitis C virus that we measure during therapy.

Undergoing therapy for hepatitis C can be considered a two-step process. First, you will learn about the medications, potential side effects, and how to take them. We will also teach you ways that you can help to minimize the side effects during treatment.

Your UNC clinicians are there to answer your questions, reassure you, and monitor you for side effects during therapy. This will involve making visits to the clinic where you will have a chance to talk to your clinician about any side effects you are having, and also to get your blood drawn to look at changes in your blood counts. Side effects can be managed through a number of interventions that will be discussed with you. Most patients generally go about their normal activities, although sometimes they may notice limitations. Our goal is to have you complete therapy in a safe manner, minimizing the impact it has on your daily life. We will work closely with you to achieve these goals. It is important to realize that every person is different and may have different responses to therapy.

Our goal is to have you complete therapy in a safe manner, minimizing the impact it has on your daily life.