When should I take interferon for hepatitis B?
When should I take interferon for hepatitis B?
Interferon is the drug of choice for treating several chronic forms of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis B and C. It may also be used to treat a more unusual type of hepatitis called hepatitis D, which is a co-infection, that can occur with type B hepatitis, often in injection drug users.
How does interferon work to treat chronic hepatitis?
Without treatment, chronic hepatitis inflames and damages the liver and can lead to: A person’s cells begin secreting interferon when they detect viral infection. Interferon alerts all nearby cells that a viral infection is under way, triggering the production of proteins that block viral replication.
Are there any side effects from taking interferons?
This is largely because they’ve been shown to be more effective than interferons and to cause fewer side effects. But if you’ve taken interferons in the past, you might still be seeking information on the side effects that may occur due to long-term hepatitis C treatment with interferons.
When does the human body make extra interferon?
In fact, the human body is constantly making interferon, and makes even greater amounts when trying to fight off an intruder, such as a virus. People experience this when suffering with the flu. When sick with the flu, the body makes extra interferon to defeat the virus causing the illness.
What can alpha interferon be used for for?
Alpha interferon has been approved for therapeutic use against a specific type of leukemia, hepatitis B and C, genital warts, AIDS- related Kaposi’s sarcoma and some rare cancers of blood and bone marrow. Nasal sprays containing alpha interferon provide some protection against colds caused by rhinoviruses.
How often does interferon therapy work for Hep B?
Individuals with chronic hepatitis B receive a higher dose of 10 million units, three times per week. Although it can widely vary, the typical duration of therapy is 48 weeks for hepatitis C, and 16 weeks for hepatitis B.
This is largely because they’ve been shown to be more effective than interferons and to cause fewer side effects. But if you’ve taken interferons in the past, you might still be seeking information on the side effects that may occur due to long-term hepatitis C treatment with interferons.
What’s the cure rate for Hep C interferon?
Interferon’s effectiveness. For hepatitis C, the cure rate is defined as the inability to detect virus in the blood 6 months after stopping therapy. This rate varies significantly depending on a number of patient, viral and drug regimen characteristics. The most important factor is the viral genotype.
Which is better for hepatitis C interferons or DaaS?
However, newer treatments called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are now the standard of care for treating hepatitis C. This is largely because they’ve been shown to be more effective than interferons and to cause fewer side effects.