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Are there any prescription treatments for hepatitis C?

Three prescription drugs are used to treat people with hepatitis C infections: interferon alfacon-1 (brand name Infergen), interferon alpha-2b (>Intron-A), and a combination of interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin (>Rebetron). Interferon helps the body’s immune system fight the virus, and ribavirin is toxic to the virus.

Early in 2001, the FDA approved >PEG-Intron a pegylated interferon alfa-2b. It is a longer-acting form of Intron-A and is available as a once-weekly injection. PEG-Intron can be used alone or in combination with ribavirin to treat chronic hepatitis C. A recent study found that using PEG-Intron and ribavirin together worked better than PEG-Intron alone to control hepatitis C infection. A new combination of PEG-Intron with ribavirin (Rebetol) is under review by the FDA and may be available soon.

These medicines do not totally eliminate the infection, but they may lessen the liver damage caused by the virus. Studies show that 30-50 percent of people infected with hepatitis C respond to Rebetron, while only 15-20 percent of people respond to interferon alone. Because of this, Rebetron is often the first choice of treatment.

Depression is common in people with chronic liver disease and it is a side effect of interferon alpha. A recent study found that treatment with paroxetine (>Paxil) can reduce the depression caused by interferon alpha therapy.

Sources:
Chronic Hepatitis C: Current Disease Management. NIH Publication No. 99-4230, May 1999.
Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach. Fourth Edition. Appleton & Lange, 1999.
The Pink Sheet. Schering PEG-Intron/Rebetol U.S. Filing Slated For First Quarter 2001.Vol. 63, No. 2 (2001).
Schering-Plough Press Release. “Schering-Plough Reports FDA Assigns Priority Review Status To PEG-Intron And Rebetol Application For Chronic Hepatitis C”. http://www.schering-plough.com/ Schering-Plough Corporation. 2001.Last accessed 4/4/01.
Siegel, Jay P. PEG-Intron Product Approval Information. FDA Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.fda.gov/cber/approvltr/pegsche011901L.htm. Last accessed 4/4/01.
Glue, P. “A Dose-Ranging Study of Pegylated Interferon alfa-2b and Ribavirin in Chronic Hepatitis C. The Hepatitis C Intervention Therapy Group”. Hepatology 32 (2000).
Musselman, DL. “Paroxetine for the Prevention of Depression Induced by High-Dose Interferon Alfa”. The New England Journal of Medicine 344 (2001).
Micromedex Healthcare Series. Micromedex, Inc., 2001.

This answer prepared 4/13/01.

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