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Hepatitis C Treatment Side Effects

Hepatitis C is a serious disorder involving inflammation of the liver. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, hepatitis C accounts for up to 70 percent of chronic hepatitis cases and up to half of cirrhosis and liver cancer cases. Side effects of treatment decrease after the first few weeks.

  1. Treatment

    • Standard hepatitis C treatment is a 24-week or 48-week course of the antiviral drugs pegylated alpha interferon and Ribavirin. Side effects usually appear within the first day or two and are worse after the first injection than subsequent doses.

    Common Side Effects

    • Common side effects include chills to the point of shaking, low-grade fever, fatigue, hair loss, headache, itching, skin rash, muscle aches, nasal congestion, sinusitis and coughing.

    Gastrointestinal Side Effects

    • Patients may experience a lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The nausea tends to be worse with an empty stomach, so the patient should try eating several small meals throughout the day.

    Psychological Side Effects

    • Psychological side effects are common, as well. Sadness and crying, mood swings, loss of interest in activities, feelings of hopelessness and irritability may occur. These symptoms all are associated with depression, which may continue throughout the course of treatment. Interferon is not recommended for people with a history of depression.

    Blood Disorders

    • Hepatitis C treatment also may lead to anemia, low blood platelet counts or low white blood cell counts.

    Rare Side Effects

    • Side effects occurring in fewer than 2 percent of hepatitis C patients include autoimmune disease, hearing impairment and tinnitus, retinopathy, seizures, serious bacterial infections, thyroid disease, psychosis and suicidal behavior.

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