Hepatitis C can now be cured with a short course of tablets, prescribed by your usual GP. If you have been waiting, this is a good time to take another look.

Key points

• • Hepatitis C treatment is one to three tablets a day for 8 to 12 weeks, and it cures around 95% of people.
  • Your GP can prescribe it, and it is subsidised on the PBS for people with Medicare.
  • A blood test at least 12 weeks after you finish confirms whether you are cured.
  • You can get hepatitis C again after a cure, but you can also be treated again.
    
    

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. It spreads through blood to blood contact. Many people have no symptoms for years, which is why it often goes undiagnosed. Over time, untreated hepatitis C can cause scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis, and increase the risk of liver failure and liver cancer.

Treating it early prevents that damage. Even if you have had hepatitis C for a long time, treatment can stop it from progressing.

What does treatment involve?

Treatment uses a group of medicines called direct acting antivirals. Depending on the medicine, you take one to three tablets a day for 8 to 12 weeks. Most people have few side effects. Some notice mild headache, tiredness or nausea, which usually eases as treatment goes on.

Before you start, your doctor will order some blood tests and check for liver scarring, either with a blood test or a quick scan called a FibroScan. They will also review your other medicines, because some, including certain heartburn medicines and herbal products, can interact with hepatitis C treatment.

Who can prescribe it?

Your normal GP can prescribe hepatitis C treatment. Most people do not need to see a liver specialist unless they have significant liver scarring or other complications. If you have a Medicare card, the medicines are available through the PBS, so you pay the standard PBS copayment for each script.

How do I know I'm cured?

Your doctor will order a blood test at least 12 weeks after you finish your tablets. If the virus cannot be found, you are cured. It is important to go to this test, even if you feel well, because it is the only way to confirm the result.

One thing surprises many people. After a cure, your hepatitis C antibody test will usually stay positive for life. This does not mean the virus is back. It simply shows you had it in the past. Any future testing needs to look for the virus itself, so let new doctors know you have been treated.

Can I get hepatitis C again?

Yes. Being cured does not make you immune. You can lower the risk by always using new, sterile injecting equipment if you inject drugs, which is available free through needle and syringe programs, and by not sharing razors or toothbrushes. If you do get hepatitis C again, you can be treated again.

What about my liver after a cure?

For most people, the liver starts to recover once the virus is gone. If you already have cirrhosis, your health team will recommend a liver ultrasound every six months to check for cancer, even after a cure. Reducing alcohol and asking about hepatitis A and B vaccination can also help protect your liver in the long term.

How Ace can help

A cure depends on finishing every tablet in your course. Ace dispenses hepatitis C treatment and delivers it to you, and our pharmacists can check your other medicines and supplements for interactions before you start. Get started with Ace.

References

Hepatitis Australia. Hepatitis C.

healthdirect. Hepatitis C.

Australian Government Department of Health. Hepatitis C.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Talk to your GP about testing and treatment for hepatitis C.