For Caregivers

As a caregiver, you play an important role in helping your friend or family member with hepatitis C regain his or her health. Many hepatitis C patients find they need the help of a caregiver while they are on treatment. Most often, a caregiver is simply a trusted family member or friend who helps the patient cope with the side effects of therapy.

What About Side Effects? Side effects are "extra" physical reactions that most medicines cause while they start to work. Usually, they're unwanted or uncomfortable effects on the body or emotions. One medicine can cause different reactions in different people. Certain side effects happen more often when patients begin their course of therapy, as well as four to six hours after an injection. Side effects generally can be managed. A health care provider should be consulted about managing side effects.

Treatment Needs to be Completed as Prescribed. Many hepatitis C patients find treatment too hard to handle and want to give up. However, treatment is the only way to stop the progression of the disease and the damage it does to the patient's liver. Therefore, you must help your friend stay on treatment as directed by their health care provider.

Since many caregivers don't know what to expect, this section of BeInCharge.com provides information and support for caregivers. For starters, learn what you can expect from the disease and its treatment. You should also review the hepatitis C basics, and learn how to protect yourself from infection.

IMPORTANT: Please understand that we cannot provide medical advice or respond to any questions related to your friend's specific medical situation. If you have a specific question regarding personal health and PEG-INTRON® (Peginterferon alfa-2b) Powder for Injection, or have a question regarding a PEG-INTRON prescription, please urge your friend to consult his or her doctor.