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Preparing for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C means
planning
ahead.
Plan
ahead. Before beginning therapy, tell your doctor about
any
medications you are taking, including vitamins and herbal remedies. Some
medications work differently when taken during treatment for chronic
hepatitis
C. Your body could have a bad reaction when medications are combined, so it
is
important your doctor know of them before treatment begins.
Almost
Everyone
Experiences Side Effects.
Almost everyone who uses interferon and/or ribavirin experiences
unpleasant
side
effects from time to time. You can be prepared for these
side
effects with planning:
- Think about your childcare needs. Who can help if you
suddenly
become ill and cannot care for your children? Who can your children call
if
they have an emergency and you are too sick to help? Share this
information
with your child's school.
- Do you have someone who can care for pets if you are unable
to
do so?
- Find a close friend, family member, or church leader willing
to help, before you are faced with an emergency and have nowhere
to
turn.
- If you think you will need a lot of help, seek it out. Look
into
resources such as local agencies, support groups, or members of your
church.
Don't be shy about asking for help.
- Arrange to take a week or two off work when you begin
treatment.
Side effects are typically worst during the first two weeks. It may help
to
stay at home, or plan for long rest periods.
- If your home life is busy, try to have others take over some
of
the chores. Get temporary help for the first week or two. Do whatever you
can
to make it easier on yourself.
- Stock up on:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers as recommended by your
doctor
- Clear fruit juice to drink before and after
injections
- Healthy meals and snacks to keep your energy up, especially
during the first two weeks
Take Care of
Insurance Issues Before You Begin. Verify your insurance
coverage for the cost of treatment before therapy begins. If your coverage
is
not adequate, ask for help in finding other sources of reimbursement,
verifying
insurance coverage, and locating other financial assistance if
needed.
Get answers to frequently
asked questions from people like you who are preparing for
treatment.
If In Doubt,
Call
Be In Charge. You can turn to The Be In Charge®
Program
for a vast amount of additional information and support as you manage
your
hepatitis C treatment. Sign up now for this
tremendous support tool.
Effective hepatitis C treatment means a
taking
a disciplined approach to improving your condition. Receive
regular e-mail reminders that will notify you when to
perform
certain treatment-related activities, such as when it's time to
administer
medication, meet with your health care provider or refill your
prescription.
Be In Charge
and
Commitment to Care, Together. As you probably realize,
effectively treating any illness can be expensive. To help you address
this
issue, Schering has developed COMMITMENT TO CARE®, designed to
aid
eligible patients in receiving therapy with Schering products by
exploring
reimbursement options. COMMITMENT TO CARE® has assisted over
6,000
patients since 1995 by providing reimbursement assistance to eligible
patients
with:
- Researching sources of reimbursement
- Financial assistance (in the form of an indigent drug
program)
if reimbursement assistance cannot be found
- Verifying your insurance coverage
- Acquiring pre-authorization or pre-certification for therapy
from your insurance company
- Assistance with appealing your insurance company if coverage
is
denied
- Reviewing Medicare and Medicaid benefits and regulations to
ensure you have accurate and updated coverage information
- Referring you to state and local assistance
programs
Find out more about COMMITMENT
TO CARE®.
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