By now it's clear to you that starting treatment early, living a healthy lifestyle, and staying committed to your treatment will give you the greatest chances of beating hepatitis C. It is also critical that you take your medication exactly as prescribed by your physician and that you do not skip doses.
Beating hepatitis C means that after you've completed your 48 weeks of treatment, and for the next 6 months, your test results for hepatitis C are negative.
However, a relapse can occur. A relapse means that although blood was negative for hepatitis C at the end of 48 weeks of treatment, the blood is positive again within six months after treatment is over. This means that the virus is not cleared from your body. If you test negative for hepatitis C 6 months after treatment has ended you have achieved a sustained virologic response, or SVR.
The good news is that PEG-INTRON® has a low relapse rate. Most people who have a response after 48 weeks of treatment will have beaten the virus when they are tested again 24 weeks later. In a clinical trial with PEG-INTRON® combination therapy, 82% of patients who completed the 48 week course of therapy and responded to their treatment went on to test negative for the virus 6 months later.1
One theory behind why PEG-INTRON® has consistently low relapse rates is because of its relatively small size. Learn more about the extensive biodistribution of PEG-INTRON®.
Don't forget to take good care of yourself and make smart, healthy choices during treatment and beyond. Remember that your body is healthier and stronger when you:
- Get enough rest.
- Eat several small meals throughout the day.
- Enjoy light exercise such as walking.
- Have very little caffeine and no alcohol. Drink plenty of water.
- Do not smoke cigarettes.
- Use relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing.
- Avoid stressful situations.
And with The Be In Charge® Program, you have a free, 24/7 support system to provide you with personal assistance. Be In Charge® supplements the information you receive from doctors and nurses so that you learn more about hepatitis C. Using this resource will help you feel confident about your therapy and cope with physical issues that you may encounter before or during treatment. Call toll-free 1-888-437-2608 or visit www.beincharge.com.
1 Manns MP, McHutchinison JG, Gordon SC et al. Peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin compared with interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a randomized trial. Lancet. 2001;358:958-965.
