Hepatitis Treatment: What Works Now and What to Do First
You can cure most hepatitis C today with a short oral course of direct-acting antivirals. For hepatitis B, we can usually control the virus long term with safe medicines. This page gives clear, practical steps — tests to ask for, the meds doctors use, and simple lifestyle moves that protect your liver.
How treatments differ by hepatitis type
Hepatitis A: No drug treatment is needed once you have it. Rest, fluids, and avoiding alcohol are the main things. Vaccination prevents it; if you haven’t had the vaccine and you’re at risk, get one.
Hepatitis B (HBV): There’s no widely available cure yet, but antiviral pills like tenofovir or entecavir suppress the virus well. Many people take these drugs long term to protect the liver and lower the chance of cirrhosis or cancer. Pregnant people with high HBV levels are often given tenofovir to reduce transmission to the baby — discuss this with your doctor.
Hepatitis C (HCV): This is now usually curable. Common direct-acting antiviral (DAA) combinations you might hear about are sofosbuvir/velpatasvir or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. Treatment is typically an 8–12 week oral course with few side effects. You’ll need an HCV RNA test and sometimes a genotype, though many DAAs work across genotypes.
Tests, monitoring, and safety basics
Ask your clinician for these baseline tests: hepatitis A/B/C blood tests, ALT and AST, platelet count, and a fibrosis check (FibroScan or blood scores like FIB-4). For active HCV, get HCV RNA before treatment and 12 weeks after finishing therapy to confirm cure. For HBV, expect periodic viral load checks and liver function tests while on therapy.
Avoid alcohol entirely if you have viral hepatitis. Alcohol speeds liver damage. Also check all medicines and supplements with your pharmacist — some drugs interact with DAAs or stress the liver.
Vaccination is practical: get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B if you are not immune. That prevents extra infections that can make liver disease worse.
If you have cirrhosis from any cause, you still need screening for liver cancer: an abdominal ultrasound and AFP blood test every six months. That screening saves lives by finding tumors early.
How to move forward: get tested if you’ve had risk factors (blood exposure, IV drug use, tattoos in non-sterile settings, certain medical histories). If positive, talk to a hepatologist or an informed primary care doctor. For HCV, ask about DAAs and insurance or patient assistance programs — many people get treatment at low or no cost.
Short, practical checklist: 1) Get the right blood tests. 2) Stop alcohol. 3) Ask about vaccines. 4) If HCV positive, start DAA treatment. 5) If HBV positive, discuss long-term antiviral options. 6) Keep regular liver checks if you have chronic disease.
Need help finding care or understanding a prescription? Ask your clinic for a referral to a liver specialist or a pharmacist who knows hepatitis drugs. Quick, correct treatment today can prevent serious problems later.
