You’re viewing
Plain and Simple Information
Like CATIE on Facebook!
Follow CATIE on Twitter!
During treatment
Your doctor will order blood tests while you are on treatment. These tests are to make sure the medications are safe for you and to find out if treatment is working.
Many people on treatment have side effects. For some people, the side effects bother them so much that they want to stop treatment. Most people are able to manage their side effects, especially with help from a doctor or nurse. Your doctor or nurse may be able to adjust your treatment routine or give you other medications for the side effects. You can also try out different tips for coping with side effects.
Is treatment working?
Your doctor will do viral load tests along the way to see if treatment is working. Some people get what is called a rapid virological response (RVR) or early virological response (EVR). This is a good sign that treatment is working. You might even be able to stop treatment early. The doctor will let you know if this is happening. That is why it is important to keep all of your appointments and get all the blood tests the doctor recommends on time.
Hep C Treatment Terms: |
Response: when the virus level drops during treatment |
Slow response: when treatment is working but the virus level drops more slowly than it does for some other people |
Non-response: when the virus level does not drop during treatment |
Relapse: when the virus level becomes undetectable during treatment but increases again after treatment is finished |
Revised 2012.
