Meds for Hep C

Right now, the treatment for hepatitis C (Hep C) is the best it has ever been.

The most common effective therapy is a combination of peg- interferon (pegylated interferon) and ribavirin. Peg-interferon is sometimes called Pegasys or Pegetron depending on the company that makes the drug. Ribavirin is sometimes called Copegus or Pegetron.

Peg-interferon is given once a week by injection with a small needle (by a healthcare provider or by you). Ribavirin is taken every day in a pill form.

Length of treatment

How long you take the treatment depends on which genotype (strain) of Hep C virus you have and how the virus responds to treatment.

• For genotype 1, which takes longer to respond to treatment, treatment can last up to 48 weeks (about a year).
• For genotypes 2 and 3, which respond faster to treatment, treatment is 24 weeks (about six months).
• For genotypes 4, 5 and 6, treatment is 48 weeks (about a year).

Your healthcare provider will be able to tell you which genotype you have. Most people in Canada have genotype 1. 

New meds for genotype 1 Hep C

There are two new meds for people with genotype 1 Hep C. The new meds are called boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek).

These meds aren’t widely available yet because public and private insurance programs still have to decide when and how they will help people pay for the cost of the meds. You can check this website (www.hepCinfo.ca) for more information as it becomes available.

People who take one of these new meds will also take peg-interferon and ribavirin. Talk with a doctor or nurse for more information and to see if one of these new treatments could be right for you.

Revised 2011.