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Viral Hepatitis

So, do you think you may have hepatitis C?

Did you receive a blood transfusion or blood product (ie red blood cells, platelets, plasma) prior to 1996?  If so you may have received infected blood.   Please refer to Support for people who may have been affected by infected blood - NHS (www.nhs.uk) for further information.  To receive a test for Hepatitis C, please contact hepatitisnurses@uhbw.nhs.uk to arrange a free test and confidential support.

We offer free, specialist psychological assessment, support, and treatment for anyone infected or affected by contaminated blood.

Appointments are available in person, by phone, or online. After an initial assessment, you'll receive tailored therapy with regular reviews to ensure it meets your needs.

We can also connect you with practical help on benefits, housing, work, and finances, and link you with others who share similar experiences.

 

If so, please try and put to one side all you may have heard about this disease and how it is treated previously, and start from scratch right here.

  • hepatitis C is curable
  • it is possible to get tested by dry blood spot, rather than taking blood
  • new treatment options just one tablet a day for 8-12 weeks
  • minimal side effects (unlike past Interferon treatment)*
  • you don't need to be drug free to be treated
  • if left untreated, it can cause serious damage to your liver
  • it's really easy to get tested or refer yourself for treatment

So why not give us a try - you've nothing to lose…

"I have been very happy with all the care and treatment and I have received. I have been treated with respect and have had all my anxieties listened to and answered." - Patient A Bristol & Severn Treatment Centre

Please make your way through the links on this website you may be interested in - you will find links to treatment centres across the region, details of how to get tested, and a self-referral form if you have already been diagnosed and would like to self-refer for treatment.

*Treatments with HCV drugs have very few side effects, and of these the most common side effects are headache, fatigue and nausea but tend to settle down with treatment.

 If symptoms do develop, they may include:

  • a high temperature 
  • tiredness
  • loss of appetite
  • tummy pains
  • feeling and being sick

 

Who is at risk?

Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus which can affect people from all walks of life:

  • people who received blood transfusions/ blood products before 1996
  • people born in countries with higher levels of hepatitis C eg South East Asia, China, sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazon Basin Eastern and Southern Europe, the Middle East.
  • or those who travelled and received dental or medical treatment in areas with higher levels of hepatitis C
  • people who have injected drugs, including image and performance enhancing drugs (steroids)  and shared 'works' even once - needles, spoons etc. For instance, if you experimented in the 60s/70s, and have never been offered/taken a test, you could be at high risk of liver disease as you may have had the infection for many years without knowing it.
  • people who have snorted drugs and shared notes or straws
  • unprotected sexual intercourse. Those at a higher risk are men who have sex with men, depending on sexual practices and the use of 'party-drugs'
  • mother-to-baby transmission although the risk is low
  • people who have had tattoos or piercings in unlicensed parlours
  • people with unexplained abnormal liver function tests

 

Treatment

Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) tablets are the most effective treatment option for people with hepatitis C and are the NICE and NHS England recommended medications.

  • Choice of DAA is dependent on the type of hepatitis c virus you have (genotype), past treatment response, the level of active virus in your body (viral load) and if there is cirrhosis (degree of liver damage shown by scarring of the liver).
  • Ribavirin may be added to the treatment when patients have a high viral load or more advanced liver disease, to increase the chance of achieving a cure.
  • Drug interactions are very important to consider in people receiving DAA therapy, as they can sometimes affect how well the treatment works (eg oral contraceptives) or contribute to side effects. It is essential that all co-prescribed medication is first checked for drug to drug interactions using https://www.hep-druginteractions.org/.
  • DAAs and ribavirin cannot be prescribed safely during pregnancy and some drugs can affect conception also. These risks will be discussed with patients prior to starting treatment.

 

Common Medications

 

Elbasvir/Grazoprevir 50mg/100mg (Zepatier®)

  • Zepatier is a two-drug combination in a single tablet. It is 1 tablet taken orally and swallowed whole once daily. Treatment durations are 12 or 16 weeks depending on viral load and genotype.
  • Side effects are minimal but some people experience headache, nausea, diarrhoea, insomnia and fatigue (lack of energy).
  • This drug may not be suitable if you are taking epilepsy medications or some cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) but people will be assessed on an individual basis.

Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir 100mg/40mg (Maviret®)

  • Maviret is a two-drug combination in a single tablet. It is 3 tablets taken orally and swallowed whole with food once a day. Treatment duration is usually 8 weeks; courses up to 16 weeks are needed occasionally.
  • Side effects are minimal but some people experience headache, nausea and fatigue (lack of energy).
  • This drug may not be suitable if you are taking epilepsy medications or some cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) but people will be assessed on an individual basis.

Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir 400mg/90mg (Harvoni®)

  • Harvoni is a two-drug combination in a single tablet. It is 1 tablet taken orally and swallowed whole once a day. Treatment durations are 8 or 12 weeks depending on viral load, genotype and past treatment response.
  • Side effects are minimal but some people experience headaches and fatigue (lack of energy).
  • This drug may not be suitable if you are taking amiodarone, epilepsy medications or some cholesterol lowering drugs but people will be assessed on an individual basis. If you have problems with your kidneys this drug may not be suitable.

Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir 400mg/100mg (Epclusa®)

  • Epclusa is a two-drug combination in a single tablet. It is 1 tablet taken orally and swallowed whole once a day. Treatment duration is usually 12 weeks depending on viral load, genotype and past treatment response.
  • Side effects are minimal but some people experience headaches and fatigue (lack of energy).
  • This drug may not be suitable if you are taking amiodarone,epilepsy medications or some cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) but people will be assessed on an individual basis. If you have problems with your kidneys this drug may not be suitable.

Ribavirin

  • Ribavirin alone does not cure hepatitis C but is used in combination with other DAAs to increase their effect. The number of tablets taken depends on weight and kidney function, and the number of tablets taken can change during treatment.
  • Side effects include fatigue (lack of energy), insomnia and headache.
  • This drug may not be suitable if you have heart problems or some blood disorders or taking azathioprine. Ribavirin can cause birth defects in animals and will not be prescribed during pregnancy.