Chronic hepatitis C, a viral disease that causes liver damage over a number of years, affects around 4.1 million Americans and kills 10,000 to 12,000 people in the United States each year, the National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) reports. While hepatitis C can't be cured, the virus can be suppressed for long periods of time with antiviral medications. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin are often used in combination for 24 to 48 weeks to treat hepatitis C. Both have potentially serious side effects.
Flu-Like Side Effects
Flu-like symptoms often begin right after the first doses of medication to treat hepatitis C. Fatigue, fever, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and appetite loss are often more pronounced in the first few weeks of therapy, the American Liver Foundation (ALF) reports. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications help decrease symptoms.
Hematology-Related Side Effects
Antiviral therapy for hepatitis C can cause a number of side effects related to blood cell production. Anemia, or low red blood cell count, can cause a drop in hemoglobin levels of 2 to 3 grams per deciliter (g/dL) of blood between weeks 1 and 4 of treatment. Anemia can cause weakness, pallor, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and headache, according to the NDDIC. Other hematology side effects include a low white blood count, which increases the risk of infection, low platelet count, which increases bleeding, and bone marrow suppression, which decreases blood cell production. Medications to stimulate blood cell production may be used.
Histamine-Like Effects
Ribavirin side effects include histamine-like effects. Histamine is a substance released in response to an allergen. Side effects include skin rashes, itching, stuffy nose, cough, sinusitis, bronchitis and asthma-like symptoms. The NDDIC states that histamine-like symptoms affect 10 to 20 percent of patients.
Personality Changes
Personality changes occur frequently when taking antiviral medications for hepatitis C. Depression, irritability, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, trouble concentrating, memory loss, psychosis and personality changes are all possible. These side effects usually clear up within 2 to 4 weeks of stopping the medications, according to the NDDIC. Antidepressants may help avoid personality changes, which can be severe.
Other Side Effects
Birth defects may occur in women taking ribavirin. Pegylated interferon also has potential negative fetal effects. Neither drug should be taken by women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, the ALF warns. Hair thinning, vision loss, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, kidney failure, congestive heart failure and seizures have occurred in some cases, the NDDIC says. Heart attack, stroke and serious blood infection called sepsis can also occur.
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