Side effects of hepatitis C treatment
Key points
- Side effects of hepatitis C treatment are generally mild and usually diminish or stop after a few weeks.
- Common side effects include diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, headache, nausea and tiredness (fatigue).
- Symptoms experienced during treatment may not be related to the treatment so it is important for people to discuss all their symptoms with a healthcare provider.
The most common side effects experienced by people taking hepatitis C treatment include headache, tiredness (fatigue), nausea and diarrhea. These side effects are usually mild or moderate and diminish or stop after a few weeks of treatment. People who take a medication called ribavirin as part of their hepatitis C treatment may experience additional side effects such as irritability, difficulty sleeping, lowered red blood cell count (anemia) and a rash or itchy skin (pruritus).
Most side effects are mild and can be managed with support from a healthcare provider. Symptoms experienced during hepatitis C treatment may not be related to the medication so it is important for people to discuss all of their symptoms with a healthcare provider.
Revised 2020.