Hepatitis C Treatment – Cure Options and Medications in the USA

What Is Hepatitis C?

Explore hepatitis C treatment options in the U.S., including direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), cure timelines, and the most trusted brands for achieving sustained virologic response.

Hepatitis C is a viral liver infection caused by the HCV virus, which can lead to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer if left untreated. The good news is that with modern medicine, over 95% of patients in the U.S. can be cured with once-daily antiviral tablets.

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are critical to preventing long-term damage and ensuring full recovery.

Current Hepatitis C Treatment Options (2025)

1. Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs)

DAAs are the standard of care for hepatitis C. They work by targeting specific steps in the HCV life cycle and blocking viral replication.

Treatmentduration: 8 to 12 weeks

Cure rate: 95–99%

Minimal side effects compared to older therapies

2. Combination Therapy

Most DAAs combine two or more antiviral agents to treat all genotypes of HCV:

Pan-genotypic treatments (work across all HCV types)

Simplified dosing (one pill per day)

3. Monitoring and Follow-Up

Regular viral load testing (HCV RNA)

Liver function tests

Follow-up 12 weeks post-treatment to confirm SVR (Sustained Virologic Response)

Common Side Effects

DAAs are well tolerated, but mild side effects can include:

Headache

Fatigue

Nausea

Insomnia

Older treatments like interferon and ribavirin are now rarely used due to more severe side effects and lower efficacy.

Who Should Be Treated?

All adults with chronic hepatitis C, regardless of liver damage

People with co-existing HIV, kidney disease, or transplant history

Those with recent or past injection drug use

Pregnant women are not currently eligible, but research is ongoing