Tapering at end of treatment

Dear Dr. Dieterich

Enjoyed your video and information on Hepatitis C which gave me an eye opening insight of what was going on inside my liver and how the virus has evolved and the damage being done over time, well presented. I do have a question though, most SOC ends abruptly after 24, 48, or in some cases 72 weeks. Would it not be better for patients to taper off the interferon and Ribavirin at the end of there treatment rather than stopping abruptly at the end and continue to have symptoms or damage to the organs involved during treatment and at such high levels of the meds. Would it be better for the patient, to stop abruptly or taper off the meds after completing the treatment course?

Thanks in advance,

Jasper

[Douglas Dieterich, MD]

Actually the long half lives of both drugs (ribavirin being the longest) accomplishes the same thing. The levels gradually come down to zero over time. It is a few weeks with interferon and a few months with ribavirin. Good question! DTD