Patients often experience discomfort from the interferon medication they take to treat hepatitis C. These are side effects of the medication, not pains from the hepatitis C itself. The side effects can be similar to symptoms of the flu, and may include:
Nausea
Muscle and joint aches
Headache
Fatigue and weakness
Feeling depressed or down
Soreness at the site of needle injection
These symptoms may last throughout interferon treatment, but they usually are most intense during the first month. When the interferon treatment is stopped, these symptoms go away.