Pain Associated with Interferon Therapy

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.

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