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What type of Hepatitis C is Zepatier used to treat?

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 13, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Zepatier (elbasvir and grazoprevir) is used to treat chronic hepatitis C (HCV) genotype 1 or 4 infection in adults and children 12 years of age and older or weighing at least 66 pounds (30 kilograms).

Zepatier is given with or without ribavirin for HCV in patients with genotype 1 (the most common, 70% of HCV patients) or 4 (the least common, ~1% of HCV patients).

Zepatier is used only if your HCV has these specific genetic markers, for which your doctor will test.

In clinical trials, cure rates at 12 weeks ranged from 94 to 97 percent in genotype 1 and from 97 to 100 percent in genotype 4-infected subjects.

Zepatier tablets are taken once daily with or without food.

The most common side effects of Zepatier without ribavirin include fatigue, headache and nausea.
The most common side effects of Zepatier with ribavirin include anemia and headache.

See What are the new drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C?

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The newest drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C include Mavyret (glecaprevir and pibrentasvir), Vosevi (sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir), and Epclusa (sofosbuvir and velpatasvir). All are FDA-approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A), as well as other uses. Continue reading

Some of the main differences between hepatitis B and C are:

  • Hepatitis B virus can be prevented with a vaccine, but not hepatitis C.
  • Hepatitis B and C are different viruses, but you can have both hepatitis B and hepatitis C at the same time.
  • Over 90% of people infected with hepatitis C who have not received treatment can be cured with 8 to 12 weeks of oral medications, but treatment for hepatitis B, if needed, may be long-term or lifelong.
  • There is no cure for hepatitis B, but once you recover from acute hepatitis B, you develop antibodies that protect you from the virus for life.
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Epclusa (sofosbuvir and velpatasvir) is given as a single daily pill for 12 weeks duration. With advanced liver disease (decompensated cirrhosis, Child-Pugh B or C), it is combined with ribavirin, also for 12 weeks. If Epclusa is prescribed with ribavirin, follow your doctor’s recommendations for ribavirin dosing. Continue reading

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