Table of contents:
- Hepatitis B drug and treatment options
- Acute hepatitis B drugs and treatment
- Rest
- Healthy diet
- Drink enough water
- Follow the doctor's instructions
- Chronic hepatitis B treatment
- Chronic hepatitis drug options
- Should people with hepatitis B undergo a liver transplant?
Hepatitis B is a contagious hepatitis disease that can develop into a chronic disease, making it difficult to cure. If not treated immediately, various complications lurk. So, what are the right choices for hepatitis B drugs and treatment?
Hepatitis B drug and treatment options
Thanks to current technological advances, the choice of hepatitis B drugs and treatments has become increasingly varied. Even so, regardless of the level of effectiveness of the drug, there is no drug that can completely eliminate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) completely.
Every therapy and treatment done to treat hepatitis B aims to suppress the virus from replicating and relieve the symptoms of hepatitis.
In addition, the use of hepatitis drugs also serves to inhibit the development of chronic diseases, such as cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, and liver failure.
On the other hand, hepatitis B treatment also depends on the severity of the viral infection that is transmitted through blood or body fluids, such as saliva or sperm.
Here is a selection of hepatitis B drugs and treatments based on severity.
Acute hepatitis B drugs and treatment
Generally, the symptoms of acute hepatitis B are not felt, so you may not complain about any health problems.
If doctors successfully diagnose hepatitis B, they will not give you specific hepatitis B drugs. The reason is, acute hepatitis usually recovers on its own.
However, acute HVB infection takes a long time, so simple remedies that can be done at home are needed as follows.
Rest
Hepatitis B virus infection can be stopped when the body has a strong immune system. By getting more rest, you help your body increase the strength of your immune system.
Moreover, rest is very necessary for those of you who experience symptoms of fatigue when contracting hepatitis type B.
Healthy diet
Although there is no specific treatment for hepatitis B, you will need to eat nutritious foods throughout the treatment period.
The body that gets adequate nutrition will optimize the work of the immune system. That way, the body can develop an effective immune system against the hepatitis B virus infection.
Talk to your doctor or nutritionist to find out which diet is suitable for people with hepatitis B.
Drink enough water
Water is the cheapest and most effective hepatitis B drug. Symptoms that often arise due to hepatitis B are nausea and vomiting.
If this happens, the body will lack water or become dehydrated. Dehydration conditions are certainly not beneficial for the body to be able to stop the development of the hepatitis B virus. Therefore, drink lots of water.
In addition, you should avoid using drugs that are not really needed, such as acetaminophen or paracetamol and drugs to relieve nausea.
Follow the doctor's instructions
Although the viral infection will go away on its own, it is important to undergo treatment for acute hepatitis B under a doctor's supervision. If you do not get proper treatment, acute infection is at risk of developing chronic hepatitis B.
Taking treatment also helps prevent hepatitis B transmission, considering that as long as you are infected with the virus, you can still spread it to other people.
Chronic hepatitis B treatment
Chronic hepatitis B is an HVB infection that lasts for weeks to more than 6 months. Generally, the symptoms do not appear immediately, so doctors may not immediately prescribe specific hepatitis B drugs.
That is why, you need tests to diagnose hepatitis B so that your doctor can monitor the progress of the infection. Your doctor will also advise you to take medicines if the HBsAg test results are positive.
This aims to prevent transmission and avoid complications. The reason is, being infected with chronic hepatitis B increases a person's risk of experiencing cirrhosis and permanent liver failure.
Here are some types of chronic hepatitis B drugs that need to be known.
Chronic hepatitis drug options
Reporting from the Hepatitis B Foundation, there are 7 types of hepatitis B drugs that are used to stop HVB. The drugs below consist of 5 types of antiviral drugs and 2 types of interferon drugs which function to increase immunity.
It is important to remember that chronic hepatitis B treatment takes a long time, namely 6 months - 1 year. If the hepatitis medication is only able to suppress the virus to replicate, you will still have to undergo lifelong treatment.
Antiviral drugs used to fight the HVB virus include:
- Tenofovir (disoproxil and alafenamide),
- Entecavir,
- Telbivudine,
- Adefovir Diprovoxil, as well
- Lamivudine.
Meanwhile, there are two types of interferon drugs used to support hepatitis B treatment, including:
- Pegylated Interferon injection, and
- interferon alfa-2a
Should people with hepatitis B undergo a liver transplant?
Generally, hepatitis disease that has severe liver damage requires a liver transplant. This also applies to hepatitis B patients. Most liver transplants are obtained from donors who have died, but they can also come from living donors.
In essence, the choice of drugs and treatment for hepatitis B should be discussed with a doctor, including the use of herbal hepatitis drugs. Inappropriate and careless hepatitis treatment can actually increase the risk of life-threatening complications.
If you have further questions, please consult your doctor to find the right solution.
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