A-Med Specialty Pharmacy is dedicated to serving patients living with Hepatitis C. Our pharmacy will carefully monitor medications in order to customize each individual's needs based on the patient's health history.

Disease Overview
Hepatitis C is one of six known hepatitis viruses. Hepatitis C is considered the most serious of the hepatitis viruses. The Hepatitis C virus attacks your liver with usually very little to no symptoms. Many people will go years without knowing they have the virus. Hepatitis C causes liver damage, the liver becomes inflamed which prevents the liver from functioning properly.

Causes of Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is caused through coming in contact with blood contaminated with the virus. This can occur through:

1. Injecting drugs with contaminated needles.
2. Contaminated needles used in tattooing and body piercing.
3. Babies born to mothers with hepatitis C.
4. Sexual transmission.
5. Blood transfusions.

Symptoms of Hepatitis C
During the early stages of Hepatitis C it is common to find no symptoms of the virus. If symptoms are found they are usually mild flu-like symptoms:

1. Muscle and joint pain.
2. Nausea or poor appetite.
3. Fatigue.
4. Liver tenderness.

The later stages of the virus you may continue to find no symptoms, mild to moderate symptoms may occur decades after being infected with the virus.

1. Fatigue.
2. Poor appetite.
3. Low grade fever.
4. Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice).

Although symptoms may be mild or non-existent the virus can still be transmitted to others and cause damage to your liver.

Treatment of Hepatitis C
Treatment of the virus depends on the stages and severity of Hepatitis C. If treatment is required weekly medications are the most common form of treatment.

Source: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research