Hepatitis C and Drug Use

Cure hepatitis C from home via telehealth

Addiction and hepatitis C often occur together. Now you can treat both from the comfort of home with virtual clinical care.

By Workit Health Content Team

Medically Reviewed by Jessica Bhavsar, PA-CA

Reviewed: June 15, 2022

2.4 million Americans are living with hepatitis C​

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between 2.4-3.9 million Americans are living with hepatitis C, and infection rates have been increasing each year.

Fortunately, treatment is now simpler than ever. There is a novel class of medications called DAAs (direct-acting antivirals) to treat the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These DAA medications are oral tablets.

With an average treatment time of 8-12 weeks, these medications can help you beat hepatitis C. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options. DAA medications offer a 95% cure rate for hepatitis C.

Know your status

The opioid epidemic has led to a rise in hepatitis C, with intravenous drug users at greatest risk. About 1% of all Americans are living with hepatitis C.

It’s estimated that 40% of people who have the hepatitis C virus may not know it. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that all adults over the age of 18 be screened for hepatitis C. People at greatest risk of hepatitis C infection include:

• People with a sexual partner who has hepatitis C.
• IV drug users (even if they only used rarely).
• Infants born to mothers who have hepatitis C.
• People who had blood transfusions, blood products, or organ donations before June, 1992, when sensitive tests for hepC were introduced for blood screening.
• People who get piercings or tattoos with non-sterile equipment.
• People who have shared toothbrushes, razors, and other personal items with someone who has hepatitis C.

FAQs: Treating Hepatitis C and Addiction​

Will people know I’ve used opioids if they find out I have hepatitis C?
There are many ways of being infected with HCV. It’s true that IV drug use is the most common risk factor, but it’s not the only one. There are many people with hepatitis C who have no idea how they got it. Don’t let your worry about other people’s perceptions put your health at risk. All healthcare providers are bound by HIPAA (and professional ethics) to keep your medical information confidential.

Is it safe for my liver to take Suboxone and hepatitis C meds?
Hepatitis C impacts your liver, so it is understandable to fear liver damage. The Hepatitis C Drug to Drug Interaction Checker is a resource to help doctors and patients understand possible drug interactions without guesswork or hearsay. Neither of the medications in Suboxone—buprenorphine and naloxone—is contraindicated with the medications for HCV. This means that people can safely take Suboxone and their hepatitis C medications without fear.

Will my doctor refuse to treat me if I drink or use drugs again after I start treatment for hepatitis C?
Workit clinicians are non-judgmental and operate according to principles of harm reduction—they will not refuse treatment due to substance use. For other doctors, both medical ethics and recommendations from The American Society of Addiction Medicine say that your doctors should not deny you care due to active alcohol and/or drug use.
If possible, it is recommended that you not drink or use drugs if you have hepatitis C (to protect your liver). But you should receive treatment no matter what.

How does Workit Health test for and treat hepatitis C, as a telemedicine clinic?
If you’re part of our medically-assisted treatment clinic for alcohol or opioids, your Workit Health provider can order a blood test for you at a local lab. Should the results come back positive for hepatitis C, your provider will work with you to determine which of the direct-acting antivirals is the best option for you. They will send the e-prescription to the pharmacy that will fill it, the same way they do for other medications.

No judgment, just healing​

For some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness. But for more than half the people infected, untreated hepatitis C becomes a long-term and chronic infection. Although you may not feel sick, hepatitis C can result in serious health issues like cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

Treatments vary based on your medical history and insurance coverage, but oral antiviral medications are easy to take, effective, and can be e-prescribed.

Harvoni (sofosbuvir and ledipasvir)

Highly effective, direct-acting antiviral medications are used to treat hepatitis C.

Mavyret (glecaprevir and pibrentasvir)

These medications can be e-prescribed to the dispensing pharmacy.

Epclusa (sofosbuvir and velpatasvir)

Oral antivirals have a 95-98% cure rate in people with no previous treatment.