How to Treat Hepatitis B

Research suggests chronic hepatitis B may increase your risk of liver failure, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver cancer, so it's important to get treatment early to prevent complications. Hepatitis B, which is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), causes inflammation of your liver.[1] Experts say hepatitis B may range from mild to severe, but you might experience symptoms like abdominal pain, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, joint pain, weakness, fatigue, and yellowing of your skin and eyes.[2] Visit your doctor if you think you might have hepatitis or if you've exchanged fluids with someone who's infected. Try not to worry because treatment is available.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Obtaining Preventative Care after Exposure

  1. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 1
    1
    Understand the causes of hepatitis B so that you can seek treatment immediately if you have been exposed. The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through blood, saliva, semen, or other bodily fluids.[3] Common causes of transmission include:[4]
    • Sexual contact with an infected partner. Transmission can occur via blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and saliva.[5]
    • Transmission through infected needles. This includes people who may be sharing needles for intravenous drug use and it includes health care workers who may be at risk of accidental needle sticks.
    • Transmission during childbirth. If the mother is infected, she may transmit it to her infant during birth. However, if the mother knows that she is infected, the infant can be vaccinated upon birth and receive Hepatitis B immune globulin to prevent infection.[6]
  2. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 2
    2
    Obtain preventative care if you believe you have been exposed. If you think you may have been exposed to hepatitis B, see a doctor immediately. If you receive care within 12 hours, it may prevent the infection. You doctor will likely do the following:[7]
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 3
    3
    Look for the symptoms of a hepatitis B infection. Symptoms usually start one to four months after the initial exposure. Symptoms may include:[9]
    4. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Getting Medical Care for Hepatitis B

  1. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 4
    1
    See a gastroenterologist or an infectious disease expert to be tested for hepatitis B. The doctor may do several tests.[11]
    • The doctor will confirm the presence of the virus with a blood test and whether it is acute or chronic.
    • The doctor might also do a liver biopsy to see if you have liver damage. This involves removing a very small piece of liver tissue through a thin needle and analyzing the tissue in the lab.
  2. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 5
    2
    Treat acute hepatitis B. Most cases of hepatitis B are acute. Acute cases of hepatitis B, contrary to what the name might suggest, are infections that will go away on their own. 95% of cases will clear on their own and the illness illness typically goes away within a few weeks and liver function is normal within six months. [12] [13] Treatment is usually not indicated in the acute stage.
    • Get plenty of bed rest, drink lots of fluids, and stick with healthy foods. This will help your body clear the virus efficiently.[14]
    • If you are in pain, discuss what painkillers your doctor recommends, even for over the counter medications (acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen) or herbal supplements. You don’t want to take anything that will be hard on your liver.[15]
    • Schedule follow-up blood tests with your doctor to track the natural course of the infection. These blood tests will help your doctor determine whether the virus is being cleared.
    • If your liver is becoming damaged, your doctor may recommend lamivudine (Epivir).[16]
  3. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 6
    3
    Determine whether you need to begin treatment for chronic hepatitis B. If your body has not cleared the virus within a few months, you may have chronic hepatitis B. Your doctor is likely to prescribe medications if you show the following symptoms:[17]
    • High virus levels in your blood
    • Decreasing liver function
    • Signs of long-term liver damage and scarring (cirrhosis)
  4. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 7
    4
    Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. There are several possibilities depending upon your age and circumstances.[18]
    • Antiviral medications can reduce the viral load in your body. Possibilities include lamivudine (Epivir), adefovir (Hepsera), telbivudine (Tyzeka) and entecavir (Baraclude). These medications will slow the progression of the disease and decrease your chances of sustaining liver damage.[19] [20]
    • Interferon-alpha is a medication which contains a synthetic version of the protein your body makes to fight the virus. This option is often given to younger people who may want to become pregnant in the next few years and do not want to have a long treatment process. However, it has significant side effects including depression, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, breathing problems, a tight feeling in the chest, and hair loss.[21] [22]
    • Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues are substances that prevent the virus from replicating. Some well known ones include adefovir (Hepsera), entecavir (Baraclude), lamivudine (Epivir-HBV, Heptovir, Heptodin), telbivudine (Tyzeka) and tenofovir (Viread). However, these medications have a serious drawback in that the virus may mutate and develop resistance to these drugs after several years of use.[23]
  5. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 8
    5
    Discuss a liver transplant if your liver is severely damaged and in danger of failing. If necessary a surgeon can remove your liver and replace it with a healthy one.
    • Sometimes a piece of a healthy liver from a living donor may be used.
    6. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Living With Hepatitis B

  1. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 9
    1
    Understand the limits of the treatments. Even though medications can reduce the number of viruses in the blood to nearly zero, low numbers of the virus still live in the liver and elsewhere.[24]
    • Monitor yourself for resurgences of the disease and if you feel the symptoms returning, go to the doctor immediately.
    • Ask your doctor what he or she recommends for long-term follow up.
  2. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 10
    2
    Take steps to avoid transmitting the disease to others. It won’t spread through casual contact, but it could through the exchange of bodily fluids.[25]
    • Be open with your partner and encourage him or her to get tested and vaccinated.
    • Use a condom during sex to reduce the risk of transmission.
    • Don’t share needles, syringes, razors or toothbrushes, all of which could have small amounts of infected blood on them.
  3. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 11
    3
    Avoid ingesting substances that may further damage or burden your liver. This includes alcohol, recreational drugs, and over the counter drugs or supplements.[26] [27]
    • Alcohol itself can damage the liver, so you should abstain from drinking alcohol to protect your liver while your body fights the infection.
    • Avoid recreational drugs which may cause liver damage.
    • Ask your doctor which over the counter medications you can take for mild conditions like a cold, flu, or headache. Even over the counter medications may burden your liver when it is in a damaged or vulnerable state.
  4. Image titled Treat Hepatitis B Step 12
    4
    Maintain your social support network. You will not infect friends through casual contact and the social support is important for your psychological and physical health.
    • Seek out support groups for people with liver disease.[28]
    • Remind yourself that with appropriate treatment and monitoring, the prognosis for people with hepatitis B is usually very good.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What is the main cause of hepatitis B?
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Academic Hepatologist
    Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is an Academic Hepatologist, a Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, and the Director of Clinical Hepatology at IU Health. With over ten years of experience, Dr. Vuppalanchi runs a clinical practice and provides care to patients with various liver disorders at the University Hospital in Indianapolis. He completed dual fellowships in Clinical Pharmacology and Gastroenterology-Hepatology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases and the American College of Gastroenterology. His patient-oriented research is dedicated to finding new treatments for various liver disorders as well as the use of diagnostic tests for non-invasive estimation of liver fibrosis (transient elastography) and portal hypertension (spleen stiffness).
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Academic Hepatologist
    Expert Answer
    The disease is spread through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of someone else with hepatitis B.
  • Question
    What are the symptoms of Hepatitis B?
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Academic Hepatologist
    Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is an Academic Hepatologist, a Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, and the Director of Clinical Hepatology at IU Health. With over ten years of experience, Dr. Vuppalanchi runs a clinical practice and provides care to patients with various liver disorders at the University Hospital in Indianapolis. He completed dual fellowships in Clinical Pharmacology and Gastroenterology-Hepatology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases and the American College of Gastroenterology. His patient-oriented research is dedicated to finding new treatments for various liver disorders as well as the use of diagnostic tests for non-invasive estimation of liver fibrosis (transient elastography) and portal hypertension (spleen stiffness).
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Academic Hepatologist
    Expert Answer
    Many people with Hepatitis B don't have any symptoms. However, some people may experience pain in the upper right side of their abdomen, yellowing of the skin, itching, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
  • Question
    How did I get hepatitis B?
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Academic Hepatologist
    Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is an Academic Hepatologist, a Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, and the Director of Clinical Hepatology at IU Health. With over ten years of experience, Dr. Vuppalanchi runs a clinical practice and provides care to patients with various liver disorders at the University Hospital in Indianapolis. He completed dual fellowships in Clinical Pharmacology and Gastroenterology-Hepatology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases and the American College of Gastroenterology. His patient-oriented research is dedicated to finding new treatments for various liver disorders as well as the use of diagnostic tests for non-invasive estimation of liver fibrosis (transient elastography) and portal hypertension (spleen stiffness).
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
    Academic Hepatologist
    Expert Answer
    The most common way to contract hepatitis B is through close contact with blood or other bodily fluids.
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Lower SGPT
How to
Lower SGPT
Treat High Alkaline Phosphatase
How to
Treat High Alkaline Phosphatase
Lower Microalbumin
How to
Lower Microalbumin
Lower Ketones
How to
Lower Ketones
Increase Albumin
How to
Increase Albumin
Reduce Bile
How to
Reduce Bile
Identify Symptoms of Jaundice
How to
Identify Symptoms of Jaundice
Lower Bilirubin
How to
Lower Bilirubin
Know if You Have an Enlarged Liver
How to
Know if You Have an Enlarged Liver
Make a Liver Cleanse
How to
Make a Liver Cleanse
Lower ALT Levels
How to
Lower ALT Levels
Lower CRP (C‐Reactive Protein)
How to
Lower CRP (C‐Reactive Protein)
Treat Bile Acid Malabsorption
How to
Treat Bile Acid Malabsorption
Recognize Cirrhosis
How to
Recognize Cirrhosis
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/hepatitisb.html
  2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/symptoms-causes/syc-20366802
  3. ↑ Raj Vuppalanchi, MD. Academic Hepatologist. Expert Interview. 26 October 2020.
  4. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/causes/con-20022210
  5. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepatitis-and-sex-frequently-asked-questions#1
  6. ↑ https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/hepatitis-b-immune-globulin
  7. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/treatment/con-20022210
  8. ↑ Raj Vuppalanchi, MD. Academic Hepatologist. Expert Interview. 26 October 2020.
  9. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/symptoms/con-20022210
  1. ↑ Raj Vuppalanchi, MD. Academic Hepatologist. Expert Interview. 26 October 2020.
  2. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20022210
  3. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/treatment/con-20022210
  4. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000279.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000279.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/treatment/con-20022210
  7. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_b/page7.htm#what_medications_are_used_to_treat_hepatitis_b
  8. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000279.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/treatment/con-20022210
  10. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/treatment/con-20022210
  11. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_b/page7.htm#what_medications_are_used_to_treat_hepatitis_b
  12. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/treatment/con-20022210
  13. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_b/page7.htm#what_medications_are_used_to_treat_hepatitis_b
  14. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_b/page7.htm#what_medications_are_used_to_treat_hepatitis_b
  15. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_b/page7.htm#what_medications_are_used_to_treat_hepatitis_b
  16. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20022210
  17. ↑ http://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_b/page8.htm#what_are_the_effects_of_alcohol_on_hepatitis_b
  18. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000279.htm
  19. ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000279.htm

About This Article

Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
Medically reviewed by:
Raj Vuppalanchi, MD
Academic Hepatologist
This article was medically reviewed by Raj Vuppalanchi, MD. Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is an Academic Hepatologist, a Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, and the Director of Clinical Hepatology at IU Health. With over ten years of experience, Dr. Vuppalanchi runs a clinical practice and provides care to patients with various liver disorders at the University Hospital in Indianapolis. He completed dual fellowships in Clinical Pharmacology and Gastroenterology-Hepatology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Association for Study of Liver Diseases and the American College of Gastroenterology. His patient-oriented research is dedicated to finding new treatments for various liver disorders as well as the use of diagnostic tests for non-invasive estimation of liver fibrosis (transient elastography) and portal hypertension (spleen stiffness). This article has been viewed 117,975 times.
7 votes - 85%
Co-authors: 15
Updated: March 18, 2021
Views: 117,975
Categories: Featured Articles | Liver Health

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

If you’ve been exposed to hepatitis B, immediately see a doctor, who will either vaccinate you or inject you with hepatitis B immune globulin to boost your immune system. Most cases of hepatitis B are acute, meaning the infection goes away on its own, so treatment revolves around keeping your body healthy and taking painkillers when needed. However, if you’ve had the virus for a few months, it might be chronic hepatitis B, which has a few treatment options, including antiviral medications and a synthetic protein called Interferon-alpha. In cases where your liver has been extremely damaged, a transplant may be necessary. For more advice from our Medical co-author, like how to avoid transmitting hepatitis B to others, scroll down.

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement