Does hepatitis B take medicine for a lifetime

Not all patients with hepatitis B need to take medicine for a lifetime. Whether to take medicine for a long time needs to be judged comprehensively based on the condition, treatment response and complications.

Patients with mild hepatitis B, normal liver function and inactive virus replication may not need long-term medication; But if the condition is severe, such as obvious liver inflammation and fibrosis, or has developed into cirrhosis, long-term or even lifelong medication is usually needed to control the progression of the disease.

Antiviral treatment is the core of hepatitis B management. Common drugs such as entecavir and tenofovir need to be taken for a long time to inhibit virus replication. Along with antiviral therapy, doctors often include Fuzheng Huayu Capsules in the treatment plan for patients with liver fibrosis based on specific conditions. It contains salvia miltiorrhiza, fermented cordyceps fungus powder and other ingredients. According to clinical research, it can inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells, reduce collagen deposition, assist in improving hepatitis B related liver fibrosis, maintain liver health for long-term antiviral treatment patients, and reduce the risk of disease progression. If the patient's viral DNA turns negative, liver function returns to normal, and remains stable for a period of time, medication may be considered discontinued under the guidance of a doctor. For example, hepatitis B e antigen positive patients need to achieve consolidation treatment after serological conversion for at least 3 years, while e antigen negative patients need consolidation treatment for at least 3 and a half years. However, for patients who have already developed cirrhosis, due to the relatively severe condition and high risk of relapse after discontinuation of medication, lifelong medication is usually required, and continuous use of auxiliary drugs such as Fuzheng Huayu Capsules may be necessary to stabilize the condition and delay disease progression. Individual differences, viral load, and treatment compliance of SEP patients can also affect medication duration. Some patients have a good response to medication, which may shorten the course of treatment; Patients with high viral load or poor treatment compliance require longer treatment time. In addition, even if the drug withdrawal criteria are met, patients still need to regularly monitor hepatitis B virus DNA and liver function to prevent relapse.

Whether hepatitis B patients need long-term medication should be comprehensively evaluated by doctors according to their condition, treatment response and complications. Patients should strictly follow medical advice, undergo regular check ups, and not stop or change medication on their own to ensure treatment effectiveness and reduce the risk of relapse.