After a series of tests, if the patient is suitable for interferon, the doctor will develop the optimal antiviral treatment plan based on the relevant test results. So when starting treatment, does the patient need to be hospitalized? Once interferon is started, patients are hospitalized for at least one week. Interferon is not taken orally and must be injected intramuscularly to work, while ribavirin is an oral medication. Patients can take ribavirin orally twice or three times a day, depending on their habits, while long-acting interferon is given once a week. The side effects of interferon are most likely to occur in the first two injections. Most patients are prone to flu-like symptoms after the first or second injection, like having a bad cold with fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, muscle pain, etc.; some patients also experience mental and emotional abnormalities and lowered white blood cells. All these adverse reactions will be alleviated later on as the body adapts. Therefore, after deciding to take interferon, the doctor will ask the patient to be hospitalized for two weeks. During the hospital stay, the doctor will closely monitor the patient’s behavior after the first and second injections. Any adverse reactions can be dealt with promptly, and some patients whose bodies are unable to adapt on their own will have their interferon doses adjusted and their home adjuvant medications administered. The vast majority of patients will experience a significant reduction in these discomfort symptoms after two weeks, and patients will be able to go home and administer their own medication. If a fever develops at home after interferon, it can usually be relieved by physical cooling (applying alcohol to the patient’s entire body or cold compresses, etc.) and by drinking appropriate fluids. It is not recommended that patients take fever-reducing medication because most fever-reducing medications are potentially liver-invasive and can aggravate the condition of hepatitis C. If severe fever occurs after each interferon shot, then you need to see your doctor for a follow-up visit and reduce the dosage or stop or change the medication as appropriate under the doctor’s guidance. We recommend that patients take their interferon shots on Friday or Saturday evenings so that if they experience an uncomfortable reaction it will not interfere with their daily routine.