Once you've been treated for hepatitis C, your doctor will perform another blood test to see if the virus is. Taking amiodarone with EPCLUSA may cause a serious slowing of your heart rate. EPCLUSA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with chronic (lasting a long time) If blood tests show that HBV has returned, your doctor will treat it. Chris story continues after the following Important Safety Information. You may be rid of the virus now however the liver now has to heal. If you have ever had hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus could become active again during and after treatment with EPCLUSA. I've ruined my life. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. other than hepatitis C infection, or a liver transplant; if you have kidney problems or are on dialysis; if This may cause serious liver EPCLUSA and certain other medicines may affect each other, or may cause side effects. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. You dont need to feel shame. Watch stories from real people who have cured their chronic Hep C with EPCLUSA. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away Slow heart rate (bradycardia): EPCLUSA, when taken with amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone), a medicine used to treat certain heart problems, may cause slow heart rate. In most cases, these are usually mild, but serious side effects are possible. The HBV can reactivate (flare up) in people who have both HBV and hepatitis C. Infection with HBV causes swelling and damage to your liver. Its so peaceful. Before starting This whole experience inspired me to make a lot of positive changes in my life and I started looking at myself in a more positive way. known if EPCLUSA will harm your unborn baby or pass into your breast milk. And dont stop using Epclusa unless your doctor recommends it. Your doctor might prescribe a drug with Epclusa to help treat your hepatitis C. Liver transplant. Allergic reaction. EPCLUSA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with chronic hepatitis C (Hep C) genotype 1-6 infection with or without cirrhosis . I just wanted to share I was recently diagnosed with hepatitis C. I was an IV drug user who has been sober for 4 years, but that is how I acquired it. Be sure to talk with your doctor about whether Epclusa treatment is right for you if youve had a liver transplant. This may cause serious liver problems including liver failure and death. My wife, my family, my kids and I are looking forward to living a life free of Hep C and the worries and concerns with it, and were very grateful that, you know, I was able to be treated successfully and that I am cured today. See terms & conditions. Prescription only. again during and after treatment with EPCLUSA. Side effects after treatment werent reported in studies of Epclusa. It is not known if EPCLUSA will harm your unborn baby or pass into your breast milk. Over time, this damage can cause cirrhosis (liver scarring). I asked my doctor if I could take EPCLUSA with my other medications, and he said yes. But its still important to discuss any kidney problems with your doctor. I found out I was genotype 2. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. The FDA granted Epclusa a Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy designation, which is given to investigational medicines that may offer major advances in treatment over existing options. Tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Then, I had my follow up appointment, and the blood work showed that it was completely gone. It is the first hepatitis C medication that can successfully treat all six genotypes. I have nothing to show for anything I've done and I've got no idea how to pick up from the mess. Frank was relieved that EPCLUSA was one pill a day and not injections. other than hepatitis C infection, or a liver transplant; if you have kidney problems or are on dialysis; if Here are some tips you can try: If youre still struggling with fatigue while taking Epclusa, talk with your doctor. Good, write that down too. EPCLUSA, the EPCLUSA logo, GILEAD and the GILEAD logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. I tried a couple of different injectable treatments over the years. If you have concerns about getting a skin rash from Epclusa, talk with your doctor. Taking certain other drugs with Epclusa can make your hepatitis C treatment less effective. If you are at risk, your healthcare provider will monitor you during and after taking EPCLUSA. Remove any guns, knives, medications, or other things that may cause harm. EPCLUSA. again during and after treatment with EPCLUSA. Here are seven things to expect. Epclusa is a two-drug combination administered as a single daily pill containing the viral NS5A inhibitor Velpatasvir and Sofosbuvir. in Portland ,Oregon. With one pill a day, taking EPCLUSA is easy. A Single-arm Study to Evaluate the Feasibility and Efficacy of a Minimal Monitoring Strategy to Deliver Pan-genotypic Ribavirin-free HCV Therapy to HCV Infected Populations Who Are HCV . Brittany was surprised to find out that she could cure her Hep C with just one pill a day for 12 weeks on EPCLUSA. Talk to your doctor about any other medicines you are taking. History of kidney disease. For years, Chris didn't know he had Hep C. Now, he's cured. The recommended dose of Epclusa in adults is one 400 mg/100 mg tablet, taken orally, once daily with or without food (see section 5.2). Before starting EPCLUSA treatment, If you have low energy while taking the medication, making some changes to your daily routine may help. your healthcare provider will do blood Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. I was excited that I could take this medication and have a high hope for cure. If you take EPCLUSA with ribavirin, you should also read the ribavirin Medication Guide for important pregnancy-related information. Epclusa is a medication used to treat all six major forms of hepatitis C virus. Im a father of two, happily married. In some cases slow heart rate has led to death or the need for a pacemaker when amiodarone is taken with medicines containing sofosbuvir. If you are at risk, your healthcare provider will monitor you during and after taking EPCLUSA. For most people, headaches caused by Epclusa are mild. EPCLUSA, the EPCLUSA logo, GILEAD and the GILEAD logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. It is a tablet that is taken once a day, for 84 days or 12 weeks. The joint pain just started. of your medical conditions, including if you have ever had hepatitis B infection, liver problems My message for people in the Hep C community is: Dont give up. What do we need to do?. EPCLUSA and certain medicines may affect each other, or cause side effects. Epclusa has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 from a total of 267 reviews for the treatment of Hepatitis C. 67% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 12% reported a negative experience. EPCLUSA? Hepatitis is a disease of the liver. I was diagnosed with Hep C a few years ago. I mentioned that I was concerned about the cost, and they told me about the EPCLUSA co-pay program. Epclusa is usually given as a single dose once daily with food. Nexterone, Pacerone), My name is Butch. An advocate answers questions about the barriers Hispanic and Latinx people face in receiving hepatitis C treatment and the changes that need to be. Talk to your doctor about all the medicines you take and if they will interact with EPCLUSA. I knew I needed to take care of myself and treat my Hep C. Then, one day I started seeing ads for EPCLUSA. Theres no phones. I want to inspire other people that are living with Hep C. You know, its definitely curable, and so I encourage anybody that has Hep C to go talk to their doctor about effective treatments. Important Facts about EPCLUSA including Important Warning. Epclusa (sofosbuvir and velpatasvir) is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of Chronic Hepatitis C. Epclusa may be used alone or with other medications. Ultimately, I felt like this was the right treatment for me, and we decided to move forward. do blood tests to check for hepatitis B infection. Serious side effects may also include: . It is not known if EPCLUSA will harm your unborn baby or pass into your breast milk. Cure means the Hep C virus is not detectable in the blood when measured three months after treatment is completed. It is not Tell your doctor if you have had Hepatitis B, other liver or kidney problems, HIV, or other medical conditions, If you have ever had Hepatitis B, it may flare up and could cause serious or life-threatening liver. What are the possible side effects of EPCLUSA? Examples that have been reported include: Epclusa may cause other mild side effects, too. Taking amiodarone with EPCLUSA may cause a serious slowing of your heart rate. I tried Interferon as part of my treatment for Hep C. That was the standard back then. Cure means the Hep C virus is not detected in the blood when measured three months after treatment is completed. He told me, he said, Your liver is in pretty bad shape. 1. For this reason, doctors typically dont prescribe these drugs together. I was cured! accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/214187s001lbl.pdf, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=35f99f76-f2ef-4a81-91ff-285419664be3, liverfoundation.org/for-patients/about-the-liver/diseases-of-the-liver/hepatitis-c/support-for-patients-with-hepatitis-c/, Ask the Advocate: Advocating for Hepatitis C Care as a Hispanic or Latinx Person, Everything You Want to Know About Hepatitis C, Your FAQs Answered: Hepatitis C from Needles, Medicaid Coverage for Hepatitis C: The Basics, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, Effect of Hepatitis C on the Liver and How to Prevent More Damage, 7 Things to Know About Preventing Hepatitis C, Reactivation of existing hepatitis B virus., sharing needles with someone who may have HCV, getting a tattoo or body piercing with unsanitary equipment, having sex without a condom or other barrier method with a partner who may have HCV. The most common side effects of EPCLUSA include headache and tiredness. In 2005, my life changed forever. If youre experiencing symptoms that bother you or dont go away, talk with your doctor. If Slow heart rate (bradycardia): EPCLUSA, when taken with amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone), a medicine used to treat certain heart problems, may cause slow heart rate. Slow heart rate when taken with amiodarone. If you are at risk, your healthcare provider will monitor you during and after taking EPCLUSA. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. Common side effects of EPCLUSA include headache and tiredness. Resources and support are available, Hep C is a serious liver disease. It was a simple treatment regimen: One pill once a day for 12 weeks. It could also cause: Fatigue Headache If your doctor prescribes ribavirin along with it,. These may include: Excessive alcohol use can lead to liver problems, such as inflammation (swelling) in the liver, cirrhosis (liver scarring), and liver failure. noted. My doctor and I talked about any other kind of medications that I was taking that might interact with EPCLUSA. In studies, Epclusa was successful at curing hepatitis C infection in most people who took the drug. When it came time to treat his Hep C, EPCLUSA fit into Butchs routine. I was like, Lets go!. Epclusa is a medicine that contains the active substances sofosbuvir and velpatasvir. during and after taking EPCLUSA. What is the most important information I should know about Thats why its so important to take steps to prevent it. EPCLUSA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with chronic (lasting a long time) After youve finished the 12-week Epclusa treatment, you wont be cured of hepatitis C right away. My name is Butch. 44 weeks (3/11/16) fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED! At first, Chris was uncertain about Hep C treatment. EPCLUSA is a prescription medicine used to If you have questions about when you should start your Epclusa treatment, talk with your doctor. Hepatitis B virus reactivation: Find out how your diet. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. In those with advanced cirrhosis (decompensated), EPCLUSA is used with ribavirin. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. After all that time, I wanted to be cured of my Hep C and put it behind me. A literal decade wasted on the wrong things in life. Fatigue caused by Epclusa is usually mild. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. Visit, Please see It comes as a tablet and as pellets, both of which you take by mouth. Theres just so much to be grateful for. Both times, following both treatments, the virus came back, and we were back to square one. 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