I should get treatment for my Hep C, and I shouldnt put it off. noted. EPCLUSA (sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg, 200 mg/50 mg tablets; 200 mg/50 mg, 150 mg/37.5 mg oral pellets) is indicated for the treatment of patients 3 years of age and older with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1-6 infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis and in combination with ribavirin for those with decompensated cirrhosis. EPCLUSA is my kind of cure. Read more. My doctor said EPCLUSA would be a good option for me because it treats all types of chronic Hep C. Before starting EPCLUSA, your doctor will test if you have had hepatitis B, which may flare up, and could cause serious liver problems during and after treatment. Epclusa is an experimental pan-genotypic, once-daily combination of Gilead's HCV drug Sovaldi (400 mg) and velpatasvir (a pan-genotypic NS5A inhibitor; 100 mg). I took EPCLUSA every morning right after I got out of the shower. If you are at risk, your healthcare provider will monitor you during and after taking EPCLUSA. 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. EPCLUSA? If you are thankful, you will have an ease, and an internal peace. A cousin of mine (who very much loved his own mother) told me that joke, which works well because so many of us do feel that our mother (or father . Common side effects include headache and tiredness. However, drinking alcohol may raise your risk for certain side effects of Epclusa. Please click on this video or visit EPCLUSA.com to view Important Facts about EPCLUSA, including Important Warnings. Studies in people with severe kidney disease, including people receiving dialysis, found Epclusa treatment to be safe and effective. While I was serving my last sentence, I found out that I had Hepatitis C. My eyes were definitely jaundice, yellow. Please see Important Facts about EPCLUSA including Important Warning on EPCLUSA.com. EPCLUSA and certain medicines may affect each other, or cause side effects. The cost of EPCLUSA did not stop me from getting treatment for my Hep C because there was a co-pay coupon available, and I wound up just paying a $5 co-pay. your healthcare provider will do blood Tell your healthcare provider and tests to check for hepatitis B infection. EPCLUSA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with chronic (lasting a long time) hepatitis C (Hep C) genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 infection with or without cirrhosis (compensated). EPCLUSA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with chronic (lasting a long time) hepatitis C (Hep C) genotype 1-6 infection with or without cirrhosis (compensated). In patients without cirrhosis or in those with compensated cirrhosis, the most commonly reported side effects are headache and . pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter History of kidney disease. If This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Full Drug Information. What is the most important It was a big relief. It is not Due to amiodarone's long half-life, patients discontinuing amiodarone just prior to starting EPCLUSA should also undergo similar cardiac monitoring as outlined above. We were totally thrilled! My doctor said EPCLUSA would be a good option for me because it treats all types of chronic Hep C. Before starting EPCLUSA, your doctor will test if you have had hepatitis B, which may flare up, and could cause serious liver problems during and after treatment. Restrictions apply. Do not hesitate. EPCLUSA can cause serious side effects, including: Hepatitis B virus reactivation: 2021 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. death. Learn more about some possible side effects of Epclusa. I was hospitalized for a few days and received several blood transfusions. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. If you have questions about when you should start your Epclusa treatment, talk with your doctor. EPCLUSA, when taken with amiodarone (Cordarone, I was diagnosed with Hep C a few years ago. However because genotype 3 has proven to be a difficult genotype of Hep C to cure it is worth considering doing more than 12 weeks treatment with Epclusa if you are treating genotype 3. you have ever had hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus Sharing this information can help prevent potentially harmful interactions. I was like, Why didnt I do this sooner? I wish I would have cured my Hep C with EPCLUSA sooner. USEPCC0166 11/22. This may cause serious liver problems including liver failure a medicine used to treat certain heart problems, may cause slow heart rate. [2] 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. pains, confusion, or memory problems. other than hepatitis C infection, or a liver transplant; if you have kidney problems or are on dialysis; if Hello, First time doing this . EPCLUSA? Epclusa is a brand-name prescription drug thats used to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults and certain children. EPCLUSA and certain other medicines may affect each other, or may cause side effects. Then my doctor said, I want to start you on EPCLUSA. This could last even after your hepatitis C infection is cured. Over time, this damage can cause cirrhosis (liver scarring). Dont wait to get treated. or call And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed. But I wasnt sure if I could afford the treatment. . Common side effects of EPCLUSA include headache and tiredness. The most common side effects of EPCLUSA include headache and tiredness. I am free from my past, and Im free from Hepatitis C. It feels unbelievable! He told me, he said, Your liver is in pretty bad shape. I feel for you brother, the pain can at times be unbearable, nausea, vomiting, chills, sweats, wana grab a gun Stuff! Hepatitis C is an infection that can cause inflammation or swelling of the liver. In Trial 1, patients randomly received either EPCLUSA or placebo pill for 12 . Taking amiodarone with EPCLUSA may cause a serious slowing of your heart rate. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Im so proud of you! (chokes up) That was really, you know, good to hear. and all medicines you take, including herbal supplements. hepatitis B virus could become active Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. For me, going through those treatments was challenging, and ultimately, those treatments were not effective for me. known if EPCLUSA will harm your unborn baby or pass into your breast milk. Fitting EPCLUSA into my daily routine was simple. I spent at least 25 years of my life behind bars. Serious side effects of Epclusa can occur, though they are less common. Now I knowEPCLUSA is different. Epclusa is a medication used to treat all six major forms of hepatitis C virus. Starting treatment for your hepatitis C early may lower your risk for complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Serious side effects may also include slow heart rate (bradycardia). After I finished treatment, my test results came back negative. treat adults with chronic hepatitis C (Hep C) But today, theres EPCLUSA. Brittany found additional support by calling the EPCLUSA Education Line. So, from the time I was diagnosed to the time that I started treatment, it was only like a month. or call It was like the biggest weight in the world was lifted right off my shoulders. Fatigue caused by Epclusa is usually mild. She seemed confident that EPCLUSA could help. Whatever your type, ask your doctor if EPCLUSA could be your kind of cure. No, long-term side effects havent been reported with Epclusa. For patients with advanced cirrhosis (decompensated), EPCLUSA is used with ribavirin. your healthcare provider will do blood If you have ever had hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus could become active again during and after treatment with EPCLUSA. (April 17th,2017). What is the most important information I Its also important to note that Epclusa can interact with grapefruit, and with the herb St. Johns wort. I was diagnosed with hepatitis C in February of 2004. It is the first hepatitis C medication that can successfully treat all six genotypes. I took it with my other medications. Get medical help right away if you take amiodarone with EPCLUSA and get any of the following symptoms: fainting or near-fainting, dizziness or lightheadedness, not feeling well, weakness, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, chest pains, confusion, or memory problems. If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Epclusa, theyll discuss your treatment options with you. again during and after treatment with EPCLUSA. Restrictions apply. I have a great relationship with my doctor, and I really trusted his opinion. In those with advanced cirrhosis (decompensated), EPCLUSA is used with ribavirin. What is the most important information I should know about EPCLUSA? I mean, I was probably the happiest guy around town. They told me I was cured of Hep C. Personally, you know, I took it in, I understood what they meant by that, but given my personal experience, it just took me a little while to mentally take that in and to emotionally believe. But, um, the side effects were too much for me, and I had to stop taking it. during and after taking EPCLUSA. You can see this article for more information about Epclusas interactions. As a former addict, I know that Ill always be working on my recovery, but uhm, I dont have any desire to use drugs ever again. So many years being in that little cage. Three months after your treatment is completed, you will have a blood test to see if your treatment was effective. I took one pill once a day without food, and I did it for 12 weeks. Depression is ruining my life. Theres no, uh, things to distract you. Calling the EPCLUSA Education line really helped me. Then, I had my follow up appointment, and the blood work showed that it was completely gone. Taking amiodarone with EPCLUSA may cause a serious slowing of your heart rate. During your Epclusa treatment, consider keeping notes about any side effects youre having and share this information with your doctor. not feeling well, weakness, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, chest By that point, I had made the decision to stop using drugs, and I knew in my heart that Im never going back to that lifestyle again. Yes, we may have made decisions that have had a negative impact, but with self-awareness and a willingness to address our patterns of behaviour, we can allow ourselves to adapt. That was extremely hard for me, you know? I have started epclusa 21 days ago. With the co-pay coupon, it made it affordable for me. EPCLUSA and certain medicines may affect each other, or cause side effect. If you have ever had hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus could become active EPCLUSA can cause serious The good news about EPCLUSA is it treats 1 to 6 genotypes of the hepatitis C virus. When it comes to treating Hep C, youre not alone. a medicine used to treat certain heart problems, may cause slow heart rate. They may have other suggestions. After all that time, I wanted to be cured of my Hep C and put it behind me. If you have ever thought, "Depression is ruining my life", you need to stop what you are doing with and take the matter seriously, and try to get things under control. Epclusa is a medicine that contains the active substances sofosbuvir and velpatasvir. My message for people in the Hep C community is: Dont give up. and I was tested, and I seen that I had Hepatitis C, too. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. So I was ready for a cure. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Serious side effects may also include Slow heart rate (bradycardia). 1-800-FDA-1088. In clinical trials of Epclusa, the most common side effects were headache and fatigue, usually mild. Side effects were not a problem for me, but everyones experience with EPCLUSA may be different. Yes, Epclusa can interact with many other medications. Before starting EPCLUSA treatment, your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check for My wife was cured with EPCLUSA as well. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. EPCLUSA and certain other medicines may affect each other, or cause side effects. Epclusa isnt known to interact with alcohol. The most common side effects of EPCLUSA include headache and tiredness. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. I made it part of my routine and took it the same time each day. hepatitisB infection. Ultimately, I felt like this was the right treatment for me, and we decided to move forward. 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