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Hepatitis C Main Forums => On Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: Allen Cunningham on January 20, 2016, 12:11:20 am

Title: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: Allen Cunningham on January 20, 2016, 12:11:20 am
Diagnosed 8/97 with HepC
Liver Transplant 7/2004
Genotype 1b, Biopsy:12/2015: F1, tx naive
v/l: ~600,000 - ~1,000,000 ALT: 26, AST: 26
Just started 12 wks Harvoni on Jan 19th

I took my first pill today at noon. Within an hour I noticed a pleasant buzz in my head lasting for about 4 hours and I've had good energy all day. Tonight before going to bed notice a spent feeling, a little more tired than usual.

Have others noticed a 'Harvoni high'?

I had more hunger than usual, but for the first day on Harvoni, I am pleasantly surprised
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: BillT on January 20, 2016, 12:22:37 am
Hi Allen and welcome to the forum,
                               A lot of people on the Harvoni experience it,so yes it's real.Some people started taking it at night,and had to start taking it in the morning because of that.The hunger is one of those things that effects everyone differently.I was on the Viekira.I never eat sweets but I craved them on the treatment(and I'm not getting on a scale anytime soon :) ).I hope the ride is smooth for you but if you have any sxs come back because there are ways to deal with a lot of them.Good luck and let us know how you're doing.One thing you should do is post your stats so we don't keep asking you. :)
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: Lynn K on January 20, 2016, 02:06:45 am
As real as drinking coffee and getting a coffee buzz. Alot of us commented on feeling better on treatment because of the Harvoni high

enjoy :)
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: dragonslayerinprogress on January 20, 2016, 02:42:08 am
Curious. You are treatment naive and they gave you a liver transplant. Why didn't they do treatment before it or put you on treatment after you got the new liver?
I have a friend that just had a liver transplant last year. The hepatitis really started to move in quick and do damage and they put her on Harvoni. She has now cleared the virus but I guess I'm wondering why they wouldn't try to save the new on you just got.

Can the same high happen on Sovaldi? Would like to feel good as well lol. I think maybe it will and then the ribavarin will balance that good out.

Hi Allen and welcome to the forum,
                               A lot of people on the Harvoni experience it,so yes it's real.Some people started taking it at night,and had to start taking it in the morning because of that.The hunger is one of those things that effects everyone differently.I was on the Viekira.I never eat sweets but I craved them on the treatment(and I'm not getting on a scale anytime soon :) ).I hope the ride is smooth for you but if you have any sxs come back because there are ways to deal with a lot of them.Good luck and let us know how you're doing.One thing you should do is post your stats so we don't keep asking you. :)
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: Lynn K on January 20, 2016, 02:56:40 am
Hi Dragonslayerinprogress

Just from reading his story and making educated guesses I assume:

He had his transplant in 2004 so the only drugs available at that time especially as he had decompensated cirrhosis likely would not have worked and could possibly have killed him if he went into total liver failure from treatment and could not get a new organ in time.

And after his treatment treating a post transplant patient with interferon Ribavirin and Telaprevir could still be dangerous and still not that effective.

They are trying to save his new liver he is high on the list to be treated because he is a post transplant with hep c and he just started treatment with Harvoni.

Harvoni was only approved October 2014 so it has only been available for 14 months.

I did Sovaldi and Olysio and don't recall that revved up feeling that I had on Harvoni.
Yeah when we added ribavirin to my treatment the ribavirin induced anemia kinda ruined the harvoni high effect for me.

Best to you
Lynn
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: dragonslayerinprogress on January 20, 2016, 03:52:13 am
That makes sense. Well either way, Here's hoping that it's an easy ride this time. You've been through alot!
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: gnatcatcher on January 20, 2016, 08:05:23 am
... I took my first pill today at noon. Within an hour I noticed a pleasant buzz in my head lasting for about 4 hours and I've had good energy all day....
Have others noticed a 'Harvoni high'?

I had more hunger than usual, but for the first day on Harvoni, I am pleasantly surprised

Allen, your first day was a LOT like mine: extra energy and appetite within an hour of swallowing that first pill. Both stayed with me throughout the 12 weeks of treatment, so, yes, the "Harvoni High" is real. Unfortunately, (1) the extra appetite is still present 16 weeks post-Tx (I'm having great difficulty trying to lose the >7 pounds I added since Tx began) and (2) my energy level was reset (it's more than before Tx, but less than during Tx).

Enjoy!

Gnatty
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: slats1056 on January 20, 2016, 08:43:32 am
 Mine was a tingling feeling, sort of speedy, with increased appetite until the Sxs took over. Lost about 10-15 Lbs. and have been able to keep them off. I was hoping to lose another 10-15 Lbs. by now , but what the hell, I'll take it. I would like to think of My Harvoni High is NOW. 12 weeks post EOT and getting a buzz everytime I see that NOT DETECTED!! LOL. Welcome to team Harvoni. Hope Your trip is enjoyable, unlike mine. One day I hope to be the Conductor on this Crazy Train!!!
  Keep the faith and soldier on My good Warrior! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: Allen Cunningham on January 20, 2016, 09:24:26 pm
Diagnosed 8/97 with HepC
Liver Transplant 7/2004
Genotype 1b, Biopsy:12/2015: F1, tx naive
v/l: ~600,000 - ~1,000,000 ALT: 26, AST: 26
Just started 12 wks Harvoni on Jan 19th

Hi Guys - Thanks for all the great responses. I'm on day #2 now and really don't notice any bad side effects, I kind of look forward to taking it in the morning for the pleasant buzz.

I am definitely noticing the hunger and hope I don't put on too much weight!

The Dr. said to take it at the same time each morning, I get up at 6:00 on weekdays and 7:00 on weekends, is OK to be one hour or a half hour different in terms of times?
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: slats1056 on January 20, 2016, 10:40:27 pm
 Hey Allen, several times I either had to leave early, or slept late. I just took it before I left or when I woke up. Didn't want to take the chance on missing My mouth while driving. The directions basically say as long as You don't miss a dose. Take it as soon as You can. But it is best to take it at roughly the same time. I became extremely obsessive about counting them to male sure that I had not forgotten to take it. Knowing damn well that I did!LOL! Then counting them again an hour later. GOLD FEVER I TELL YA!!

 Hey Scout, Tell him about the one You dropped that went under the Stove!!!! LOL!
   True story, couldn't make up this kind of stuff!! ;)

    HAS ANYONE SEEN MY JACKET? IT'S WHITE, WITH SLEEVES THAT MAKE YOUR HUG YOURSELF AND A CUTE BELT!
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: Allen Cunningham on January 20, 2016, 11:14:55 pm
Diagnosed 8/97 with HepC
Liver Transplant 7/2004
Genotype 1b, Biopsy:12/2015: F1, tx naive
v/l: ~600,000 - ~1,000,000 ALT: 26, AST: 26
Just started 12 wks Harvoni on Jan 19th

Hey Dragon - Lynn K. was exactly right, when I was diagnosed my liver was so far gone all they could say is 'get on the transplant list'

It was too late for IFN for me and besides they said it only worked 30%-40% of the time, and there were horrible side effects, so I went on the transplant list in '97  and for 7 years continued to get sicker and have my quality of life spiral down.
Then in 2004 my brother in law gave me the gift of life and I received a living donor transplant in July 2004. All the Doctors told me that after a transplant the Hepc will always return, and usually more aggressive than before. Most post-transplant folks will have Cirrhosis within 7 years afterward. So loved how I felt after the transplant but always worried about Liver disease coming back.

But God has protected me for 12 years and just in time to be able to get Harvoni and I'm not minding it at all after two days!
Title: Re: Is the 'Harvoni High' real?
Post by: AussieRosa on January 20, 2016, 11:43:16 pm
I wish you the very best of luck with your treatment, Allen. Please keep posting and letting us know how you're going.
Rosa