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Hepatitis C Main Forums => On Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: bock on November 23, 2018, 06:50:10 pm

Title: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on November 23, 2018, 06:50:10 pm
I will be starting generic epclusa in the morning. I have 2 genotypes and im scared if it will work out but I am hopeful. Scarred of side effects.
I read it is best to take epclusa with small amount of food so i am planning of taking light breakfast then pill and then 2-3 hours later full meal. Does anyone  have any advice?
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: Lynn K on November 23, 2018, 07:20:11 pm
Epclusa is effective on all genotypes. The majority of people have no to mild side effects. The most common side effect is mild headaches which can mostly be prevented by keeping properly hydrated the old 8 each eight ounce glasses of liquid daily we all should be consuming any way.

Best of luck with treatment. I am confident you will have an easy time and be cured.
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: andrew j on November 24, 2018, 04:34:28 pm
Bock,

Your plan is as good as any.
I used to take mine at 9 p.m. with dinner - and that seemed to work just fine - even if I missed out on some 'Harvoni High' time.
(You may experience an odd surge of energy soon after taking your pill) ...

The main thing is to remember to take your pill at the same time each day ... but you seem to have that sussed anyway!

Best of luck with treatment!

A.
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on November 24, 2018, 04:42:21 pm
Thanks!
Started today. So far nothing unusual. I hope all goes well.
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: Texnurse14 on November 26, 2018, 10:13:20 pm
Hello..I’ve been on Epclusa for nearly two weeks now and have been pleasantly surprised. I usually get side effects from everything, but I have none so far.
I just take it after dinner and forget I took it.
My pharmacist said to take it at the same time each day, so I set my alarm.
Best of luck to you
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on November 27, 2018, 07:16:10 am
Thank you!
No side effects for me either but having some kind of cold. I hope it will pass soon. Around this time of year  I usually get laryngitis and sometimes need antibiotics and that is my main concern because I have kids and they bring all sort of viruses from kindergarten. I couldnt find anything about interactions with antibiotics.
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: Lynn K on November 27, 2018, 02:43:49 pm
If you are prescribed antibiotics let your doctor know you are taking Epclusa. But it should not be a problem. On the prescribing information sheet that came with your prescription there were no interactions with antibiotics listed.

Here is a link to the prescribing information sheet in case you no longer have your copy:

https://www.gilead.com/~/media/files/pdfs/medicines/liver-disease/epclusa/epclusa_pi.pdf
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: Texnurse14 on November 27, 2018, 02:57:05 pm
Nasophatangitis (nose stuffiness) is a pretty common side effect. I’ve had some of that too but I didn’t really correlate it with the meds!
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on November 27, 2018, 04:41:39 pm
Thanks for the sheet.
What begins with nose stuffiness in my case always gets worse so now I have a cough but I dont always get prescribed antibiotics. Sometimes I use steam inhaler.
I hope I wont need anything this time.
Thank you everybody!
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on December 04, 2018, 05:26:46 pm
My cold and cough got better and overall I’m feeling great. I have somekind of surge of energy. Sometimes it is in the evening and sometimes in the afternoon, but not in the morning when I take the pill. I can clean the whole house when that happens-strange! No side effects!
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: Lynn K on December 04, 2018, 08:18:25 pm
Some of us experience what we called the Harvoni high we seemed to have some extra energy while we were on treatment. A couple of people felt overstimulated like they’ve had too much coffee but most of us sort of enjoyed it
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on December 24, 2018, 01:03:33 pm
Hi,
it is my 5th week on generic epclusa. So far just couple of days of headache.
Energy is at higher level.
I was supposed to do alt and ast yesterday to see if they dropped because in my country they just test for virus at end of treatment and 12 weeks after.
So now I have severe enxiety about testing liver panel, because so many times it was above 100 or 200(alt and ast) so now I'm scarred if treatment is working.  I will hopefully test tommorow.

Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: Lynn K on December 24, 2018, 02:08:04 pm
Being a little nervous about seeing those first test results is normal wanting to be sure treatment is working.

These new meds are very effective I am very sure your will be very happy with your results when you see normal liver enzyme levels for the first time since you learned you have hep c.

On treatment viral load testing is of no value. The only reason for on treatment viral load testing would possibly be during clinical trials and perhaps when treatment was new.

If your on treatment viral load test result was not totally undetected it would only cause entirely unnecessary concern for the patient as it is of no diagnostic value. While most are not detected at that first test there are some that are still weakly detected but will still go on to be cured. So there is really no reason to do on treatment viral load testing.

Best of luck I am sure you are doing fine fighting the virus.
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on December 25, 2018, 04:52:45 pm
Thank you!
For encouragement and everything!
I will get back with results
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on January 21, 2019, 06:04:35 am
Just to update.

I didn't have the courage to do alt-ast until today.

The results are: alt-13   ast-15 !

It looks like everething is going good.
I have just started last epclusa box. About 4 more weeks
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: Lynn K on January 22, 2019, 05:08:20 am
Congrats on your liver enzyme test results awesome news!

Good luck with the rest of treatment
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: bock on March 19, 2019, 06:05:37 am
Just to update.
Not detectable after EOT!
Just waiting 12 weeeks after to confirm.
I didnt write much but thanks for the support!
Title: Re: Starting generic epclusa in the morning
Post by: Lynn K on March 19, 2019, 06:41:03 pm
Great news best of luck with your 12 week post but very likely you will still be not detected at 12 weeks

Congrats