What to stop on Harvoni treatment

[hepclady]

Hi, New to this list and not sure if this has been covered or how to find it.

I would like to know once you get on Harvoni or other hep c treatment, do you have to stop everything else you are taking?  For example, any herbs at all, vitamins, minerals, bioidentical hormones, etc.

Thank you very much for any information.

[Lynn K]

Let your doctor know what you are taking is the best answer I can give you. Most of us feel that the less you are taking the better while on treatment so as not to risk interfering with our hard won expensive medicines.

Per the Harvoni prescribing information sheet some herbals are specifically listed as advised against i.e. rifampin & St. John’s wort. There is also very specific instructions for those who take acid reducing meds like Tums, Pepsid or similar Prilosec and similar.

The only thing I took was a multivitamin. If you are taking any prescription medicines please ask your doctor nurse or pharmacist.

Also Harvoni has a nurse line to help with your questions about what is safe to take on treatment.

Here is the link to the prescribing information sheet you should receive this with your prescription:

https://www.gilead.com/~/media/Files/pdfs/medicines/liver-disease/harvoni/harvoni_pi.pdf

Here is the contact information for My Support Path for the 24/7 nurse line and access to copay coupons so you may only have to pay $5 per prescription refill

Providers and patients can call 1-855-7-MYPATH (1-855-769-7284) for assistance

http://www.mysupportpath.com/help-along-the-way

[lporterrn]

I echo what Lynn said. Even if there is a potential interaction between 2 substances, sometimes it is a matter of adjusting the timing of when you take your medications. In addition to your doctor, talk to your pharmacist. This is a good site to use too (but remember what I said about timing): http://www.hep-druginteractions.org/

[hepclady]

Hi Lucinda,

Thank you very much for this information.

[Forest dweller]

Does anyone know about marijuana For help during treatment?

[jakas]

u can use it in moderation  4 hours before or 4 hours after the pill, I dont know about the help. I did use it on 2 occasions to sleep as the insomnia was bad

[coastal girl]

Hi HepC Lady,  I am a believer in natural medicine.  I did decide to go off the supplements during treatment except B vitamins...I even stopped those 1/2 way thru...nothing was going to mess with me being cured!!! Not that I thought it would.  The nurses and pharmacist at the support line said there was no indicated adverse reactions I still quit them...it was only 3 months.  I never stopped my bio identical hormones!  BTW I am happy to tell you I am undetected per my 12 week post blood test ..  Back on my supplements!!!!

[Lynn K]

Does anyone know about marijuana For help during treatment?

Help with what during treatment? Are you expecting to have side effects? Most of us here in general had few side effects. Personally I stopped taking anything except the prescribed diuretic I take for edema and my small amount of ascities caused my liver cirrhosis.

Good luck with treatment

[hepclady]

Can anyone tell me how to reply to individual messages?  I just see a reply button at the bottom of all the messages sent to me.

This is for Coastal Girl. 

Thank you very much for your post.  Good to hear you didn't have to stop bioidentical hormones.  I take a progesterone capsule at bedtime and use a cream during the day.

Great that you were able to stop all other supplements.  I am wondering about magnesium oxide for elimination and some herbal combination that helps with that, too.  I also take an ayurvedic supplement for blood pressure (which isn't terrible, but borderline).  I am planning on stopping those except maybe the magnesium.

I am going to be taking Sovaldi and Daklinza for Genotype 2a/2c.

Thanks for your post.

[Lynn K]

Hit the reply button next to the message

[KimInTheForest]

Can anyone tell me how to reply to individual messages?  I just see a reply button at the bottom of all the messages sent to me.

You can also hit the "Quote" button top right, as I did for this post, Hepclady. And then you type your reply beneath the quoted message - so people an see exactly which posting you are replying to.

kim

[coastal girl]

Can anyone tell me how to reply to individual messages?  I just see a reply button at the bottom of all the messages sent to me.

This is for Coastal Girl. 

Thank you very much for your post.  Good to hear you didn't have to stop bioidentical hormones.  I take a progesterone capsule at bedtime and use a cream during the day.

Great that you were able to stop all other supplements.  I am wondering about magnesium oxide for elimination and some herbal combination that helps with that, too.  I also take an ayurvedic supplement for blood pressure (which isn't terrible, but borderline).  I am planning on stopping those except maybe the magnesium.

I am going to be taking Sovaldi and Daklinza for Genotype 2a/2c.

Thanks for your post.

Hello again,
You can lower your blood pressure with food also!  Google flaxseed and BP  and Hibiscus tea and BP and back way off on salt intake.  I recently bought the book How Not To Die by Micheal Greger, M.D.  It's full of whole food dietary benefits!! He's not a supporter of supplements for which I disagree but like all reading materials, take what resonates with your beliefs and needs    My blood pressure raised during treatment on Harvoni, doc said that was not a side effect, I told him that it seems to be the case with quite a few people on treatment.  I hope your treatment goes smoothly with minimal to no side effects and you will be posting undetected soon

[hepclady]

Lynn:

You said to hit the reply button next to the message, but there is not one there.  It only says reply down at the bottom of ALL the messages.  That is what I clicked to send this.

[Else]

Lynn:

You said to hit the reply button next to the message, but there is not one there.  It only says reply down at the bottom of ALL the messages.  That is what I clicked to send this.

Hi Hepclady,

When you said "respond to individual messages" are you talking about a private message?

If not, then hit QUOTE button like I did here with your last post.

[Lynn K]

I see you figured out how to reply to my PM aka private message great job!

[Wiglaf]

Does anyone know about marijuana For help during treatment?

I was part of a group of 29 persons receiving treatment for Hepatitis C. Thirteen patients were treated for 8 weeks. I was part of the group that were treated for 12 weeks. We met every two weeks for a Q & A session, and to pick up our meds. Prescriptions varied depending on results of blood work done after each meeting. I took detailed notes at these meetings. A patient in the group asked the doctor/moderator " Is it okay to smoke medical marijuana during treatment?" The doctor reluctantly answered " There is no proof it interferes with treatment."

[KimInTheForest]

Welcome to the forums, Wiglaf. Nice avatar!

kim

[Lynn K]

One other thought about marijuana is that some are required to be checked for drug use before they can receive treatment and I think while on treatment so if you have to pass a drug test that would be a problem