Harvoni and Benedryl?

[Steve76]

I can't find out if I can take Benedryl while on Harvoni and need some feedback.  Has anyone been on Harvoni treatment and taken Benedryl? I have a bad allergy or cold,  the frigging weather keeps changing.

Also, Aleve as well,  I know about the dangers of Alleve with bleeding, but am wondering about interaction with Harvoni only.


It is the weekend and my doctors office is closed as well as the Gilead hotline.


Any info or help would be appreciated,  thanks...

[gnatcatcher]

Hi, Steve --

There's nothing in the Harvoni prescribing information* prohibiting the use of Benadryl; I also searched for antihistamine, diphenhydramine (the specific antihistamine that's in the U.S. and Canadian versions), and acrivastine and cetirizine  (the specific antihistamines in the U.K. versions) -- no mention of them either, so Benadryl is safe to use with Harvoni.

Likewise, there's nothing in the Harvoni prescribing information prohibiting the use of Aleve; I also searched for naproxen, since Aleve = naproxen + sodium, and it's not mentioned either.

Assuming your kidneys are healthy, you should be fine as long as you stick to the recommended dose of each.

Gnatty

*The prescribing information is the folded-up small-print booklet that came with your bottle of Harvoni. It's possible to download it as a PDF file from Gilead's Harvoni web site so that you can search for specific words as I have done.

[Allen Cunningham]

Diagnosed 8/97 with HepC
Liver Transplant 7/2004
Genotype 1b, last biopsy:12/2015: F-0, Slight Inflammation, TX Naive
v/l: ~600,000 - ~1,000,000 ALT: 26, AST: 26
Starting 12 wks Harvoni in Jan 2016

Good to know because I am starting Harvoni later in the month and I use a benedryl and Melatonin for sleep

[Lynn K]

The Harvoni prescribing information sheet which you should get with every prescription has lots of information including currently known drug interactions. See section 7

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

If you take antacids, Pepcid, Prilosec or similar acid reducing meds there are very specific instruction how to take them.

However neither Benedryl or Melotonin are on the list

Good luck

[Flaco]

I found this, FWIW. It's not complete, but fairly extensive I suppose; it lists diphenhydramine as well as the anti-HepC drugs.
hep-druginteractions.org

ETA:
Top center, where it says Click Here, or just go straight to the chart: http://www.hep-druginteractions.org/interactions.aspx

[Allen Cunningham]

Flaco - Thanks for posting that link, great information!

[Lynn K]

I followed your links and this was the result

Summary

Coadministration has not been studied but based on metabolism and clearance a clinically significant interaction is unlikely. Diphenhydramine is a substrate and inhibitor of CYP2D6 and ledipasvir/sofosbuvir do not affect this pathway. However, diphenhydramine should be used with caution in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment.

Basically the concern is if the patient is a patient with decompensated cirrhosis Child B or C especially if the patient has hepatic encephalopathy

http://hepatitiscnewdrugresearch.com/hepatic-encephalopathy.html

Many medications may cause or worsen confusion associated with liver disease. These include medications for pain (especially strong pain medications called opiates which include Morphine, Demerol, Dilaudid, and Hydrocodone), medications for anxiety such as Alprazolam (Xanax), antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and medications for nausea, such as Phenergan.

[dragonslayer]

As a chronic insomniac, I took Diphenhydramine extensively during Harvoni treatment..  Since then Ive stopped taking it, getting better results with a tiny dose of 25mg 5-htp  sublingual at bedtime.

I wound up achieving SVR  so Im guessing dipenhydramine would not be too big a problem... Keep in mind though that I was low level detected at end of 8 wk treatment, and didnt achieve SVR until the 12 wk post treatment test.

Whether this delayed 'undetected' was a result of the diphenhydramine is anybody's guess..    My feeling was not being able to sleep during treatment couldnt be good for killing the dragon, so I went ahead and took it.   So far as I know, it hasnt been studied so there are no negative interactions posted that I could find at the time.

[Steve76]

Thanks for all of the replies.  I will take this drug judiciously,  I have taken it once so far.  My problem  is  I have chronic sinus issues year round.  Oh well, thanks again all...

[Lynn K]

As the information I posted from the drug interacton site said there is no reason to suspect ant interaction between diphenhydramine and Harvoni so I wouldn't sweat it at all.

The only concern raised with diphenhydramine is if you have hepatic encephalopathy which unless you are a Child "B" or "C" cirrhotic and likely on the transplant list you likely do not have HE.

Good luck with treatment