Starting Harvoni tomorrow

[knick61]

Hello. This is my first post hoping to find answers. I was told I have hep C1a viril load 10,000,000

fibroscan score 5.5 no liver damage alt 96 six mos ago. I got my harvoni today and take my first pill

tomorrow. I take Lisinopril 20mg with hctz 12.5 for high b.p I also take atorvastatin calcium 40mg to

lower my cholesterol. My question is does anyone take the same meds as me or know of any reaction I

my expect from this combo. I've asked one of the doctors I've seen about this and all she said was don't

worry about it. I am a Nam vet my health provider is the V.A. and with the scores of vets that are

getting treated now it's hard to get good answers. Also if I got this from jet guns used in 1971 how can I

have no liver damage after 45 years. thank you very much for your time.

[morab]

knick61
welcome to the forum, I am also 1a with no liver damage, blood transfusion in 73' so it is possible for some of us to have hep c for this long without much damage to the liver.
What is a jet gun? just curious.
All the best for you on tx and hopeful that you won't have any side effects.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Morab

[KimInTheForest]

Welcome knick61!

Suprisingly, it is possible to have Hep C for decades with no significant liver damage/fibrosis.

As for the medications you are already on, and whether there is any conflict with Harvoni... I think it would be wise to call the Gilead helpline and ask them. I don't know the number, but maybe someone else here can supply it. I am wondering particularly about the medication with calcium in it, since antacids with calcium carbonate in them will neutralize Harvoni (or neutralize the ledipasvir in Harvoni) by raising pH of stomach. It could be that your cholesterol medication has no such problem. But I think Gilead themselves would be the ones to ask.

Good luck!

kim

[knick61]

A jet gun was used to inoculate soldiers with high pressure in a rapid session rather than use a new needle for each one. Never being cleaned for each use. If anyone in line ahead of you had Hep C you got it.

[morab]

knick61
I hate to hear that about the jet gun. So many of our Veterans getting Hep C that way. I also take lisinopirl for BP, that was ok's by my Dr not sure about the other you are on so may want to call Gilead, there should be a number to the specialty pharmacy on you first bottle of pills to call about medial interactions, but your physician should know and if they ok'd the drug mix I would imagine it is ok. If in doubt call Gilead, you can google Gilead and get their hot line number to call to make sure.
Good luck and keep us posted.
morab

[slats1056]

  Jet guns were also used on the general public especially for mass inoculation for public school immunizations back in the 1960's. I had several , though I doubt that is the way I contracted the virus.

[Gaj]

Hi knick61,

Liverpool University provide a quick checker app for HCV drug interaction with others that you can find here http://www.hep-druginteractions.org/checker

In your case with Harvoni there may be some mild interactions that you and your doctor should be aware of in case dose modification of the other drugs is required for the treatment period.

Atorvastatin
Coadministration has not been studied but may increase atorvastatin concentrations due to inhibition of P-gp and/or BCRP by ledipasvir. A dose reduction of atorvastatin may be required, monitor lipid levels and CK and increased side effects of atorvastatin such as muscle pain.

Lisinopril
Coadministration has not been studied, but based on metabolism and clearance a clinically significant interaction is unlikely. Lisinopril does not undergo metabolism and is excreted entirely unchanged into the urine. However, lisinopril exposure is increased in cirrhotic patients due to decreased clearance.

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
Coadministration has not been studied but based on metabolism and clearance a clinically significant interaction is unlikely as hydrochlorothiazide is not metabolised and is cleared by the kidneys.

[BillT]

Hi Knick and welcome to the forum,
                            I a Vet also and got it from those damn vaccine guns to.I treated through the VA,finished treatment in January,and was cured.My Firbroscan score was 10 when I started,and it's 5.3 now(just had one done yesterday).My AST and ALT were up but dropped pretty quickly.Your score's looks great and don't worry about the VL.All of us start in different places and it seems to have no effect on being cured.As far as the meds you can ask the pharmacy.Their computer should flag it if there's any problem,but ask them.Welcome home Brother.

[SomewhereinTX]

  Jet guns were also used on the general public especially for mass inoculation for public school immunizations back in the 1960's. I had several , though I doubt that is the way I contracted the virus.

I don't know if that is how I got HCV but I do know that not long after receiving my inoculations from the jet gun I was fatigued most of the time and had no experience with fatigue prior to that.
 Went to the Doctor while in the Service many times for every test they could throw at me to find out why and all came up empty with an explanation for it.

IIRC this was before Hep V was known in the mid '70s.