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Author Topic: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?  (Read 10261 times)

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Offline CCA

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 1
What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« on: November 27, 2015, 10:23:17 pm »
My 56yo husband just started 24 week Harvoni.  What is the best OTC med for headaches.  Any other suggestions to deal with early treatment side effects? TIA
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Offline GLCII

  • Member
  • Posts: 127
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2015, 07:22:46 am »
Hi CCA

I was told I could take a tylenol or an ibuprofen. with the preffered being a tylenol. That might be something to talk to the doctors office about since everyone and every doctor is different. I was also told I could take certain vitamins like B's D & C. Things a person might get in a daily diet.That too might be something to talk to the doctor about.

The biggest thing people here seemed to have in common was drinking lots of water. That seems to help with the sides.

It also seemed that everyone had a different time of day they took the harvoni, depending on their daily routine/schedule, to lesson its effects.

There's a thread here devoted to side effcts you might want to read. The side effects seemed to very from person to person.

http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=1653.0   <--Side Effects

Tell your husband Good Luck!
Logged
Pre Tx (VL 12043488) ALT 52/ AST 39
Harvoni Start Date 03/12
2 Week in Tx Results HCV RNA Detected, less than 15 IU/mL. ALT 19 / AST 19
4 Weeks in Tx Results HCV RNA Not detected. ALT 21 / AST 18
12 Week in Tx Results HCV RNA Not detected. ALT 17 / AST 19
--------------------------------------------------------------
Post 12 Week EOT Tx ALT 19/ AST 19 (Undetected)
Post 24 Week EOT Tx ALT 19/ AST 15 (Undetected)

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2015, 07:37:31 am »
Ditto on the Tylenol/acetaminophen (not more than 2,000 MG/day if your husband has cirrhosis); ditto on drinking lots of water, which helps with headaches in particular. Some people on the side effects thread suggested drinking 1 ounce of fluid for every 2 pounds of weight, so a 160# person would drink 80 ounces (10 cups) per day. (My medical professional said all my beverages count in the total.) -Gnatty
Logged
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline Mike

  • Member
  • Posts: 999
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2015, 09:42:25 am »
Tyenol is the recommended OTC for headaches while on tx. Up to 2000mg. per day.


Best wishes, Mike
Logged
Genotype 1a
Treated 2001 with PEG and RIBV
Treated in 2014 SOL+PEG+RIBV
Cured July 2014

Offline Sweetie1

  • Member
  • Posts: 28
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2015, 11:17:27 am »
Personally I wouldn't take Tylenol, I would take one Anacin, it really helps get rid of a headache. And drink lots of water. But eat something with it.  Best, Karen
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Offline beto

  • Member
  • Posts: 548
  • "no risk it, no biscuit"
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2015, 12:48:36 pm »
I am in agreement with Sweetie1.  I just don't like the idea of taking Tylenol at all...I get the issue with ibuprofen and Cirrhosis due to potential bleeding.  I know about the (up to) 2000mg Tylenol being OK thing...but I personally don't buy it.  I have avoided Tylenol for most of my Hep-C years.  It is liver toxic...yes many things are...however, I always have to wonder how much of what we hear about drugs is industry interest driven.  Maybe I am paranoid.  That's just me.  I actually used to have bad reaction when I took Tylenol (before I knew anything about it and had hep c).  I knew of an incident of someone's liver shutting down coming back from a vacation and had been taking too much Tylenol...grant it, people tend to over drink on vacation, but still; the diagnosis was acetaminophen poisoning.  But, if you have a bad headache and nothing else works...well...lots of folks are taking it during tx and do not seem to have issues.  Also, their livers are working better with the meds.

here's a tidbit from Drugwatch

"Tylenol is not without its serious complications. It is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States, and the drug in some cases led to fatalities. The active ingredient in Tylenol, acetaminophen, accounts for more than 100,000 calls to poison centers, roughly 60,000 emergency-room visits and hundreds of deaths each year in the United States. In England, it is the leading cause of liver failure requiring transplants. In 2009, the FDA issued guidelines for adding overdose guidelines to packages and in 2011, the agency confirmed the link between the drug and liver damage. "

Just sayin'...though this does come from high doses.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2015, 01:04:56 pm by beto »
Logged
HCV/nonA,nonB acute phase 1975
HCV detected active 1990
HCV persistent chronic diagnosis 1995
1995 liver enzymes mild elevations
1996 Biopsy F2 fibrosis
treatment naive geno 1-A
2000-to early 2015 Viral load 150, 000 to 800, 000
recent liver enzymes before treatment alt/ast 59to209,  Fibroscan F4,cirrhosis
start tx Harvoni 7/11/2015
6.5 week-UD-ast/alt 25/25
9wk-UD-ast18 alt23
10/3/15 completed tx
11/5/15 new fibroscan f0-f1 amazed
6wk EOT UD ast/alt 20/20
12EOT-UD-ast/alt19/21
25wk-SVR! 19/18

Offline Mike

  • Member
  • Posts: 999
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2015, 12:54:20 pm »
It's a medical fact that Tylenol is safe for those with HCV and is the recommended OTC for those on treatment experiencing side effects such as headaches.

Best wishes, Mike
Logged
Genotype 1a
Treated 2001 with PEG and RIBV
Treated in 2014 SOL+PEG+RIBV
Cured July 2014

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,544
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2015, 04:20:28 am »
Hi CCA and welcome,

My doctor recommends Tylenol for pain management for those with cirrhosis but no more than 2000mg/day

One issue with over dose is reading labels as acetaminophen is an ingredient in so many multi-symptom medicines for example Excedrin which contains 250 mg of aspirin, 250 mg of acetaminophen and 65 mg of caffeine.

Also people sometimes think if some is good more is better. The overdose cases primarily were people taking high dosages of acetaminophen over long periods of time.

Tylenol is safe when taken correctly and the recommend pain relief medication for those with advanced liver disease due to concerns of bleeding.

But as far as CCA's question it depends on how much liver damage her husband has and the best idea is to check with his doctor for their recommendation.
Logged
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2015, 10:45:47 am »
Hi CCA

I see there's a different consensus on the issue of taking Tyleneol.  The pharmacist who issued Harvoni to me, said no Tyleneol, only Advil or such.  I'm not real good with those products because they upset my stomach.  I would prefer Tyleneol, but am following all suggestions from my medical people.  As far as vitamins, since I take the drug in the am, I can take supplements in the evening.  Whatever is taken, should be at least 4 hours before or after taking Harvoni.  Also, I was told no herbal supplements like Milk Thistle or St. John's Wort.  If your not sure, check with your healthcare provider.

Water is the answer for us all.  Although, I feel like a bloated cow.

Good luck!

HealthGal
Logged
HCV diagnosed 06/2005
Probably transmitted through blood products between 1980-1990.
10/2015 Fibroscan F4
10/2015 VL 5,487,456
10/2015 RNA Quantitive 6.74
10/2015 AFT Marker 3.7
10/2015 AST 35
10/2015 ALT 31 (H)
11/23/15 Started 12 Week Harvoni Treatment

Blood work 1/18/16
HCV RNA <15 IU/ml   NOT DETECTED!
HCV RNA <1.18 Log IU/ml  NOT DETECTED!
ALT 11
AST 18

3/7/16 4 Week Follow up after Harvoni treatment.
HCV (still) not detected!
RNA <15  -  <1.18
ALT 13
AST 24

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,544
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2015, 08:44:31 pm »
Mostly in the Tylenol vs other OTC NSAID med question is that people with cirrhosis are at risk for a life threatening bleeding episode due to low platelet counts and high PTT lab tests and so NSAID medicines like Advil, Aleve and aspirin can put us at risk where Tylenol does not increase this risk.

Personally HealthGal I would double check with my liver specialist about Tylenol. Pharmacists are expert in medicines but your doctor is expert in your liver. Have you been checked for esophageal varicies? Do you know if your platelet count is low? Mine is about 85 with minimum normal at 150 so I really need to be careful about medicines that increase risk of bleeding.

Always best to ask your doctor what they say is best for you in your individual situation.

If you are taking stomach acid reducing medicines it is very important if you take Prilosec or similar PPI at the same time as Harvoni and on an empty stomach.

If you take famotidine (Zantac, Pepsid) or similar H2 inhibitors they must be taken at the same time as Harvoni and if taking a second dose at 12 hours after taking Harvoni.

If you use Tums or similar this must be taken no later than 4 hour before you take Harvoni or you must wait until 4 hours after taking Harvoni.

Here is a link to the prescribing information sheet for Harvoni the information about antacids is on page 7

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

Good luck
« Last Edit: December 02, 2015, 08:51:40 pm by Lynn K »
Logged
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2015, 08:55:18 pm »
Interesting information.  I was told not to take any acid reducers, because they can interfere with the absorption of Harvoni.  That included prescription or otc medicines.  You are correct regarding Tums or Rolaids, 4 hours before or 4 hours after taking the drug.

I guess it really depends upon your lab work and doctor's advice.  Always consult your physician and pharmacist.

HeathGal
Logged
HCV diagnosed 06/2005
Probably transmitted through blood products between 1980-1990.
10/2015 Fibroscan F4
10/2015 VL 5,487,456
10/2015 RNA Quantitive 6.74
10/2015 AFT Marker 3.7
10/2015 AST 35
10/2015 ALT 31 (H)
11/23/15 Started 12 Week Harvoni Treatment

Blood work 1/18/16
HCV RNA <15 IU/ml   NOT DETECTED!
HCV RNA <1.18 Log IU/ml  NOT DETECTED!
ALT 11
AST 18

3/7/16 4 Week Follow up after Harvoni treatment.
HCV (still) not detected!
RNA <15  -  <1.18
ALT 13
AST 24

Offline Lynn K

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 4,544
  • Get tested, get treated, get cured, fight Hep c!
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2015, 09:07:59 pm »
Yes you "can" per the prescribing info take acid reducers but as I was a 4 time treatment failure and could not afford to mess this one up I suffered through 48 weeks of chronic heartburn from GERD due to my hiatial hernia without prilosec.

I guess the message is avoid them if you can but if you must take acid reducers that is how to do so with least impact on treatment with your doctors agreement also.

I did occasionally take tums at night to sleep which was hours after I had taken harvoni.

Let me tell ya when I finished treatment I got the Prilosec from the cabinet and kissed the box because I missed my prilosec so much and immediately took one.

Are you taking Harvoni for 24 weeks?
« Last Edit: December 02, 2015, 09:09:48 pm by Lynn K »
Logged
Genotype 1a
1978 contracted, 1990 Dx
1995 Intron A failed
2001 Interferon Riba null response
2003 Pegintron Riba trial med null response
2008 F4 Cirrhosis Bx
2014 12 week Sov/Oly relapse
10/14 fibroscan 27 PLT 96
2014 24 weeks Harvoni 15 weeks Riba
5/4/15 EOT not detected, ALT 21, AST 20
4 week post not detected, ALT 26, AST 28
12 week post NOT DETECTED (07/27/15)
ALT 29, AST 27 PLT 92
24 week post NOT DETECTED! (10/19/15)
44 weeks (3/11/16)  fibroscan 33, PLT 111, HCV NOT DETECTED!
I AM FREE!

Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2015, 09:18:30 pm »
I too have a hiatal hernia.  I was taking Pepcid.  However, it sounds like you have it bad.  I try to stay away from foods that trigger the reflux.  So far, I've only needed a Tums every now & then.  It's truly tough not to take other medications when one's on treatment.

Glad to hear you don't have to go through that again!

HG
Logged
HCV diagnosed 06/2005
Probably transmitted through blood products between 1980-1990.
10/2015 Fibroscan F4
10/2015 VL 5,487,456
10/2015 RNA Quantitive 6.74
10/2015 AFT Marker 3.7
10/2015 AST 35
10/2015 ALT 31 (H)
11/23/15 Started 12 Week Harvoni Treatment

Blood work 1/18/16
HCV RNA <15 IU/ml   NOT DETECTED!
HCV RNA <1.18 Log IU/ml  NOT DETECTED!
ALT 11
AST 18

3/7/16 4 Week Follow up after Harvoni treatment.
HCV (still) not detected!
RNA <15  -  <1.18
ALT 13
AST 24

Offline jakas

  • Member
  • Posts: 265
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2015, 09:05:51 am »
@HealthGal13 how long is your Harvoni treatment for ? 12 or 24 weeks. Is it just Harvoni or with riba ?
Logged
M/57 yrs.
Contracted (Unknown) 10-20-30 yrs back ??
Treatment Naive
Geno 1a&1b
VL  17+ million
ALT 200+, AST 170+
Fibroscan F4 ( 26+ kpa ) on 8th Dec. 2105
Started Tx 11th Dec.2015 ( 12 wks. Gilead Harvoni)
7/1/2016 :Viral Load|<25 UND.
23/1/2016: ALT 34 , AST 35, ALP 143
8 week NO labs done
EOT:03.03.2016 ( 84 pills eaten )
ALT 26, ALP 124, BIL .54
V/L <25 UND E.O.T.
4 weeks E.O.T. V/L UND::: SVR 4
SVR 12 and  SVR 24 on 16/8/16
Fibro 24.5kpa 23/05/16
SVR 63 05/17
Fibro 17.03.2020 kpa 6.3

Offline HealthGal3

  • Member
  • Posts: 58
  • Be Good to Yourself!
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2015, 10:59:46 am »
Hi jakes

Actually, my headaches (due to neck issues) have improved.  I am taking Harvoni which is Ledipasvir, sofobuvir 90mg/400mg, once a day for 12 weeks.  I'm at the end of week 2.

What's your status?

HealthGal
Logged
HCV diagnosed 06/2005
Probably transmitted through blood products between 1980-1990.
10/2015 Fibroscan F4
10/2015 VL 5,487,456
10/2015 RNA Quantitive 6.74
10/2015 AFT Marker 3.7
10/2015 AST 35
10/2015 ALT 31 (H)
11/23/15 Started 12 Week Harvoni Treatment

Blood work 1/18/16
HCV RNA <15 IU/ml   NOT DETECTED!
HCV RNA <1.18 Log IU/ml  NOT DETECTED!
ALT 11
AST 18

3/7/16 4 Week Follow up after Harvoni treatment.
HCV (still) not detected!
RNA <15  -  <1.18
ALT 13
AST 24

Offline jakas

  • Member
  • Posts: 265
Re: What is the best OTC med for headache when starting Harvoni?
« Reply #15 on: December 10, 2015, 12:08:21 pm »
STARTING TOMORROW HOPEFULLY if the meds arrive. Harvoni for 12 weeks
Logged
M/57 yrs.
Contracted (Unknown) 10-20-30 yrs back ??
Treatment Naive
Geno 1a&1b
VL  17+ million
ALT 200+, AST 170+
Fibroscan F4 ( 26+ kpa ) on 8th Dec. 2105
Started Tx 11th Dec.2015 ( 12 wks. Gilead Harvoni)
7/1/2016 :Viral Load|<25 UND.
23/1/2016: ALT 34 , AST 35, ALP 143
8 week NO labs done
EOT:03.03.2016 ( 84 pills eaten )
ALT 26, ALP 124, BIL .54
V/L <25 UND E.O.T.
4 weeks E.O.T. V/L UND::: SVR 4
SVR 12 and  SVR 24 on 16/8/16
Fibro 24.5kpa 23/05/16
SVR 63 05/17
Fibro 17.03.2020 kpa 6.3
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