Harvoni and Polycythemia

[Scotty-48]

 I started the 12 week Harvoni treatment in late August 2015 . On September 12th , I had a massive heart attack . Luckily , I was airlifted to Tucson , AZ , and saved by an amazing cardiologist . I had one totally blocked artery and another 75 percent blocked .     Stents were put in place , I went home , and resumed the Harvoni regimen .
  Thankfully , the Harvoni worked . Hep C is Gone !!
     I am very grateful ! For that , and the fact I survived the heart attack , with no heart damage !
   But ......Question . After I started taking Harvoni , I developed Polycythemia , the over production of red blood cells . There were no signs of this in bloodwork I had done 2 months prior to taking the Harvoni .
   Don't get me wrong . I am Very grateful for the Harvoni, and to be alive .
 But the sequence of events makes me wonder if the Harvoni had something to do with the over production of red blood cells , and possibly the heart attack . ??
  Anybody else had a similar reaction to the treatment ??

[Lynn K]

I would let Gilead know and the FDA about this so hopefully they can investigate this possible side effect. They need to know about this.

From the Harvoni prescribing information sheet:

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Gilead Sciences, Inc. at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

[coastal girl]

Here is an interesting article on HCV and atherosclerosis.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hepatitis_c_infection_may_fuel_heart_risk
I had lost 1/2 my vision in one of my eyes due to a 90% blockage in my carotid artery. This was before starting Harvoni.  Doctor couldn't figure out why at my age, 54 at the time,and great Cholesterol levels..he said he didn't believe the HCV had anything to do with the condition.  A few weeks later this article was release by John Hopkins.
Be your own health advocate!!!!!
Doctors know a lot about about there own speciality...not everything!
Grateful for Harvoni!  25 week SVR!!!