Harvoni Treatment Week 1

[Spring17]

I just finished my first week of Harvoni, I have had mild headaches but more annoyingly is constipation! Before I started treatment I read alot of different Hep C blogs regarding Harvoni and I don't recall constipation being mentioned. Has anyone else dealt with this issue? Also I see everyone posting lab results but the only thing I know is that I am genotype 1a and my viral load is 315,000. I am on the 8 week treatment plan and I really hope this eliminates the virus!

[gnatcatcher]

Welcome, Spring17!

While I was on Harvoni, I had some intermittent constipation and also a week of what I called "sluggish bowels" -- the stuff wasn't overly hard, but the peristalsis wasn't moving it along effectively. This was despite the fact that I was keeping extra well hydrated, both because Harvoni seems to need those extra fluids and because that minimizes Harvoni headaches.

-hope you're drinking enough fluids that your urine is close to clear (no darker than pale yellow). A rough rule of thumb is one ounce for every two pounds of body weight, so if you weigh 160 pounds, about 80 ounces (10 cups) of liquids daily should be about the amount that will help Harvoni do its job best.

BTW, my elimination system now works better than it had for years. Most side effects with Harvoni are mild and don't last long. Congratulations on completing the first week already. Best wishes with the remaining seven.

Gnatty

[Spring17]

@gnatcatcher I was told to drink 100 fluid oz a day. I dont think I have ever drank that much fluids on a daily basis. So I downloaded a fluid tracker and have been getting in 100 oz + daily. I feel like a walking jug of liquid most days! Seems like I slosh with every step! After reading some blogs describing side effects with other treatments I think I will be happy to feel that way! I have also read that some people had a speed affect with the Harvoni. I havent really felt anything like that but I take mine around 8:30 in the evening because I take a thyroid and blood pressure pill in the mornings. Wonder if that is the reason I haven't felt like I was on speed? Either way I am glad it hasn't given me that feeling nor has it seemed to effect my sleep! Yay!

[Lynn K]

As far as all the blood test results we are posting many here are posting their liver enzyme test results ALT and AST as those tend to run above normal before treatment and return to normal range with the first blood testing on treatment. That test might be called a hepatic function panel or basic metabolic panel (BMP)

Also some of us have cirrhosis so our platelet counts are often low and other labs may also be out of normal range.

As far as the constipation you could try either eating some foods high in fiber like prunes or maybe fibercon tablets or metimucil. That along with your fluids ought to, pardon the pun, get things moving again.

Hope that clears that up for you

[Spring17]

Thanks for the info! Week 2 and the headaches have gotten worse even drinking alot of fluids! Hoping it evens out soon!