Precautions
Take HARVONI 1 time each day and at the same time each day. Take HARVONI with or without food. It is important that you do not miss or skip doses of HARVONI during treatment.
How often should I take Harvoni?
For patients with advanced cirrhosis (decompensated)* and Hep C genotype 1, HARVONI plus ribavirin provides an all-oral treatment option with just 12 weeks of therapy.
How long does Harvoni plus ribavirin take to work?
In most clinical studies for Harvoni, the success rate for curing hepatitis C was greater than 90 percent. This means that nearly all people who took Harvoni achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR). SVR means that they had no virus detected in their body 12 weeks or longer after treatment ended.
What is the success rate of Harvoni for hepatitis C?
For specific patients, such as those who have had a liver transplant or are experiencing advanced cirrhosis,* it is recommended that ribavirin be added to their HARVONI regimen. If you take HARVONI with ribavirin, you should also read the ribavirin Medication Guide for important pregnancy-related information.
Can I take ribavirin If I am taking Harvoni?
When do you repeat HCV RNA after treatment?
Virologic relapse is rare 12 weeks or longer after treatment completion (Sarrazin, 2017); (Simmons, 2016). Nevertheless, repeat quantitative HCV RNA testing can be considered at 24 or more weeks after completing treatment for patients in whom ALT increases to above the upper limit of normal.
How long does Harvoni stay in your system after treatment?
This means that nearly all people who took Harvoni achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR). SVR means that they had no virus detected in their body 12 weeks or longer after treatment ended.
Do you still test positive for hep C after treatment?
Other things to know: After a successful course of treatment for hepatitis C, the hepatitis C antibody remains detectable, but the hepatitis C RNA will be undetectable. If you plan to donate blood, you will be tested for the hepatitis C antibody and will be turned away even if you do not have an active infection.
What happens after hep C is cured?
After you clear your hep C (being cured) you won't have any immunity to protect you from catching it again. You can lower your risk of catching hep C again by avoiding blood-to-blood contact with other people.
Can hep C come back after Harvoni treatment?
It's possible, but rare, for hepatitis C infection to reappear after apparently successful treatment. Relapses usually occur in the first few months after blood testing to confirm that the virus is no longer detectable.
Does Harvoni completely cure hep C?
HARVONI transformed hepatitis C (Hep C) treatment as the first cure that's one pill, once a day for the majority of patients. Cure means the Hep C virus is not detected in the blood when measured 3 months after treatment is completed.
Will you always test positive for hep C?
If the test shows you have hepatitis C antibodies in your blood, this means you were infected with hepatitis C at some point in your life, but it does not always mean the virus is still active in your body. You can have a negative or a positive result for the antibodies test.
Do hep C antibodies ever go away?
Even when a person has cleared HCV or been cured by treatment, HCV antibodies remain in a person's blood for years.
Can hep C go into remission?
The virus spreads mainly through intravenous drug use. Untreated hepatitis C can lead to serious liver problems, including cirrhosis and cancer. The good news is that the virus can go into remission with the right treatment. Doctors refer to remission as a sustained virological response (SVR).
Can I donate blood after being cured of hep C?
No, you cannot donate blood if you ever had hepatitis C, even if you spontaneously cleared the virus or if you were successfully cured with medication.
How long does it take for your liver to heal after hep C treatment?
If someone's liver has mild to moderate damage (fibrosis) and the hepatitis C virus is eliminated and no other liver damage effects are occurring, the liver can regenerate and heal within a few days up to 3-6 months, approximately.
Can the liver repair itself after hepatitis?
Barring complications, the liver can repair itself completely and, within a month, the patient will show no signs of damage. However, sometimes the liver gets overwhelmed and can't repair itself completely, especially if it's still under attack from a virus, drug, or alcohol.
Can Harvoni cause liver damage?
The FDA considers the risk of serious liver injury is rare. Liver damage may also occur if a person being treated with Harvoni for hepatitis C, also has an underlying hepatitis B infection, and it reactivates, causing liver damage.
Does Harvoni make you gain weight?
Weight gain has not been reported as a side effect of Harvoni in clinical trials. However, some individuals on blog posts report gaining weight (from two to 12 pounds); however, this was temporary and easily lost once treatment with Harvoni finished.
What happens if you drink alcohol while taking Harvoni?
As for Harvoni, there doesn't seem to be an interaction that's specific to Harvoni and alcohol. You should simply avoid drinking alcohol while having any kind of drug treatment for hepatitis C. Note: If you have hepatitis C and a history of heavy drinking, you could also have liver damage from alcohol.
Do I need to follow a special diet while taking Harvoni?
No, there is no special diet required while you take Harvoni. However, if you experience nausea or stomach pain as a side effect of Harvoni, it may...
How long will Harvoni take to get rid of my hepatitis C?
Harvoni will start working right away to fight the virus. However, in order to get rid of hepatitis C, you will need to take Harvoni for the full l...
What is the cure rate for Harvoni?
The cure rate for Harvoni depends on certain aspects of your hepatitis C. This includes whether or not you have cirrhosis, what hepatitis C treatme...
Can hepatitis C come back after taking Harvoni?
If you take Harvoni every day as directed by your doctor and you maintain a healthy lifestyle, the virus shouldn’t return. However, it’s possible t...
What is a hepatitis C genotype?
There are six different strains, or types, of hepatitis C viruses that are known to infect people. These strains are called genotypes. Genotypes ar...