Harvoni drug: Uses, indications and notes when using

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Harvoni is a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. It can sometimes be used with another antiviral medicine such as ribavirin. These drugs work by reducing the amount of the hepatitis C virus in your body, helping your immune system fight infection, and possibly helping your liver recover.

1. What does Harvoni do?

What is the effect of Harvoni? Harvoni is a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, which is effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. It can sometimes be used with another antiviral medicine such as ribavirin. Harvoni and other hepatitis C medications work by reducing the amount of the hepatitis C virus in your body, helping your immune system fight infection, and possibly helping your liver recover.
Patients with chronic hepatitis C infection may experience serious liver problems such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. In addition to following the treatment regimen, you need to practice safer sex such as using condoms and not sharing needles to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
Harvoni helps many people with hepatitis C, but it can make people with another liver problem like hepatitis B worse. Before you start taking harvoni tell your doctor if you have ever had hepatitis B and if you develop new or worsening symptoms of liver disease such as nausea, vomiting that won't stop, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, stomach pain, dark urine or yellow eyes, jaundice.

2. How to use Harvoni

Harvoni is made in the form of film-coated tablets, orange diamond-shaped and imprinted with the parameters, the words “GSI” and “7985”. Therefore, harvoni is to be taken by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Dosage is based on the patient's medical condition and response to treatment. In children, dosage is also based on weight.
If you are taking the pill, shake the pack gently before using it. To take harvoni without food, open the package and pour it directly into your mouth, swallowing the tablet without chewing. You can drink water after swallowing the tablet if needed. Repeat these steps if the dose is prescribed by your doctor more than once a day.
Harvoni works best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept constant. So take harvoni pills at evenly spaced intervals. To make it easier for you to remember your dosing schedule, take your pills at the same time each day. Tell your doctor if you vomit within 5 hours of taking the medicine, as you may need to take another dose. Use harvoni medicine regularly to get the most benefit from it. Continue to take until the end of the course, even if symptoms disappear after a short time, stopping the drug too soon can cause the infection to return. Never increase the dose or abuse the drug for longer than prescribed. This not only makes the condition improve faster, but also increases the risk of unwanted effects.

3. Undesirable effects when using Harvoni

Some unwanted effects that may occur when using harvoni include:
Fatigue Headache Nausea Diarrhea Diarrhea Difficulty sleeping Before prescribing, the doctor always considers the benefits of harvoni more. risk of side effects. However, in some cases, unwanted effects can still occur, so when you see unusual signs, especially when an allergic reaction occurs such as rash, itching or swelling of the face, tongue, throat, severe dizziness, difficulty breathing,... In this case, the patient should immediately notify the doctor for prompt medical intervention.

4. Some notes when using Harvoni

Some notes when using harvoni medicine include:
Report a history of allergy to harvoni or any other allergies. Harvoni medicinal products may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other serious problems. Report medical history, especially liver problems such as hepatitis B, diabetes. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar may be lower with hepatitis C treatment. This increases your risk of hypoglycemia, so your doctor can adjust your diabetes treatment plan. Monitor blood sugar regularly and notify your doctor immediately if symptoms such as hunger, tremors, sudden sweating, heart palpitations, blurred vision, dizziness or tingling in the hands or hands appear. feet,... Antacids reduce the absorption of harvoni. If you are taking an antacid, take it at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after taking harvoni. Other acid-reducing medicines that can cause indigestion, heartburn, or ulcers (eg, prescription or over-the-counter medicines including famotidine, omeprazole) may prevent harvoni from working. Ask your doctor and pharmacist how to use this combination of medicines safely. Before surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all medicinal products you are using, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. For pregnant women, the drug should be used only when absolutely necessary. Discuss the risks and benefits of taking harvoni with your doctor. Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in combination with ribavirin should not be used by pregnant women or their male partners during pregnancy. The combination of these two drugs can harm an unborn baby. If your sexual partner is taking a combination of these two drugs, use a barrier method of contraception such as condoms and birth control pills during sex and for six months after stopping treatment. For women who are breast-feeding, breast-feeding is not recommended if harvoni and ribavirin are used in combination. Tests such as liver function tests, hepatitis B and C tests should be done before you start using harvoni, during treatment, and after you finish treatment. Take a pregnancy test before using harvoni with ribavirin, every month during treatment and for 6 months after treatment ends to make sure you are not pregnant during treatment.

If you forget to take a dose of harvoni, take it again as soon as possible and more than 6 hours until the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose you remember to remember, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the same time. Absolutely do not use twice the dose according to the treatment regimen. Harvoni overdose can cause serious symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, severe dizziness, weakness,...

5. Harvoni drug interactions

Drug interactions can reduce the effect of harvoni, or increase the effect of unwanted effects. Tell the doctor about all other medications the patient takes, including prescription, over-the-counter and herbal products. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine without your doctor's consent.
Some products that may interact with harvoni include:
Amiodarone Several other medicines used to treat chronic hepatitis C such as simeprevir. Harvoni may slow the removal of other medicines from the body, which may affect how it works, examples include flbanserin, rosuvastatin,... Rifamycins: rifampin, rifabutin, tipranavir, ritonavir,... Medicines to treat seizures: phenobarbital, carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone,... Products containing sofosbuvir

6. How to store Harvoni

Store harvoni at room temperature, away from moisture and light. Do not store harvoni in a humid place or in the freezer. Each medicine will have different storage methods, so read the harvoni storage instructions on the package carefully, or ask your pharmacist. Keep harvoni out of the reach of children and household pets. When medicine is past its expiration date or cannot be used, dispose of it properly. Do not arbitrarily dispose of harvoni into the environment such as plumbing or toilet unless requested. Ask your waste disposal company or pharmacist for advice on how to safely dispose of harvoni to help protect the environment.
In summary, Harvoni is a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, which is effective in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. It can sometimes be used with another antiviral medicine such as ribavirin. These drugs work by reducing the amount of the hepatitis C virus in your body, helping your immune system fight infection, and possibly helping your liver recover. However, harvoni can cause some unwanted effects and drug interactions, so tell your doctor what medicinal products you are taking to reduce the risk of side effects and increase the effectiveness of treatment. .

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Reference source: webmd.com