Harvoni And Confusion, Depression, Acid Reflux Side Effects (Page 2)

Curious, I've started my 5th week of treatment and am wondering if anyone has experienced similar side effects as me: Confusion, depression, crazy acid reflux, and mood swings...3 weeks left to go.

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Yes what you are going through is par for the course, I could keep no food down the last week, I truly think they are overdosing us on the 12 weeks,,when many were only given 8 weeks and are cured. I did not take my last few pills due to being so very ill. I spent most of the 12 weeks on treatment in bed, in severe pain w/ joints and muscles on fire, and nausea and vomiting, headaches from hell and I have still not fully recovered a year later.

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It's obvious that when I required about my first blood work done 30day's after taking Harvoni, I was told that I was free of hepatitis, but still had go through another 8WKS of 12week treatment, this appears that I should of been on 8WKS of treatment rather than 12week treatment, I'm now into my last 3weeks of Harvoni Treatment and I feel that this unnessary wasting a medication that others can't afford, Being over treated isn't how this drug works, Dr's should be monitored in sharing our progress with *HARVONI staff, So that those who are treated aren't being over treated ~ It's a waist of medication for those that need this! How do you feel about being over medicated?

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When so very many people with genotype 1a were cured on just 8 weeks, I feel like I was put through the last month for them to make money. Yes I was over-medicated with harvoni as I had no viral load at 4 weeks into treatment. It would be better to treat more people especially when I surely would have been cured with 8 versus 12 weeks and maybe my post symptoms would not be so horrible now a year later. I could not take my last 3 pills as I could not keep them down.

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I've stopped taking *Harvoni treatment on the 6th of May, Started Harvoni on 20TH of February, wasn't able to complete 12week treatment, though I was told after I ask DR.about my viral load, was told that it appears
That I was cured of the Hepatitis only
After 36 days but Dr. Said THAT I Should continue the rest of my 12week treatment but towards my final 2 weeks, I stopped because I felt
ILL IN CONTINUING TREATMENT FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, BLOOD
WORK WILL BE DONE ON THE 19TH
of MAY 2017~I know that I'm cured of of the virus because I feel much better now, So about being over medicated after 8WKS of 12week treatment, I believe that this Medication should be monitored by
*Harvoni Physician so medication isn't wasted ~'Good Luck My *Harvoni Friends, Hopefully you'll be satisfied with Cirrhosis treatment, "I am!!!!

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You can still be a hep c carrier, better check that out!

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Im on my 4th wk & have 0 side effects. Very Blessed!

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Hang in there Joe. I was on Olysio/Solvaldi for 12 wks., then Harvoni for 26 wks. I've been clear of the virus for 2 1/2 years. Your side effects are such a small price for the payoff of clearing HepC from your body and your life. I was Ms. Grumpy pants for sure. My poor husband was a real trooper. I didn't have the acid reflux, but your specialist should be able to help you with that. See if you can get on a low acidic food plan, don't eat several hours before bed. Don't drink a lot of fluid with your meals. No alcohol. That's what has worked for several of my friends. Exhaustion, scrambled brain (Hepatic encepholapathy (sp?) is what it's called, I think) aka: Brain fog, will get better. Listen to your body. If you are tired, sleep. Hungry, eat, (keep the meals small, low-sodium if edema is a problem), etc. If you can get a little excercise, walk around the block, whatever works for you, it will help depression sometimes. Hope some of this helps. Please don't give up before your miracle happens. The funky side-effects, while nothing like Interferon was, will eventually pass. Take care of yourself.

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Hello John, can you offer an update on your treatment? I'm in week 7 and suffer from the same (burning in stomach) in the mornings. Unfortunately, I'm also experiencing explosive diarrea and abdominal-cramps. I have had several episodes where I took note of heart palpitations on several occasions since beginning treatment. I first noticed these symptoms within the first few-days, and still suffer from them, as well as extreme tiredness, muscle & overall weakness and lack of energy. On occasion I experience nausea without vomiting and most recently bad back pain in the morning as well. I take the pill at 7 PM, am 59 yrs-old. I also take HCTZ for HBP, and one-half MG of Suboxone daily. I always considered myself healthy and felt well on a daily basis before the treatment. I am currently on-the-fence regarding continued treatment and may quit any-day now due to these side-effects, but would prefer to complete the 12 weeks I've been approved for in order to clear this HCV one and for-all...

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billr
most people can do 8 weeks and be cured, I have read of others who stopped at 6 weeks and cured, we are being over medicated for the money, I am over 1 year post and still suffer the side effects of harvoni, if you are symptomatic during treatment it may never go away, I suffer daily with pain and now on a narcotic pain med for the severe pain
this drug changes our mitocondrial dna, my dr told me this last visit, it effects our musculaoscelital nervous system, other are now having cancer pop up after treatment and many are now dead from the treatment,,from either cancer or heart issues,,,,,make a good decision on your own, if i had known i would be debilitated? I would have gladly kept the hep c as i had no liver damage or side effects of hep c. good luck, if you are at the 6 week mark? I would stop now

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Hello Joe,
Yes I've been experiencing difficulty concentrating and mental confusion at-times. I've got 5 weeks to go but am unsure if I can bear the other side effects before having to bow-out...
Best Wishes in your continued treatment...
bill

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Hello coma,

I just found this site today and am disappointed that the manufacturer hasn't made these other side-effects known. The commercial that's run each day gives the impression that the medicine is a miracle-drug that's as safe as an aspirin. Everyone is smiling and looking as healthy as one could hope to be. The only other time I felt this badly was when I was treated with Interferon/Ribavarin. In 2000 I went 53 weeks on it. Cleared the virus until getting blood work 3 months later when it had returned. I'm a 1A, so tried treating it again in 2010 with Interferon/Ribavarin until 8 weeks-in I had an extreme bout of both vomiting and diarrhea together which caused my GI to take me off treatment. I despise having HCV hanging over my head and would give six toes to get rid of it, but am now considering the potential for long term complications from the Harvoni. I realize that this med is still in the experimental-stage, but bearing these horrible side effects and stress on our bodies is becoming just as big a worry. Manufacturers need to be more transparent with patients and those considering treatment. I was diagnosed with non-A-non-B Hepatitis in the mid 80's. Was subject to air-injections as a Vietnam Vet and suspect them to have been my means of contraction...

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bill r,

Most doctors are making folks who were treated previously with interferon with 24 weeks of Harvoni, so wrong. If you are past week 6, you are more than likely already cured. I showed no signs of hep c at my 4 week lab. The question is, once cleared how much more do we really need to endure?

I wish you luck and keep me posted. We are all suffering and recently lost a member to death, we don't know what killed him and he was not sharing his problems with his family. Good luck and keep us posted. And yes those jet guns gave many people HCV.

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Hi-Ed,

You've asked how I was making out after taking the harvoni 12 week treatment. Well actually I was asking about my viral load, dr. Said I didn't have any detection of the virus in my blood. That's after 36 days, but dr. Said finish off the course of 12 weeks. I stopped after 9 weeks. Hey, I've read on another thread about the pro's & con's that there were people that only had 8 weeks of treatment but were cleared within 6 weeks of treatment. So as I read a lot of people were saying that most of us were over treated with harvoni, and as to those that have post treatment problems like pain in their joints and heart problems, also a lot of anxiety with depression and so on. But now I go in on august 16th to view a 3-d scan of my liver. I had a ct-scan and had to drink some 2 pts of white s***, then 2hrs. Later had a scan with this 'radioactive fluid put into my vein to show how my liver was doing, checking especially for any cancerous tumors that may have developed with this treatment. So~ good luck. Also you may be free of the 'virus, but be very careful out in this 'world ~ God bless! For this treatment -J.W.C.?

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Hi Joe. My experience with Harvoni was different than most. First of all, I was at stage 4 liver disease, and was dying, & had never had tx. I contracted HepC 48 yrs. ago. When Olysio/Solvaldi tx was approved, I went on it for 12 wks. Virus was gone for 3 mos., then returned. Within a week of the approval of Harvoni, I was put on it for 24 wks. Why? Because I failed the tx with Olysio/Sovaldi, and my liver was so far gone. I'll talk about the side effects shortly. The 24 wks. of tx, did the trick. I've been cleared of the virus for 2 1/2 yrs. A miracle for me, considering I'd already made peace with dying, and had begun putting my affairs in order. The side effects I experienced were: Headaches, about 4 of them. Confusion, I was already confused as I had hepatic encepholapathy (sp?), due the 4th stage range of issues. Chronic grumpiness, oh my God, I'm surprised my poor husband put up with my crappy behavior. I just wasn't able to control what came out of my mouth, when he asked "stupid questions." It was like, "are you freaking kidding?" I spent so much time saying, "I'm sorry, that was a mean thing to say," I can't believe it. I'm a really nice person, and just don't lose control of my temper like that, usually. Those were the sum total of my "side effects." My liver is slowly beginning to repair itself, no more hair loss, chronic "b****iness," is getting better, and the only time I get headaches is when I don't drink enough water. Low-sodium diet really sucks, fluid retention makes eating difficult if we go out. But, I'm alive and the sweetness of life is slowly returning. The strange thing is, after I'd made peace with dying, and had a plan in place to help my family with the details, I got depressed and angry. The only thing I can attribute it to, was I was looking forward to getting out of this body that had been sick for so long, and going home. My plan got changed. Lol! Wasn't much to do about that. Hope some of this helps, if not you, others. Peace.

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Hi Bill. Please think long and hard before deciding to stop Harvoni tx. I left a post on this thread earlier tonight about my experience with a 12 wk. Olysio/Sovaldi tx, that failed at 3 mos., and subsequent 24 wk. Harvoni tx, complete with my side effects, many due, not to Harvoni, but to my 4th stage liver failure. Confusion might be from advanced liver disease, and not Harvoni. You'll need to talk to a competent liver specialist. This is your life you're talking about. I had Hep C for about 48 yrs, tx 2 1/2 yrs ago, cleared of the virus, and liver is repairing itself. No cancer. Everyone is different. The best of luck to you, no matter what you decide. Peace

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Coma,
My GI told me that my 4-week bloodwork showed no HCV. I received my last 28 pills in the mail today, and I intend on continuing through my 12-week course of treatment unless I become exceptionally ill. The reasoning behind my choice is due to my desire to regain my health as I'll turn 60 one week after my final bloodwork (3-month post treatment). Over the last two days I haven't noticed any of the bad side effects, which I don't understand but am grateful for. I feel as though this is my last chance to rid myself of this disease, and want to give myself the best opportunity available. I have no cirrosis and only moderate fibrosis, so am hoping these last 4 weeks provide less discomfort than the previous 8 weeks. Best Wishes...

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Lana A,

Thanks for the push, I intend on hanging in there for the last 4-weeks. I'd have a hard-time forgiving myself if I quit after 8 weeks and the HCV returned. If I can't clear it this time, I'll take it to the grave with me. As for post treatment side-effects, I can only hope that it does no permanent damage. But if it does, I'd hope that the survivor's of the percentage that suffer them gather the required documentation in order to file a legal suit. This way at least our loved ones and survivor's can be compensated for the manufacturers lack of transparency regarding it's dangers. Currently they're only claiming 4 serious consequences; Previous HBV, taking specific medications during treatment and two others which I don't currently remember. Best Wishes for a hep-C free life...

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BURNING IN STOMACH WHILE TAKING HARVONI? I AM ON 6TH WEEK OF TREATMENT! I TAKE GARDEN OF LIFE 85BILLION RAW PROBIOTIC WITH 1 YOGURT DAILY NO MORE BURNING !

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To all of us that had *HARVONI TREATMENT, If you were given 12 weeks or 8 weeks, I was cured of hepatitis in 36 days of my 12 week treatment. Those that get their blood work done every 4 weeks, once you find out that like I did that there wasn't any sign to suggest that there were no hepatitis antibodies showing after 36 days of treatment, just remain on the course of 9 weeks. I can say this - that most of us are already cured and should ask your Liver Specialist if you can move on ~ Have your tc-scan which you have to get a 3D SCAN using 'Radioactive Fluid put into your vein to show how your liver looks like, meaning 'Cancer cells that may have developed while talking *HARVONI TREATMENT ~ I got good news ~ I'm cured and took another blood test and will see my DR. Again in 1YR, I know everyone responded differently, but have faith. I'm 64 and still have cirrhosis, but if you keep away from drinking alcohol and illicit drugs your liver will repair itself. What ever damage you've done over the year's drinking and doing illicit drugs is in the past now you have a new chance in life to start healing and live your life to the fullest ~GOD Bless to you all, your life matters! J.W.C.

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Well I went through 8 weeks of Harvoni and tested clear for several months. I had a blood workup and it had reactive on HCV test. I am not sure what to do at this point except to retest. Hopefully it was a bad test, will find out. If so can I go back on Harvoni, or what are my choices?

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